Thank you for sharing all of this with us Santa.  The 3rd edition of This Terrible War still carries Michael's name, and it will be dedicated to his memory.

Dear Santa,
Thinking of you at this time of remembrance of a life well lived and of a soul who shared himself with so many.  Love to you in the continuing healing process. CLee

Thinking of you today Santa, here on Pender Island.  We really miss Michael and wish you such happy memories.

Dear Friends,

On June 11 two years ago Michael's journey on this earth ended and appropriate words are still hard to find. I know his sons, their wives, his grandchildren, students and dear friends still miss him even as they go on with their lives.  As for me, it continues to be an uneven road.  Love and compassion for Michael remains and the loss will always be profound.
Living through this has taught me that in recognizing my own pain, the pain of so many others becomes palpable – people suffering irremediable depression and anxiety, people who must live through the aftermath of suicide, people who experience traumatic losses from so many causes. With suicide, illness drives the act, tragic as it is. As much as someone may love others, have deep connections and all the blessings in the world, the psychological pain is unendurable.


It's hard to accept at first but there is nothing anyone could have done to change the outcome for Michael. Someone quoted Jack Kornfield saying “forgiveness is giving up hopes for a better past.”  So is acceptance.  Yes, Michael's death is part of my life but so are the joys of walking the seawall, seeing Sara and Becky and Sam and Isaac dance and play together, the company of amazing friends, watching whales swim by, and the peace and equanimity of my practice.  And yes, we are left with our loss but also the fact that we were fortunate to have known and loved a man who had such a big heart, generous spirit, intelligence, and sensitivity.


In response to Michael's death, there was a great outpouring of condolences, and I apologize for not always responding to the kind words of others. I know people understand. Recently I was moved to hear from Christopher Phillips, a Professor of History at University of Cincinnati, who had this to say:


  “In the spring of 2012, I had completed the first draft of a book manuscript for Oxford UP and asked if he would read it.  It was much too long, but I needed trusted eyes.  So I sent it in 2 batches and he read the entirety of it at your vacation home on the island.  Then we had a 2-hour phone conversation about it, and then he sent me a 5-page review.  Honest and supportive, as he always was.  Only a couple of weeks before I learned the news, I emailed him a revised concluding paragraph as per his critique.  I got a validating email back that said, simply, "Bang on."  It was so him.

  That OUP book is nearing production now thanks largely to his support and critique.  In the summer of 2013, I published a smaller book drawn in part from the bigger OUP book, entitled The Civil War in the Border South (Praeger-ABC Clio).  I dedicated it to Michael, and another volume in a series was done by Dan Sutherland, another of Michael's longtime friends and co-authors.  As you might expect, it is on guerrilla warfare in the Civil War.  

  The festschrift (U Press of Kentucky) is being edited by 2 young historians who Michael's work, like so many, have been influenced in their work on guerrillas, Joseph Beilein and Matthew Hulbert.  The title, I think, will be "Unfolding the Black Flag."  I contributed the lead essay, and they also asked me, knowing my long friendship with Michael, to write a Forward.  I finished it yesterday in Florence (I'm in Italy finishing up a Fulbright, coming home next week) and sent the draft to them.  Obviously, I'm flattered to be able to offer some personal words in print about him.

  I have read several tributes to him online, and know that there is a prize with his name on it.  I can only hope my OUP book (my 7th) lives up to his faith and abiding support.

  I very much miss him, as I'm sure you understand.  I won't begin to compare it with your loss.  But I hope that I can keep his memory alive with my words, just as he sustained and helped my career for more than 2 decades.

 Cheers, Chris"

Michael's deep connection to others has spurred wonderful initiatives by his friends and colleagues – notably Hannah Gay, his History colleague, Laura Quillici ex-student and now Faculty Advancement Director, an anonymous donor, and David Beers, his friend and founder of The Tyee.  I am gratified to say that SFU's Michael Fellman Endowment Fund has reached its initial target of $30,000 and that it did so with matching funds from SFU's Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. The Michael Fellman Memorial Essay Prize will be awarded for outstanding graduate essays alternating between History and Graduate Liberal Studies.  Contributions to the fund are still more than welcome.  https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/donate.aspx?EventID=122944&LangPref=en-CA&Referrer=direct%2fnone


The Tyee has awarded it's initial Michael Fellman Prize to Christopher Phelps, a talented and insightful historian whose piece you can see at The Tyee website and announced here: http://thetyee.ca/News/2014/02/24/Michael-Fellman-Award-Phelps/ The essay is very much in the spirit of Michael's work.  He would be proud.


With all good wishes and affection,
Santa

Santa - I don't know you, but certainly did know Michael for more than two decades.  He was a treasured friend and mentor of sorts.  I dedicated my 2013 book to him, and I'm finishing up a foreward for a festschrift of essays on guerrilla war to him as well.  I'm so very sorry for your loss, and ours as well.

Your friends and classmates (CTHS Class of '61) continue to hold you and Michael in our hearts and thoughts.  You were a star all those years ago and you remain a bright light to us over fifty years later.  The pain will diminish but the memories of Michael will sustain you for many years to come.  We love you, dear girl, and are with you as you mourn and seek some respite from the loss.

Dear Santa, My heart and thoughts are with you during this time of remembrance.

Dear Santa,

It will never be easy, but the first year is the worst, if losing my mother is any comparison to losing a spouse.  I send you love.  I hope you're finding your dancing feet under you again.

Much love
CLee

Thinking of you, Santa, with Michael and the wonderful times we enjoyed all together... the shows, the dance, the fireworks, the dinners ... all in great fun and always enjoying "talking shop". With love and fondness, Sue and Lee

Santa have been thinking about you and michael so very much, looking at the calendar, feeling time passing and then no time at all. So much love

The Temple Bell stops
But sound keeps coming out of the flowers

It has been a year since Michael's death, and Basho's haiku seems just right. 

 I can't say how much I miss my brilliant, kind, loving, generous intense and delightful partner, but I am comforted by knowing how his love and support continue to reverberate among family, friends and colleagues. 

There are two new prizes in Michael's honour, as well as a book to come out that is dedicated to him.  

SFU, thanks to Hannah Gay, Laura Quilici, Leah Macfayden and others, has initiated an endowment for the Michael Fellman Graduate Essay Prize.  This fits so well with one of Michael's strong values - writing.  If you are interested in contributing, here is the url:  https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/donate.aspx?EventID=122944&LangPref=en-CA&Referrer=direct%2fnone

The Tyee, the news and comment website that Michael loved and wrote for, has set up a writing prize as well and it is open to all.  The prize of $1000 is for "bold, erudite political analysis tied to history" (a great description of what Michael wrote for them and others).  Thanks, Dave Beers.  

Dedicated to Michael's memory is the book "Dividing Line" (University of Kansas Press) which will come out this summer.  It contains Michael's brilliant keynote address at the conference sparked by his seminal work.  As Jonathan Earle says "Along with his LSU memoir, I think this article shows how important Michael's work on Missouri in the '80s was, and how it is reflected in almost all current scholarship."

So the sound, indeed, keeps coming out of the flowers.

I've just learned of Michael's passing. He was such an advocate for his students and I am among the fortunate. He served as senior advisor on my graduate thesis project in 2000-2001. On more than one occasion he nudged (pushed!) me out of my comfort zone. In return I introduced him to my non-linear approach to essay writing -- which fascinated and distressed him in equal measure. His love of ideas made him a good conversationalist. He stood up for unpopular ideas when they held merit. He made me laugh. Santa, he always spoke of you as though he woke up each day to find he had married the woman of his dreams. My condolences to you and your family.

I am sitting here putting the final edits into my Ph D thesis.  I just checked my SFU emails where I learned of Michael's passing.  Michael was one of my first profs in 1974 at Simon Fraser University.  I particularly remember being called to his office where he very kindly sat me down and told me that my 'essay' for History 101 was not an 'essay'... more of a shopping list.  It may seem unbelievable to many that I could have entered university not knowing how to write an essay but such was the case back in that day.  Michael explained to me what an essay was and indeed was the first person to guide me through the process with sound advice and a respectful and caring manner over the few months that I knew him.  Although we did not keep in touch over the years, I have never for one moment forgotten his kindness.  More than that... I have never forgotten his faith and belief in my ability to learn to write an essay.  I have always remembered his kindness to me at that time and am shocked and saddened to hear of his passing.  As a fellow dancer/tap dancer, Santa, I met you a couple of times over the years and I just know that you must be devastated by this loss.  I shall never forget Michael.  He holds a special place in my heart as an early mentor.  I taught school for 35 years and I know that his example in that early History 101 course quite simply made me a better teacher by virtue of his example.  My sincerest condolences.  The gift of his life was a good one.  May you find comfort in his memory.       Cheryl Kay

Word of Michael's untimely passing has come, belatedly, to his long-distance friends and colleagues through the history profession's email network.  I read it at first with shock and then with gathering sadness tempered by my gratitude for Michael's infectiously vibrant life as a person and a scholar. I first met Michael almost thirty years ago at a history conference in Iowa.  Then, as afterward, he was encouraging, funny, and brimming with provocative historical ideas.  When my dissertation was plagiarized by another scholar Michael came valiantly to my defense and later helped to get my book published. We met frequently over the years, mainly at history conferences, sharing food, drink, family news, and history shop talk, brought closer by our parallel shift in interest from reform movements to the Civil War, and also by having survived health scares. When my wife and I visited Vancouver Michael walked us through beautiful Stanley Park and he and Santa hosted us graciously at their home.  He was a big, generous man with a high-pitched, friendly Midwestern accent who nevertheless delighted in taking contrarian stances and puncturing historical heroes and myths. Michael's books on guerrilla warfare, Sherman, and Lee told important truths and reshaped historians' understanding.  And his passionate devotion to family and friends will be remembered and sorely missed. My sincere condolences to Santa and all of Michael's family.

I have many fond memories of Michael that date back to junior high and high school.  I especially remember him as being the first boyfriend of my best friend, Susan Nelson Goldsmith.  I spent time with Michael and friends Steve Victor, Sharon Lewis, Alana Waisman and others.  I wish that I had had the opportunity to know him more in his adult life.  His accomplishments were many and it sounds as though he had a wonderful life.
Blessings to Santa and family.  You have our deepest sympathy.
Judith (Troia) and John Wettengel

Dear Santa,

I am so shocked and sorry to hear of Michael's passing.  I send you and his whole family sympathy and the acknowledgement of his many talents and his deep compassion and interest in the arts.  The Vancouver arts scene is poorer for his loss.
Love CLee

Although I haven't spoken with Michael since high school, I always found him to be kind, caring and compassionate. He was a good friend and will be missed by all who knew him.

I want to offer my condolences to Michael's family. I remember very clearly the first time I met Michael at my GLS interview; I was so intimidated but he quickly put me at ease (as he did every time I spoke with him). He was a stimulating and challenging teacher and a kind and encouraging mentor. I consider myself so lucky to have known him.

My condolences to Santa Aloi and the rest of Michael's family. Michael had a big impact on my career in the early '90s when, over lunch, he told me to design the course I'd always wanted to teach for the new Liberal Studies graduate program at SFU that he was actively organizing. I took his challenge and two courses, taught a number of times, as well as active participation in the administration of the GLS program were part of the results. Thanks, Michael!

Dear Fellman Family,

Your father, husband, grandfather and brother was my Supervisor at SFU. He was kind and thoughtful and we had great discussions. I only received the news today, I would have attended the service. The last time I saw him was at  Lorena Gale's memorial service -another GLS graduate. 

Together we danced for her and learnt together that her family called her Winky- because she would wink at people and we realized she had winked at us both.. It was a lovely moment. 

The other side, the big camp fire in the sky, the road of the ancestors, may your journey be beautiful and kind - just like you Michael. 

Love in my heart
Dana Claxton

Michael's presence in the world was such a gift, and my thoughts are with Santa and their family. Michael brought rigour, sparkle, and humour to the GLS programme and his personal and academic vitality will be greatly missed.

~ Natalie Mackie

I am so sorry for Michael's untimely passing.  It seems like only yesterday, he was interviewing me for acceptance into the GLS program.  He also graciously donated his time as a volunteer narrator of talking books for the Crane Library UBC where I work.

His enthusiasm, humour and scholarship changed my life, as I he taught both my introductory "Thinking About Human Passion" course and my final capstone graduating seminar as well.  When I think of SFU's Graduate Liberal Studies, Michael always comes to mind.  His passing will be keenly felt.

Michael was my friend for twenty-one years. We first met when Michael and Santa came to Sydney for the conference celebrating the centenary of the History Department at the University of Sydney. We would meet regularly at conferences, usually the Organization of American Historian—invariably Michael would say “Come on, let's get away from the hotel” and we would go and have lunch somewhere or other. He was great company—a lovely combination of liveliness, caustic wit and passion. Michael was also a generous and very shrewd reader of the work of others, particularly encouraging of anything that smacked of the unconventional or was not boring. And that of course is exactly what you'd expect from as innovative and sharp a scholar of the American nineteenth century as Michael was. His work on American reform and the Civil War will be read for a long time.   

Michael was particularly encouraging of young Australian scholars—and he stuck with them even as they became middle aged. He and Santa were to have been out in Australia in July and we were going to spend a week driving down to Sydney from Brisbane. I had been looking forward to the trip for some time—who better to have had a week's holiday with than Michael and Santa? 

I am going to miss Michael—a lot. My condolences to Santa. And to his children and grandchildren—I never met any of you, but I heard an awful lot about you. Michael was very proud of all his family. 

Shane White
Challis Professor of History
University of Sydney

I have great memories of you Michael, drinking your coffee and eating your nutty club barbeque peanuts. You were easy to be with and I was always comfortable in my own skin, being me saying what needed to be said about anything. Your service made me laugh, made me cry and I left feeling blessed to know you. Your here today not guaranteed tomorrow, you accomplished so much in 69 years, I need to get a move on. This was a sad week, 
Our Love and sympathy go out to you and your Family Santa
Greekas Family

On behalf of the Australian and New Zealand American Studies Association, I extend our deepest condolences to Michael's family.  Michael visited Australia in 1991, and left a lasting impression on many of us: not only was he a scholar of the highest calibre, he was also a friend and mentor, who was always generous with his time and counsel.  We were excited that he was to be the keynote speaker at our forthcoming conference, which will now be a celebration of Michael's life and work.
Chris Dixon, The University of Queensland, Australia

Thank you Michael, for making a difference in the world and in so very many lives - including my own, through Graduate Liberal Studies. My heart goes out to you, Santa.

Santa, you and the whole family are in my thoughts...... all of us who knew such a warm and wonderful man will miss him in our lives.......my heart is full of sadness for your loss!

Santa,
I am a good friend of Michael's from elementary and High School. I was terribly saddened to hear of his death and I want to convey my deepest sympathies.
Michael was always a pleasure to be around and I have wonderful memories of growing up with him. I see that he has done wonderful things with his life, which is not surprising. 
We tried to get together when I was in Vancouver a number of years ago but it did not work out. I was able to talk to him from our 50th class reunion, for which I am now so thankful.
He may have died, but he has left wonderful memories with so many of us.
I wish you strength and healing.
Jack Novick

Santa, I am so sorry to hear of your loss.  My deepest sympathy to you and your family during this very sad time.

Michael -

We will miss the repartee that was so much a part of our great fun with you in the Pender Island Community Garden.

Jon Meredith and Kim Brown, Pender Island, BC

Michael was clearly extraordinary in many ways. I will always treasure the time I got to know him. Rest in peace...

I really began my friendship with Michael when I told him my mother had a picture of Robert E. Lee on her living room wall. She called him her favourite man!  Michael got lots of laughs out of that story and of course he gave me a copy of The Making of Robert E. Lee.  I will really miss Michael and the smile that always made me feel part of his life.   My heart feels so sad.  Love to you Santa and family.  Judy Walker, Pender Island, BC

We have lost a long time friend and colleague.  We met at Northwestern many years ago.  We shared our childrens births and so many wonderful experiances.  The memories are flooding back.  Our thoughts are with your family during this difficult time.          
                                                                  Ron and Ann Gephart

I feel lucky to have known Michael, and terribly shocked that he is gone so soon. My memory of him as a teacher is of boisterous dispute and opinionated debate. I loved his wit and intellect, and his willingness to spar. As a mentor and friend he prodded me on to greater things, made me laugh, disputed some more, in the best of senses. And accepted dispute and prodding in return. I will miss him in my life.

Dear Santa

What a terrible loss for you, his family, friends and the literary world. We will always remember Michael as a great supporter of your dance projects, one who encouraged Herb in his efforts to write and above all - if there is one word that describes Michael for us -is that he was a real "mensch".

Our profound condolences to you and your  family

Mary and Herb Auerbach

I want to pay tribute to a very special man MICHAEL FELLMAN who helped me financially in 2006 to relocate and rebuild my coffee business from Pender Island to Duncan. His overwhelming generosity was something I will never forget. This wonderful man has passed away and I am in shock and very saddened. My love goes out to his wife Santa wife and his family. R.I.P. Michael ...you will always have a special place in my heart.. and I know you will have a soft landing in Heaven... ? you

So sorry for your loss. someone has to pave the way for the rest of us. thinking of you in this hard time

I have such wonderful memories of Michael buying our produce at the Pender farmers market.  Yesterday in the garden I planted a row of broad beans and thought of how much you loved them. We will miss you.  Santa, my thoughts are with you and your family.
 
Diane McBain,  Whalewych Farm

Dear Santa - I am so sorry for your loss. May you find comfort in family and friends during this difficult time.

I only met Michael on one occasion but came to know a little bit about him vicariously through his friends, Gina & David. News of his death was a shock & my thoughts are with Santa and his other family members. He clearly knew love from many.

Dear Santa,
My thoughts are with you and your family.
Love and light,
Karen Rose

Many of us at SFU remember Michael not only as a fine scholar but also as someone who contributed his considerable talents to public discussion, both within and outside the University. He was passionate about many issues and was a tough opponent in debate, but always principled and honest. Michael was a mentor and advisor to me when I held positions in the SFU Faculty Association, and I valued our relationship a great deal. I would like to express my deepest condolences to Santa and to family and friends.

Jon Driver, VP Academic, SFU

The classof '61. Syracuse Central Technical HS, is saddened by the loss of our dear classmate, Santa Aloi's husband.  He was as accomplished as she and an outstanding mate.  We will, each in our own way, light the yartziet candle in Michael's memory.

From the first time we met at a conference, Michael generously offered counsel and mentorship.  What followed was uncommon wisdom, his own uniquely broad and open-minded perspective, great good humor, and large doses of encouragement and support.  I wish I could tell him all it has meant to me.  I can only hope, from these very many tributes, that he must somehow have known.

Michael was a wonderful friend and neighbor to me on Pender Island, and an inspiring mentor for Mike through university.  We will miss him forever.  Our love to you Santa. We will be here for you.

Elizabeth Wilkes and Mike Smilsky - Pender Island and Calgary, Alberta

I realize now Michael that the day you came by my office with your lovely wife, Santa, that you were saying good bye to me with the hug and kiss.  I am greatly appreciative of that but also deeply saddened that you knew.

You will be dearly missed by so very, very many.

Michael and I went to graduate school together at Northwestern but did not get to know each other well until later in life. I admired him when I was a neophyte graduate student and I admired him when we were both older.  I was shocked to learn of his death and will miss him, as will all his fellow historians.  My sincere condolences to his family.
--Don H. Doyle

June 13, 2012

Michael was my oldest friend--from pre-school in Madison, WI.  He was a stunning scholar whose books and public work made a huge difference.  I loved his sense of life, and way he and Santa created friends on Pender Island and Vancouver.  Santa, you gave Michael 25 rich and wonderful years.  I could see in Michael what you meant to him.  

Love, David Marsh and Maryalice Jordan-Marsh

"My condolences to Eli and family at their loss. Your father leaves behind a great legacy." Claudette Leslie, Toronto, ON

I was truly saddened to hear of Michael's untimely death. Simon and I send our deepest regards to the family. As one of his students, I know that Michael was always there with a smile, a kind word and a joke when things looked bleak. He gave me a chance into the GLS program despite my dissonance with academia and encouraged my progress. He also enjoyed a scotch or two and was genuinely concerned with the welfare of his fellow human beings -- a teacher and friend for the ages.

Pam, Molly, Maya and I are deeply affected by Michael's passing. He was a wonderful friend, always warm and supportive, and we enjoyed many evenings together over the years, especially Passover Seders and fireworks parties at their spectacular West End home. We send sincere condolences to Santa, an extraordinary woman with so much humility and intelligence.

Michael was one of my teachers in Graduate Liberal Studies and I had the opportunity to experience his enthusiasm and his spirit of inclusion for ideas and arguments.  I will always remember his warmth.

I am so very sad by this news. I met Michael nearly 20 years ago and he became a close friend and important mentor to me.  I will miss him tremendously.  My heart goes out to his family and wife Santa.

My thoughts go out to you Santa and the rest of the family. It was a pleasure knowing Michael.

My thoughts are with Santa and the family. Michael was my thesis advisor. I am so grateful for his support, guidance and friendship. I'll miss him very much.

My condolences to the family. I only regret that I was not close with my cousin (no particular reason), but I did read his books. Love to all.

Michael was instrumental in my being accepted into the GLS program without an undergraduate degree: he believed in me and my passion for learning. His most recent book, View from the Dark Side of American History, is his autobiographical collection of essays and memoirs.  
A few years after his retirement my wife Val Nelson and I were on Pender Island, where Michael and Santa lived, and we chanced into them in a local pub and enjoyed a pleasant lunch together: Val had known Santa through the dance community. We are sorry we cannot make the memorial service, but our thoughts are with you, Santa.

I remember well the first day I met Michael; I was quite intimidated.  I had no idea how much he would impact my life, and he proved to be a consistent friend and inspiring teacher, who was generous in his counsel and passionate about what really matters.  I will miss him, a lot.  My love and thoughts to Santa and the family.

Michael was a truly wonderful scholar, teacher, friend, and mentor.  My thoughts are with you, Santa, and the entire family.

My love and support to Santa and all of Michael's family. Be there for one another.

We have lost a truly wonderful friend and colleague. Michael's father and mine met in the mid 1920 through work on a Jewish high school fraternity; they roomed together at Yale graduate school. Growing up in the 1940s and 1950s, through our fathers I met Michael--seeing him every few years and then we both entered the history profession--intensifying our friendship. His historical work was path breaking and in the best sense of the word provocative. Above all as a friend he was so passionate, attentive, caring, and probing. His death comes as a shock and I miss him, terribly.

OBITUARY

Michael Dinion Fellman

28 February, 1943 – 11 June, 2012

Mount Pleasant Universal Funeral Home

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