Michael Fowler

Michael was born 7/26/1953 in Cleveland, Ohio. His parents, Alice (nee Mullaly), Richard (Dick) Fowler and younger brother Gary all predeceased Michael. Two younger brothers, Mark and Peter, survive him.

Michael was a man of many talents and integrity; he was kind, intelligent, funny and loving. He was a devoted father and husband. Guided by the teachings of the Stoic philosopher Epictetus, he worked hard to make the world a better place and many who knew him looked to him as an example of the kind of human they aspired to be.

In his early 20's he decided to dedicate his life to making the world a better place. He started with nursing. By the end of 1978, Michael graduated from Jane Addams School of Practical Nursing.

In 1983, Michael was sworn in by the North Royalton Fire Department as a firefighter and EMT. Michael worked tirelessly to implement a paramedic program for the citizens that he served. In 1989, Michael became a licensed paramedic, then began teaching part-time in the Parma, Ohio paramedic training program. Michael loved the work. But in 1992 an injury incurred during a paramedic run was sufficiently severe to end his firefighting career.

In his family life, Michael and his son Patrick shared lifelong passions for music, cats, nature, and cooking. Michael and his wife Robin met in 1989 and have spent nearly 37 happy years together. Varying counts of cats over the years completed the family circle.

Due to the injury's chronic pain, in 1996 the family relocated to the warm, dry climate in Arizona's Valley of the Sun. There he was able to indulge in playing his Highland bagpipes in several bands and settings.

In the first few days of being in the Valley, Michael visited the AZ Renaissance Festival, where he met Dancing in the Isles in its early days. It seemed to be a meeting of kindred spirits. Michael piped for the group for the next nine years and came to view the groups' members as family and those weekends as some of the best times of his life.

Between 2005-2009 Michael and his friends formed the Free Street Band for First Friday Art Walks in downtown Phoenix. During 2009-2011, Patrick joined his dad Michael in forming the band Ramfoozle with two dear friends. They played in cozy venues such as Fiddler's Dream, several Irish themed restaurants, pubs, nursing homes, and the hospital that saved the life of one bandmate.

Michael's remaining years were devoted to his family, including his cats, and other ways of making the world a better place.

In lieu of flowers, Michael would be very pleased if you would help make the world a better place by:

> creating and nurturing at least a small garden spot in your yard for pollinators such as

• bees,

• butterflies,

• bats,

• hummingbirds

• or improving your yard's habitat feature such as

• providing freshwater supply, resting, nesting, or roosting places,

• planting native flora or plants that feed and house local wildlife -don't forget the lizards!

Reducing pesticide and herbicide use

• or donate to:

• the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, or

• the Desert Botanical Garden, or

• the Animal Defense League of Arizona, or

• your favorite food bank