A service was held Monday, August 16th, and included the following eulogy, written and read by Naomi Katz:

Michael and I lived in Israel together for a year after high school; since then he’s taught me to snowboard, we’ve seen tons of music together and he’s included me in his amazing network of friends.

When I was little, my father told me that the more nicknames a person has, the more he is loved. Our dear friend Michael was known by tons of names. And everyone he hung out with was nicknamed by him. There are some of our friends even in this room whose real names I don’t know and I bet some of you don’t know that my real name isn’t Nomo. Giving nicknames was one of the many ways Michael showed his love to all of us who had the privilege of knowing him.

I’ve been hanging out with many of our friends over the past few days, and we’ve told hours worth of stories. All the stories are different, but all share a similar theme – Michael enjoying life with people he loved. And we all know he loved us both because he openly and eagerly showed us, and because he busted our chops about something or other when he felt so inclined. Michael was a brother to me. For Michael, friends were an extension of family – he loved us so wholly and completely and brought us together to love each other as well. The network of people he developed, here and all over the world, is a testament to how he lived his life.

It was pretty much impossible to be unhappy around Michael; he always greeted everyone with his huge ear to ear grin that lit up the room. His energy was contagious. His unique spirit touched the lives of all who knew him. He’s not someone anyone forgets – if you’ve met him, you remember.

Perhaps Phish put it best in saying:

“When he saw his life run away from him
thousands ran along
chanting words from a song
‘Please me – have no regrets’*

I miss you, Michael.

* Although Naomi did not know it at the time, this had been Phish's last song the previous night, ending their career. Friend Cassie Pierce notes that "Michael would have thought it so cool" that these lyrics were read at this service, and adds that the Rabbi quoted (at the request of Michael's brother Ray) from Down with Disease: "I'm waiting for the time when I can finally say, 'This has all been wonderful, now I'm on may way.'"

We extend our condelences to Michael's parents, who have asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the Mockingbird Foundation in Michael's name, and who send these words: "To everyone who ever touched the life of Michael, words cannot express our sincere appreciation to everyone. Love, Michael's parents, Rhoda and Jay"

See also, Summit Daily News story (archived).

Note: If you have an obiturary, service program, photograph, or other rememberances of Michael which you would like us to share with other fans, please send them to ellis@mbird.org. Thanks are due to Vicky Travis, Herschel Travis, Denise Miner, Naomi Katz, and others for their contributions.