Loving, kind, funny, handsome, perfect!
What is a Renaissance Person in the midst of an era where there is a trend to be an expert in one field to the exclusion of others? Michael seemed to fit the proud moniker of a Renaissance man. He loved reading and poetry. He was a consummate athlete in many arenas, especially hockey.
Michael had a wide range of interests, including snowboarding and music. He was a caring person who loved his family and his dogs, Dempsey, and Gatti. He aspired to become a neurologist and find a cure for migraines, and he saved a man’s life with his quick thinking and actions. In summary, Michael had limitless potential.
To share Michael’s story, we also need to share how at 14 years old he was devastated by his older sister’s tragic accident when a car struck and killed her. This event colored the rest of his life in various ways. Michael did his best to understand and move on, but her loss affected him deeply.
Michael loved school. He devoured books and enjoyed reading poetry while his friends were outside playing ball. However, sometimes, he was also able to be outside playing ball! He played baseball, lacrosse, and football, but hockey was his favorite. The family spent a lot of time traveling with hockey to Canada and Lake Placid in New York. Once, he won a shoot-out in Lake Placid against a really big kid who was the goalie. Michael wasn’t a big kid, but he was strong and great with his hands. When he saw the other kid, Michael looked at his family in the stands like “oh boy” but he did it! They were so proud of him, they called it his ESPN moment.
They shared all holidays and birthdays together as a family. When Michael was little, they took a family trip to Disney World, which was particularly memorable. The family was there to share each other’s love and laughter. Michael’s absence now is visceral. His mother misses talking to him, laughing with him, loving him. His father and younger brother Jared also greatly miss him. His father was his biggest fan and hasn’t been the same since Michael’s death.
When Michael first passed away, his mother, Kim, shared that she was angry. She went to the statehouse to the “end the stigma” rally and there were only a handful of people there. Kim and her husband were on the WCVB Chronicle with Governor Baker soon after Michael’s death in 2016 and told their story. Despite initial reactions and condolences from friends, they felt like no one really cared or understood, which added to the sadness.
Every day, young lives are lost due to drug misuse, while the drugs responsible remain readily available. Our flawed system of hospitals, treatment centers, and half-way houses passively endorse and perpetuate the stigma of addiction, leaving us feeling frustrated and without solutions. Kim says that she just wants peace in her life and the lives of her family
Kim also knows that every single person who is struggling with this disease also has someone who loves them. She said, “We all need to embrace the fact that this is an illness that affects us all, and that these … all of us…. are people who deserve help, love, connection, and healing.”
Michael’s mother, Kim Stanford, provided the information for this narrative.
August 10, 1989-March 24, 2016-Age 26
Portrait Artist: Shawn Faust
Narrative Writer: Lynn McKnight
