Michael Piotrowski Obituary

M I C H A E L:



Remembering you on your birthday. It seems like yesterday we helped celebrate your 17th birthday.



Your friends from Schalmont will always remember you and the good times we shared. We all miss you Michael.



May the peace and love of CHRIST be with you in the heavens and with your wife and children on earth.



Missing you,











FRAN, PAT, DENNIS, TOMMY, PETER AND DANNY

Dear Rita, Melina and Orion,



Words can not express my sadness over Michael's passing and sorrow for your loss. Although time & distance has separated us our friendship still remained. I will always remember Michael as a friend , passionate for knowledge and true love. I'm glad he found both through his work and with his family, I could see that in the photos he sent me. If you or your children ever visit Maine or are in the vicinity I would love to meet and meet him again through you and see him in the eyes of your children. He will forever be a part of my essence and in time I hope we will all meet once again.

Linda

I just learned of your loss and want you to know my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family and to express my deepest sympathies. I remember you introducing Mike to me when I ran into you at the old Smith's grocery store in El Paso back in the early 90's. Though we spoke for but a minute, I walked away with the impression of a man who was smart, confident, and very, very happy. May God Bless you and your beautiful children Linda.

I met Mike over 15 years ago when he visited as a consultant to teach me about the nutritional requirements of bioremediation systems. He came highly recommended as a bioremediation expert so I had preconceived that he would be pretentious. During our first meeting, I knew he was different. Being a consultant, I had expected Mike to come in having all of the answers or at least pretending to. Instead, he was asking me questions and guiding me to - what I found out later – find the solutions that were not yet discovered. Although during this first meeting I knew he was different, I didn’t know that he would become one of my best friends.



Writing this has been difficult for me. As I struggle to find the right words, I have to smile thinking about Mike’s ability to compose a masterful document in minutes, no matter the subject. While working along side him one day, I experienced this first hand. I was wrestling to come up with the right words to create a sentence and I heard Mike banging away at his computer keyboard. I figured he was just typing stream-of-conscious thoughts that would need heavy editing once he was finished. When he called me over for input, I was surprised at what I saw. Page after page, the document was crisp, clean, and completely focused. I had to laugh as I returned to my fight to create one decent sentence. What a talent!



Even more impressive than his writing skills were his passion, curiosity, and humility. Over all of the years I knew Mike, his enthusiasm for cleaning the environment never faded. When others in the business were worried about prestige, Mike focused on learning and teaching others how to clean contaminated sites more efficiently. He was always curious about new techniques to better help the naturally occurring microbes do their job. Most notably, Mike did not claim to have all of the answers and was, indeed, quite unassuming when it came to his vast knowledge. In fact, when someone (such as me) made a dim-witted comment, he had way of gently correcting them. I never felt embarrassed when I made mental mistakes around Mike. He wouldn’t allow it.



Beyond his work, Mike’s family meant everything to him. I remember him proudly talking about Melina’s achievements in her sporting activities, Orion’s kindness and unusual capacity to share at such a young age, and Linda’s unconditional support and compassion. Through our conversations, I could tell that Mike's wonderful family completely fulfilled him. I am comforted knowing that he was happy.



Mike was a great man and it is hard to accept that I can no longer call him on the phone for a quick pick-me-up. Most of our conversations were very thought provoking, funny, and energizing.



Finally, Mike honored me by being a friend. I never did enough to earn this honor but he gave it to me anyway. I miss Mike very, very much.

Rita and Family-



I was saddened to learn of this just today (January 9th) upon my return from vacation. Please accept my condolences. Mike was my roommate for some of his Woodward-Clyde days in the Oakland hills (about 1988 and 1989). I played a lot of Basket Ball with him during our Woodward-Clyde days. Mike had a real zest for life and enjoyed so much his work, learning and having fun with others. It was great to hear of his family and life in Colorado. God Bless you and comfort you.

I am sorry to hear about this, i was wondering why i had not rechieved a resent message but thought he was busy. he was an inspirtational teacher in his short term of being the proffessor he wanted to be..... i am sorry that he was not able to return to this proffession he always aspired to be.... i will miss him with regret... and remember him with the answers he has given...

Rita & family,



Pat Longo McDonough told me of your loss. Though you don't know me, my deepest sympathies are with you and your family during this time of grief. I was part of the Schalmont crowd that hung together & though we all went our separate ways, somehow we all stayed connected & knew what each other was doing.



I will fondly remember Mike as a sympathetic friend, good listener, & generally nice guy. He always had a smile on his face & made sure others followed suit.



He will be fondly missed by all.

Dear Rita and family:



Michael was so loved by so many people. Reading through the entries on this guest book is truly a testament to what a special, kind, loving person Michael was.



I came across a letter today that Mike sent me back in 1999 when our dear friend Dave P. passed away, Mike wrote: "I truly believe our life spirit moves on and doesn't end with our deaths on this planet." Mike also said "I'm half Irish so I believe it is important to celebrate a person's life, not mourn the person's death".



To know Michael was to respect and admire him for his words and deeds.



Love lives on forever....in the memories, in the stories, in the hearts of all whose lives have been touched by a very special person.



May it comfort you to know that while the one you love is no longer with you, precious memories will live in your heart forever.



May GOD comfort you Rita, Melina and Orion. I will keep Michael in my daily prayers.

Dear Rita, This cousin is very sad to hear about Michael. I remember fun times in Mariaville, NY and in California with Michael. My prayers and love to you and the children.

My dearest Rita and family.I understand how hard this is for you and yours. Michael ment so much to all of us.he was not only a great friend but also my mentor. Growing up together. we shared so much.not only. in our thoughts,but also in are hearts.both of us comming from large familys we had. agreat understanding on what we were going threw. i will miss Michael so much. he will always be in my heart.Rita you and the kids are also their.again im so sorry Love Dan

Hello Rita,

It's Char Underwood from Mesa, Arizona, Matthew and Nora's neighbor. We were truly saddened to hear that Michael has left you for a time, but so blessed to know he knew and loved the Lord and is among the saints in glory. Be comforted to know that there will be a great reunion in the Lord's good time for those who wait upon Him!

Hugs to you, Melina and Orion Michael.

Howard and Char Underwood

I am so sorry and send you my sympathy. I am proud to read of his family and work accomplishments here and very proud to say I am his youngest cousin (James' age.)

Sincere sympathy to Mike's family and friends at this sad time from another Noonan cousin. I recall happier times with all the Piotrowski and Noonan cousins when we were young. from Patricia and family in Ireland

Far too many years since Cousin Tommy had the pleasure of your company ,Mike. I often recall the fun times on the lake.I'm sorry I wasn't able to keep up with you and yours. Peace to all.

Your Noonan cousin sends her love to your family. It was truly a pleasure knowing you.

Dear Rita and Children,



I was so saddened to hear of the passing of your husband. My heart goes out to you and the children, and my prayers are with you.



Belva Renehan

Dear Rita and Family,

We were so very saddened to hear the news about Mike. He was such a pleasure to sit next to and visit with during Miss Cheri's music class. I love the fact that he was not ashamed to do the hokey pokey in the midst of a sea of women during music class! Oh how he loved his family! I want you to know that our family will be praying for you all during this difficult time.



Sincerely,

The Parsley Family

Dear Linda and family,

I am blessed to have known Mike for a number of years and to have served as his accountant. He always had a huge smile on his face. It seems Mike never wanted to talk much about himself; he always asked about me and my family before he would let me get to what was going on in his life. When he came to our office, he always wanted to talk with my wife and visit with her about our kids. Mike loved his family so much, and was so proud of his wife and children. Carlene and I are lifting you and your family up in our prayers. If there is anything at all that we can do, please let us know. Mike, thank you for showing the rest of us remaining here what it takes to be a great husband and father.