Michael was born in Rochester, New York. He excelled at playing football in high school and he earned a football scholarship to Bucknell University where he studied physics. Following graduation from Bucknell, he served in the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and he was active during Desert Storm. He earned a Masters degree in Microelectronics Manufacturing Engineering from RIT after the army and moved to Austin where he worked in clean rooms on semi conductors at Motorola and Samsung. At the time of his death he was enrolled in the University of Texas working on his second masters degree in Biomedical Engineering.
He also loved dogs. Over the years he worked with the Austin Pets Alive! animal rescue. It wasn't unusual for him to go for a visit and come home with an elderly dog nearing the end of life so it wouldn't die in the shelter or new born puppies needing care.
He is survived by his son Jacob in Texas, a sister Linda in North Carolina, and a sister Susan and niece Sarah in Alaska.
A service will be held at a later date.
