Monday, May 16, 2022
Mike was my shop teacher from 1974 to 1978 in Toronto at John A. MacDonald CI, he inspired me and taught me many of the basics of engineering that allowed me to graduated as a Mechanical and Aerospace Engineer a become a helicopter operator and practice law for a living. I had often thought of Mike's love for teaching, he took me snowmobiling (we snowmobiled from his front door of his house in Markham), he helped me fix my sled on many late nights in his Machine Shop at school and in the Auto Class where I had learned to fix my clunker, yes, weekends, nights, as Mike gave up his own time to help his students. I still have the vice I made for his class in shop. A few months ago, I was cleaning up my office and found my 1978 High School year book, there was Mike during a fundraiser event growing a beard, I reached out to Mike and was able to finally speak with him on the phone in April. I was very happy I could tell him how much of a positive influence he was on his former students, it is funny how much a person's life is shaped by teachers in our leaning years, but, it is true, as I now reach retirement age, I look back at how I got here and who got me here. Mike, was in fact a founding person in my life that I have not forgotten and I was glade to touch base with him about 2 weeks ago via email.
Mike leaves a very big positive mark on humanity, his work has touched and influenced thousands of students to become better persons. His family should know that Mike lives on in all of us past students who he made into better people and he won't be forgotten.
One lesson leaned and we can all do to remember Mike, if you have someone that made a positive impact on your life, i.e. a teacher, don't wait till you hear about them in an obituary, reach out and thank them, I got the chance and I am glad I did.
Mike, you are gone, missed by not forgotten.
Ian Bergeron,
