Donna & girls, I am so sorry to hear about Alan. We were best friends from the age of about 2 until we parted ways around high school. I learned so much about your faith through him & could never beat him at monopoly.

My mother, late father & I were the only gentiles at his Bar Mitzvah. My phone # is 902-870-7526.

Shalom

Richard Johnson

Dear Donna, I am a distant cousin through the Benjamin family. We recently found an essay Alan had written in high school and have enjoyed re-reading it. I had thought I'd send him a copy when I found he had passed away last year. Please accept our sympathy from Birmingham.

My condolences to the Michelson family -- Dr. Michelson graciously extended the opportunity to join his lab in 2012, and although I knew him from afar, his presence and mentorship was a large, benevolent force in the lab. My time there has helped inspire me to continue research in my medical career. Thank you Dr. Michelson -- you will be missed!

Dear Mrs Michelson and family,

I am very sorry and saddened to hear Alan's passing. I first heard about Alan and his work when I was a graduate student at Harvard - he was highly respected and valued by his students and collaborators and his early embrace of systems/quantitative approaches to developmental biology has been driving his latest scientific vision. Thanks to and partially because of Alan's persuasion, I started my lab at the NIH and still fondly remember the interactions and many interesting discussions he and I. I fondly remember his mentorship and advice. He will be sorely missed.

Alan is why I chose to become a physician scientist. He was a model mentor and friend. I am honored to be counted among his trainees.

Alan was a wonderful mentor and scientist. I truly enjoyed our discussion when he was our Center Director and I was a tenure-track investigator. He continued to support me after he left from our Center. I admire his leadership, high integrity and profound knowledge of science. I am very saddened to hear of his passing. I send you my deepest sympathies.

I would like to extend my deepest condolences to Donna, Aviel and Ariane....I first met Alan when he was a student in the Harvard MD-PhD Program and I was the rookie administrator in 1983.  I shall never forget Dr. Alan Michelson... As we both progressed through  our respective careers at Harvard Med School, I found Alan's generous advice and unfailing commitment to MD-PhD education to be invaluable as I was learning how to navigate this complex environment.  Later while running his lab,  he served on MD-PhD admissions, advising and executive committees, working tirelessly and often to give back in helping to improve the program. Whenever he was present at our meetings, I felt not only a high regard for his contributions but also a special kinship.   Indeed Alan mentored not only students and trainees but me, as well, providing moral support and kindness through the years even after he left Harvard to go to the NIH.   I shall always remember Alan's generous spirit, the highest integrity, extraordinary compassion and unique sense of humor.

Dear Mrs. Michelson and family - I have known Michael since I was a post-doctoral fellow at Stanford University, over 15 years ago.  Since then I am a professor in Europe (Germany) and have followed Michael's work ever since.  He was always an important figure in our field of research.

I am very sorry to hear of his passing. I unfortunately haven't seen him for the past 10 years, but we have been in E-mail contact.  My thoughts are with you during this very difficult time.

Dear Mrs. Michelson and family - I worked with Michael in the NHLBI Director's office for several years.  I am very saddened to hear of his passing.  He gave me a gift card for Christmas one year and I bought a coffee thermos with it which I have used almost every day for the past 5+ years.  Because of this, I am reminded of him frequently and will continue to be.  God bless and comfort you is my prayer.

I am shocked and saddened to learn of Alans passing. Growing up with Alan in the Jewish community of Saint John i knew Alan as a scholar (even then) and a gentle soul wth a twinkle in his eye.  Everyone liked Alan. I can't imagine the impact this sudden passing has on the the family and community at large. May you find some comfort in the good memories you have all shared.

Dear Donna, Aviel, Daniel and Ariane,

We are all so saddened at the loss of our dear friend.  We share in your grief.  

Although Alan and I did not spend a lot of time together during our busy professional and family lives there was always a bond of friendship from our high school and college years.  Alan was a role model for us all in his dedication to Donna, his family, his profession and his faith.  I thought of him often, and will always honour and respect his memory.  I will miss his wry sense of humour.

I know that many of his friends in the Saint John, NB and Vancouver BC area share in the sudden loss of this great man.

Kristin, Arianna, Denise and Frank Ervin

Please accept my sincere condolences. I also met Michael many years ago at camp ad remember him well although I have not seen him for many years. Be comforted to know that my thoughts are with you during this most difficult time. 

Sincerely,
Sybil Shore Fineberg

Dear Donna, Aviel and Daniel and Ariane,
I am still reeling since Donna delivered this devastating news to me. And I am personally so disappointed that Anita and I are unable to travel to Boston to be with you and pay tribute to Alan at this time. Alan and I met at Camp Kadimah as 15 year olds and we formed a special unique bond forging a friendship that extended through more years at camp, participation in Young Judaea, and  then roommates at Dalhousie for 4 years (together with our great friend Rob Silver, as Rob has noted). Subsequently, as we both pursued the physician scientist career we stayed in touch and  we so enjoyed attending Aviel and Daniel's wedding .Alan had a remarkable intellect, loved a good laugh,  had a passion for theatre, and was deeply committed to Jewish life. Meeting you Donna was for Alan the fulfilment of a dream. And he was so proud of Aviel and Ariane. I know first hand his brilliance in science and medicine and the standard that he set for his peers. And now, finding it almost impossible to believe that he is gone, we look to our sweet memories as a source of sweetness and healing. No doubt these will give you strength Donna, Aviel, and Daniel and Ariane. Anita and I send our love, deepest condolences and  very  best wishes.
Norm Rosenblum

Please accept our heartfelt sorrow on this sudden loss.  Alan and Donna were very close friends when we lived in Brookline in the early 1980's.   Alan and Donna met in Brookline, and I have wonderful memories of sharing our weddings and Passover seders during the early years of our marriages.   This is a true loss and I know how much he will be missed.  
Miriam and Chuck Rosenblatt
Beachwood, Ohio

As another of Alan's high school friends from Saint John NB, I am remembering him as a remarkable person - not many high school boys merit the title of 'scholar and gentleman', but Alan did. However, as importantly, he was also a great friend with an impish sense of humour and was part of a large warm social circle. We both went to Dalhousie University, and stayed connected while Alan was at Harvard and I nearby at Brown; it was a delight to attend his 1980 wedding. Sadly, our contacts had been sparse since, so while I am mourning the loss of that brilliant young friend, my heart goes out to Donna and their daughters, and to his friends and colleagues, who far too soon lost the extraordinary man that he became.

Alan and I grew up together in the small city of Saint John where the Jewish community was small in numbers but big in connection. We shared in each other's joys, successes , and difficulties. Alan will be remembered as a gentle man, a kind soul, with a great sense of humour. His integrity and intelligence were recognized by all. Sending love to Donna and the whole family, Sally Davis Karlinsky

Alan was a wonderful physician, scientist and friend.  We all enjoyed his jokes, and his commitment to his work.  We, in the Harvard Medical School class of 1981, were glad to have shared our life with Alan, and we'll miss him.

Dear Donna, Aviel, Ariane, 

On behalf of the Brigham Genetics Division and the Brigham community, I wish to extend our deepest sympathies on the loss of Alan.  In the 15 years that we were faculty together at BWH, Alan was an unerring source of wisdom and insight who I could always turn to and always learn from.  He was a brilliant scientist who we all admired greatly.  I have shared with others in the Division my own view that a significant part of our current success is due to Alan's enduring legacy of true scientific excellence, collegiality, and friendship.  We will all miss him greatly, and send our prayers and best thoughts to you and your extended family.

Dear Donna, My condolences go to you and your family in this impossibly, difficult time.  There should be comfort, however, in knowing that Alan was an amazing physician-scientist and caring husband and father.  I know that I am blessed to have had my life intersect with a part of his.  He will definitively be missed by his beloved scientific community in addition to his loved ones.  Bill Chin

Alan was a truly outstanding scientist and physician, and I will always remember his scientific rigor and dedication, which was apparent from the moment I joined the Genetics Division of the Brigham & Women's Hospital. He will be dearly missed.

Dearest Donna and girls,
My heart goes out to you on the loss of your cherished husband and father. My deepest condolences to your whole family.

With greatest sympathy 
Iris Lavine and Shoshie Bloom

Alan was a treasured colleague in biomedical research in Boston and at the NIH. His death is a tragic loss for all. Deepest sympathy and condolences to Donna and family.

I grew up with Alan. I remember him as gentle, well-mannered, happy, generous, and brilliant. He had the face of a cherub. I lost touch with him over the years but I am deeply saddened to learn of his passing -- such a bitter loss to his family and the medical community. -- Robert Brym, Toronto

May the love you shared and the memories you create together, carry your family at this time of sorrow.

 I was a friend of Alan's from Saint John High School in Saint John, NB - where we were part of a happy group of students who enjoyed studies and drama club. Alan excelled at his studies and was our graduating class valedictorian. He had a keen mind and a great sense of humour, and he was a good friend. I am very saddened to hear of his loss.  My deepest condolences to his family for your loss. I hold you all in my thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.

I am extremely saddened by this devastating news of Alan's sudden and unexpected passing. I have extremely fond memories of our longstanding relationship. We grew up together as youngsters in the Jewish community of Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. We became particularly close in our roles together in the Saint john High School production of Hamlet. Our relationship blossomed further as room-mates, together with our additional dear friend, Norman Rosenbloom while we all were attending Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia before Alan went off to Harvard University to pursue his academic training and career. But we never lost touch with one another, first celebrating together his union with his Beshert, Donna and then as we cherished watching our children evolve in their own lives with each of us attending the various B'nai Mitzvot of one other's offspring and then of course the wedding of his beloved daughter, Aviel to Daniel. My heart just aches for all of you.  Donna, Aviel and Daniel and Ariane, may you all know that our thoughts and prayers will be with you in the coming days and months. Alan's was a life very well lived and celebrated. He adored all of you and was particularly proud for all of your accomplishments. Hamakom Yenachem Etchem B'Toch Sh'ar Avalei Tzion V'rushalayim.

Alan was a devoted and rigorous scientist, mentor and administrator.  He was deeply committed to his work and family.

OBITUARY

Alan Mark Michelson

Passed away on MARCH 2, 2017

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