-
June 10, 2025
Thirty five years ago this week, I lost my brother Mike to the mountain he loved.
Mike and his climbing partner Stuart died after being caught in a sudden storm in June of 1990 while attempting to summit Denali in the Alaskan Mountain Range.
They were both experienced climbers and each of them had made it to the top of Denali on previous climbs.
But on this climb they took a more technical route and got hit by sudden storm - with winds of more than 100 mph - and were literally blown off the mountain.
He and Stuart are still on Denali.
We had a memorial service for Mike a few weeks later and I was asked to say a few words.
On this anniversary I would like to share those words and remember Mike:
------------------------------------
The last time I spoke about my brother Mike to a large group of people was under very different circumstances - I was best man at his wedding and I gave the toast.
Giving a toast at your brother's wedding is something most brothers look forward to.
Speaking at your brother's memorial service is something no brother should ever have to do. You see - brothers aren't supposed to die.
Grandmothers and Grandfathers maybe, but brothers never die on you.
Brothers knock out your front teeth when you're two.
Brothers win the "space derby" in Cub Scouts.
Brothers teach you how to play football and lift weights.
Brothers help you decide about college and help you buy your first house.
Brothers are best man at your wedding - but brothers never die.
Unfortunately, Mike did die, and for the past few days like many of you, I've been trying to figure out why.
Anybody that's lost someone close knows the helpless feeling you go through after you've lost them.
You wonder what to say, and spend hours sitting around wondering how this could have happened to someone so special.
Well, I still haven't figured out why, and I may never understand the reason behind it.
But the sad truth is that it did happen. Mike is gone, and we all miss him.
There is not a single thing that anyone of us can do to bring him back.
So what do we do?
Well, for starters we can stop thinking about Mike's death and start celebrating the way he lived.
Anyone that knew him would agree that Mike was different.
I'm not talking about inviting his future wife on a midnight bicycle tour of the D.C. monuments on a first date either - although I think you'll all agree that was a bit different.
The thing that really made Mike different from most people was the way he lived - he reached out and grabbed life by the throat.
As my brother Jim said "Everybody dreams, but Mike lived his dreams." He tried to take advantage of every minute.
Some people let life happen around them.
He made things happen.
He could be incredibly intense.
I remember when we bought a house together.
Saturday mornings I would be sleeping 'til noon and by the time I woke up he would have lifted for an hour, bicycled for an hour and climbed rocks.
He hated TV and loved the mountains.
We even started calling him Mountain Mike.
He could do whatever he put his mind to - whether that be building a deck onto his house or working with leading edge aircraft detection technology.
If he wanted to ride his bike from Vermont to Virginia, he went out and did it.
If he wanted to climb to the top of North America he did it.
I tell you, when he put his mind to it - he really could do anything.
I've always prided myself at being mentally tough.
And there was only one person in this world that I was afraid of getting into a battle of wills with - Mike.
God, he was tough.
So when you remember Mike, please remember the way he lived.
He lived for the moment, and he made things happen.
If we take something away today maybe it's to live life as if every minute were your last.
Don't waste a moment.
Along the way, Mike touched a lot of people and made a lot of friends.
Let's try to keep his memory alive.
I know I never said this enough when I had the chance and I hope that you're still listening Mike, cause I want you to know how much I love you.
We're gonna miss you Mike.
Take care.
------------------------------------
Mike lived for the moment.
Let's not waste ours.
