Mike was one of a kind. At the age of 35, as a military veteran, he decided to join the Peace Corps.  The  majority of others in our training group were all recent university graduates with little or no experience in agriculture. Mike excelled in that area and proved to be a gifted runner at Camp Radley, Puerto Rico where we boned up on life in Guatemala, our destination in 1965.

Learning Spanish was not Mike’s strong point, but he was able to communicate with the locals while completing his many projects and courting his future wife, Nineth.

A gathering of a few fellow volunteers in Nueva Concepcion is memorable.  I put my contribution to the potluck in the middle of the table and was surprised to see Mike dipping a tortilla into the bread pan full of a black substance, thinking it was black beans. Lo and behold, it was a chocolate cake cooked in a lard can oven.

After two years of volunteer work in Guatemala, the 38 of us returned stateside and started our various careers.  Since we considered our group as “family” we  kept in touch over the years. Mike was noted for his endearing, humorous holiday letters that were eagerly anticipated. 

As much as he could, Mike joined the other returned volunteers of Guatemala VI in the many reunions that took place over the years.  When his three children were young, he loaded them in the car and headed to a reunion Whitefish, Montana. Since the fancy hotel would have been a financial strain, he and the kids happily camped in the forest, but joined in the activities.  We were happy to have them there.

A later reunion in Antigua, Guatemala, provided an opportunity for Mike to get together with his Guatemalan relatives. There was a very touching scene when several of them arrived at one of our dinner parties.

In more recent years, daughter, Lynn and her partner Dan, have driven Mike and Nineth first to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and this summer to Charleston, South Carolina. Son Bobby came each time to spend time with his folks and hear the old stories. It is most impressive that even as Mike’s body was failing he had the spirit to make a huge effort to spend time with special friends he made 52 years ago.  

As a member of Guatemala VI I would like to say that it was a privilege to have Mike as part of our group. He certainly was one of a kind. Vaya con Dios, Mike!