I was saddened to hear that Mike passed away. My condolences go out to his family and loved ones. When I first moved to Bethesda from Washington DC and transferred to Pyle in 9th grade Mike was the first one to reach out and befriend me. I related to his love of stray dogs, as I would consider myself a stray those first weeks/months with new kids. At the time we shared a common interest in coin collecting and I remember Mike as being an astute trader! All in all, I remember him for his kindness and thank him for his warmth in that difficult period of my life.
Mike and I were close friends through late-elementary, all of middle, and high school, daily engaged in the sport-of-the-season on the fields and courts at Radnor. We lived just around the corner from one another and I have countless memories of those days together and the plots and schemes we hatched. Once of driving age, Mike and I traveled regularly to the fossil beds at Calvert Cliffs to look for shark's teeth and whale bones. We collected and traded stamps, coins, baseball cards, rocks and minerals. Sometimes we just hung out and talked about all of you young ladies at Whitman as we played pool in my basement.
We lost touch when we went off to college and only irregularly found time to catch up on family events thereafter. I could not have predicted his future in the justice system, but reading the memorial site, I am not surprised by his work with dogs. There were two that roamed our neighborhood and he was always ready to frolic with them.
MIke's life was a rich story and I am glad at the memories of my time within it.
Sad to hear about Mike. I also knew him since Radnor days. I was a little in awe of his family and their very impressive modern house down the street from Radnor! (In the 1980s-90s when I taught art history at the U of Mississippi I fully realized how significant a scholar his folklorist dad was). Mike was a good guy, very smart, speedy athlete! Condolences to his family and friends.
I am saddened to hear of Mike's passing. He was always very kind to me during my time at Walt Whitman. He was a sweet, sensitive soul. I'm sorry he has left so soon though impressed by the path his life took.
Having read the condolences and memories, i am sorry i didn't know him better. We must have been at the University of Michigan together, but i don't remember seeing him there. That first year wasn't my most cogent time of life. I remain an avid UofM fan like Mike; and I was raised a diehard Yankee fan. Mickey Mantle was my idol growing up as well and i still have memorabilia from those days..
I've been a dog guy my whole life. Was raised by a big collie mix Barker Wagger Gold. In fact when i brought Lance my collie/shepherd mix into West Quad in 1969, we both got evicted from the dorm. But it was a no brainer. Couldn't leave him in Bethesda. We've got our own rescue wingman now, Yeager..
So my miss on getting to know Mr. Courlander post high school. We would have had much to share.
May he be romping with all the rescues now. Deepest condolences to the family.
I remember his name; but, did not know him well. Although we had a large class, I am so grateful for the thoughtfulness of our classmates. Since moving to Texas, I have been silent on the cultural wars that have rocked our country and many parts of the world. So, it is nice that we can find common ground on our shared experiences and compassion for lives well lived.
I also have fond memories of Mike. Although we weren't close friends, we were friendly throughout our time at Pyle and Whitman and we participated together in summer rec softball and other programs at Radnor. In recent years we touched base periodically to share our love of dogs and to discuss ones which he was trying to place in new homes. He should have been given many more years to continue his valiant efforts as there are so many dogs that need saving.
MIchael was most certainly in my homerooms throughout Thomas w. Pyle junior high. His father Harold was an anthropologist known for ROOTS. WE met up later in life on Facebook sharing dogs and pets, offspring etc. My husband from the class of 1968 lived in the Radnor neighborhood as well. In the fifties and sixties of Bethesda.
Robbie Burk
I was saddened to hear that Mike passed away. My condolences go out to his family and loved ones. When I first moved to Bethesda from Washington DC and transferred to Pyle in 9th grade Mike was the first one to reach out and befriend me. I related to his love of stray dogs, as I would consider myself a stray those first weeks/months with new kids. At the time we shared a common interest in coin collecting and I remember Mike as being an astute trader! All in all, I remember him for his kindness and thank him for his warmth in that difficult period of my life.
Thomas Board
It is sad to hear of our classmates passing away.
Mike and I were close friends through late-elementary, all of middle, and high school, daily engaged in the sport-of-the-season on the fields and courts at Radnor. We lived just around the corner from one another and I have countless memories of those days together and the plots and schemes we hatched. Once of driving age, Mike and I traveled regularly to the fossil beds at Calvert Cliffs to look for shark's teeth and whale bones. We collected and traded stamps, coins, baseball cards, rocks and minerals. Sometimes we just hung out and talked about all of you young ladies at Whitman as we played pool in my basement.
We lost touch when we went off to college and only irregularly found time to catch up on family events thereafter. I could not have predicted his future in the justice system, but reading the memorial site, I am not surprised by his work with dogs. There were two that roamed our neighborhood and he was always ready to frolic with them.
MIke's life was a rich story and I am glad at the memories of my time within it.
Lisa Johnston (Howorth (Class President))
Sad to hear about Mike. I also knew him since Radnor days. I was a little in awe of his family and their very impressive modern house down the street from Radnor! (In the 1980s-90s when I taught art history at the U of Mississippi I fully realized how significant a scholar his folklorist dad was). Mike was a good guy, very smart, speedy athlete! Condolences to his family and friends.
Diane Gallop
I am saddened to hear of Mike's passing. He was always very kind to me during my time at Walt Whitman. He was a sweet, sensitive soul. I'm sorry he has left so soon though impressed by the path his life took.
Richard Gold
Having read the condolences and memories, i am sorry i didn't know him better. We must have been at the University of Michigan together, but i don't remember seeing him there. That first year wasn't my most cogent time of life. I remain an avid UofM fan like Mike; and I was raised a diehard Yankee fan. Mickey Mantle was my idol growing up as well and i still have memorabilia from those days..
I've been a dog guy my whole life. Was raised by a big collie mix Barker Wagger Gold. In fact when i brought Lance my collie/shepherd mix into West Quad in 1969, we both got evicted from the dorm. But it was a no brainer. Couldn't leave him in Bethesda. We've got our own rescue wingman now, Yeager..
So my miss on getting to know Mr. Courlander post high school. We would have had much to share.
May he be romping with all the rescues now. Deepest condolences to the family.
Richard Gold
.
Faith Lee (Breen)
I remember his name; but, did not know him well. Although we had a large class, I am so grateful for the thoughtfulness of our classmates. Since moving to Texas, I have been silent on the cultural wars that have rocked our country and many parts of the world. So, it is nice that we can find common ground on our shared experiences and compassion for lives well lived.
Faith
Greg Friedman
I also have fond memories of Mike. Although we weren't close friends, we were friendly throughout our time at Pyle and Whitman and we participated together in summer rec softball and other programs at Radnor. In recent years we touched base periodically to share our love of dogs and to discuss ones which he was trying to place in new homes. He should have been given many more years to continue his valiant efforts as there are so many dogs that need saving.
Susan Cole (Booth)
MIchael was most certainly in my homerooms throughout Thomas w. Pyle junior high. His father Harold was an anthropologist known for ROOTS. WE met up later in life on Facebook sharing dogs and pets, offspring etc. My husband from the class of 1968 lived in the Radnor neighborhood as well. In the fifties and sixties of Bethesda.