After Michael received his BA degree in English, he taught high school English in Buffalo. At the same time, a tenure-track English Instructor at Fredonia by the name of Jim Lewis was denied tenure. He was a friend of Michael's and found another position at the University of Nevada-Reno. Teaching in the Buffalo public schools was extremely difficult for Michael and for me when I taught there in 1968. Neither Michael nor I could endure the discipline problems and both of us had short, unsuccessful teaching appointments. I'd see Mike occasionally. but we were not close friends, then. He and Jim Lewis were in contact and Michael thought about going to Reno for a doctorate.. Before he relocated, he finished his MA degree in English at the Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College in Vermont. Michael enjoyed the summer graduate program. He particularly enjoyed the courses taught by Wylie Sypher, Lawrence Holland, and George Anderson. He then applied for the PHd program in English at the University of Nevada-Reno and was accepted. I had Michael's address and wrote him in 1968 about Reno and the University. Michael encouraged me to apply for an MA in polical science. I did and received a provisional acceptance due to my low grades. I drove to Reno in three days in the late summer of 1969. I had Michael's address and met him at his four room apartment, which was in a single building next to a motel. Mike told me earlier he did not want a roommate, but he would help me find a place. After a couple of days there, he encouraged me to stay and help pay the rent. I lived with Mike a couple of months but found it hard to study there. Michael knew many people. and played records all the time and very loudly. I moved out after a couple of months, but we continued our friendship and saw each other often. There was a significant group of university students opposed to the Vietnam War and racial discrimination. Michael was one of the vocal leaders who would lead walk-outs of speakers they found unworthy to hear. There was a celebrated firing of Professor Paul Adamian which led to a near riot at a university proceeding honoring American soldiers. Michael was an activist then and always on the far left of the political spectrum. In 1964 he was a Goldwater supporter and walked with Goldwater banners in the Fredonia village quad. Those days were now long-forgotten. At the University, Michael finished his course work for his PHd but never did much on a dissertation. He talked about doing it, but I could see it would not happen. He never completed his degree. Meanwhile, I married Professor Robert Harvey's daughter Patsy in 1973 and Mike attended the wedding. His formal studies were completed, but he sat in on Bob's courses for many years and they became friends. In the meantime, I became interested in Bread Loaf due to Mike's description of its graduate program. I started the program in the summer of 1974 and finished it in the summer of 1977. Michael recommended instructors and courses for me, and I generally followed his advice. I relocated to the east and had continual communication with Mike through letters and telephone calls. I have the Bible he sent me for Christmas in 1987, and I alwaye enjoyed his long and witty letters and our biblical discussions. My wife and I returned to Reno for her 40th high school reunion in 2004, the last time I saw him. He met us after the reunion party for a couple of hours of drinks and fun. We continued our contact for the rest of his life. He and I were Cleveland Indians' fans and followed their failures together. The last four digits of his telephone number were 1948, the last year the Indians won the World Series. I am proud to say Michael and I were long-time friends. Had I not met him I would neither have met my wife nor attended Bread Loaf and the University of Nevada. I also would not have known a kind and decent man. I miss him, and I always will. May he rest in peace.