I will be leaving this world soon so some things to share.
The Loyal Edmonton Regiment was my first real job. It was a great regiment and wonderful people. Thanks to all the exercise’s and the dangerous stuff and it all helped to make me a good soldier and a man too.
VMware was a great job too. Ken Werneburg, Duncan Epping, William Lam, Frank Dennemen, Chad Sakac, you were all great to work with, and talk with. My boss for most of my time was Mornay Van De Walt and he was the best boss I ever had.
Veeam was also a good place to work. Great people too. Saint Petersburg / Prague was a great city to visit too. Anton, I loved talking with you and working for you.
When I was diagnosed with ALS I quit work at NetApp. I did not enjoy my time there as they did not like VMware.
I would like to say Thank You to all my blog readers as I really appreciate it and that made it easier when I was in pain, or my hands not working so good, to get things done.
Most of all, I would like to say thanks to all the people that I enjoyed talking with. Most recently Pete, and Mark. I really appreciate your friendship.
I miss you, and blogging all already.
My blog will be around to renewal time and than likely go away.
Today my life is radically different. With no muscle, hiking, running, and climbing are no more. I cannot even help my wife out any longer.
Then I got Dementia, and I have lost a lot of memory so that is why I am saying farewell, I don’t want to lose memory of wife, dad, or sister.
=== END ===
God Bless you and your family Michael.
Thanks Kim!
Dear Michael
It hurts to read your last lines.
I wish you only the best and that your loved ones will always remember you.
Love from Switzerland,
Simon
Hello Michael, I want to say “THANK YOU”. When I first joined VMware nearly 14 years ago, you were one of the first to help me. We shared a hotel room back when that was customary for VMware to do at training events. You were and always have been someone I’ve looked up to. You are a class act, a great person, and a gift to all that have had the chance of meeting you and learning from you. I will be praying for you and your family, and I look forward to seeing you again in the future. Please don’t look at this as the end, but the door to eternity. Peace be with you.
May God smile upon you and keep you forever in heaven with him. I will pray for your family and will ask God for the strength that I expect they will need. RIP my friend.
I for one will never forget you Michael, and will always cherish our nerdy conversations together. Thank you so much for all that you’ve done for me, and the community.
I am a long time reader of your newsletter Michael and I feel like I have gotten to know you over the years, even though I never directly met you outside of a VMworld session. Thank you for making your newsletters personal and letting us share not only in your expertise but also your life. I have gratuitously used many links from your posts for my own newsletter that I maintain. I am so sorry this happened to you and I am continuing to pray for you and your family. Thanks so much for everything.
I am a long time reader of your newsletter Michael and I feel like I have gotten to know you over the years, even though I never directly met you outside of a VMworld session. Thank you for making your newsletters personal and letting us share not only in your expertise but also your life. I have gratuitously used many links from your posts for my own newsletter that I maintain. I am so sorry this happened to you and I am continuing to pray for you and your family. Thanks so much for everything.
Thank you for everything Michael!
I learned a LOT from you, not just me but whole community, I cannot appreciate you enough for that.
God Bless you and your family Michael.
I have tears in my eyes. I remember when I followed you from the VMware blog. You are amazing person and we will never forget. Please us know how we can help the family, I know everyone is here for you.
This is painful to read. I will always remember you as someone who was very helpful to me at VMware. I enjoyed working with you and learning much from you during that time. God bless.
Michael, Thanks for all of the conversations we had at vmware. Always loved working with you on SRM and always looked forward to our calls despite being thousands of miles away. My love to you and your family at this time. Will never forget you buddy. See you someday on the other side. Lee.
That was a beautiful bittersweet farewell, Michael. Thank you. Godspeed
Had a chance to meet up with you for dinner at VMworld many years ago in Vegas and I really enjoyed spending time with you. I’ve followed your blog for a long time, many of your posts are still come up in my Google Search. I’ve always enjoyed your writing style and your unbiased opinion. Your contributions to the tech community have been significant, your blog is a testament to that. You are a gift to the world Michael, I wish your time here wasn’t so brief. I suspect that when you arrive at Heaven’s Gate, God will say “Hey, what took you so long?”.
Michael,
Despite never being work colleagues, I have always appreciated how willing you were to come speak at one of my early Veeam User Groups. With your help, not only was that event a huge success, but it opened the door to many future conversations, many of which I still recall fondly (your pre-VMworld get togethers, catching up at VeeamON in New Orleans - just two quick examples).
Thank you for all the assistance you’ve provided over the years, whether through your blog, or through in-person guidance.
Michael,
Duncan Epping just reached out to me via LinkedIn to share your latest blog post. I am truly appreciative of him for doing that. You were always a great team player and a major contributor to the team. I really enjoyed our time together at VMware and the great dinners we had over a bottle of wine. You have always been very courageous and pragmatic, and that is what made you an amazing person to be around. It must have been very difficult for you to write this post. You were definitely one of a kind and lived your life to the fullest. I fondly remember the story and pictures you shared with me of your last trip with Angela to Southern Africa and in particular, Botswana, and how with the aid of your guide you navigated your offroad vehicle through the herds of elephants on a riverbank. You will most definitely be missed but never forgotten.
Give my best to Angela.
Thanks for all you’ve done for our community michael, and thanks for all your encouragement on our podcast. I wish you peace and comfort, and hope you spend your days cherishing your family. God bless my man!
Michael , thank you for all the work you have done with VMware, I have used your articles many times to help out other customers.
I’m sorry for terrible disease that is ALS, you have been so stoic with your journey, its been inspirational.
Please remember that you have made such a difference in so many lives. Your Family will never forget you and the larger VMware community will always remember the endless generosity you provided with time and advice .
You made a Difference I promise you. Rest easy.
Michael,
You have made my life, and this world a better place. I thoroughly enjoyed working with you at VMware. From the first time we met in New York, through building and supporting the Hands-on labs for VMworld. Those were magical times and I feel blessed to have shared them with you.
Oh what times we had!
My thoughts and prayers are with you my friend.
Rest well!
-randy
Thank you for everything Michael!
I learned a LOT from you, not just me but whole community, I cannot appreciate you enough for that.
God Bless you and your family Michael.
It was a pleasure and a privilege having known and worked with you in the early days of VMware. Many a times I leaned on you for your Backup, Recovery, and DR related knowledge. You will be missed, always remembered, and rest secure in the knowledge you touched and changed many lives. What better legacy could a techie want. 🤗
Michael,
It’s sad to read this but at the same time inspiring that you found the courage to write it. We first met in the fall of 2009 when you came to Cleveland to help us (Amtrust Bank) plan for our changing BCDR plans. I’ve follow and read your newsletters since.
Bless you and your family through this time.
Rest easy.
Jason
Michael, you have done so much to help others over the years. Thank you for that. I am sorry that you are going through this. My love and prayers to you and your family for quality time together. If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know.
Michael,
I understand your decision but I don’t want it to be true.
Andy and I so enjoyed hiking with you and Angela in the Canadian Rockies in British Columbia. Helicoptering in and staying at remote lodges. Going to the Calgary Stampede and hearing about your travels. Staying at our place in Nevada.
We will miss you.
Michael, words cannot convey how sad I am to hear this news. Grateful to have had the opportunity to work with you @VMware and always appreciated the time you would afford and knowledge that you would give. Thoughts and prayers to you and your family. Godspeed Michael.
Michael, met you at a VMworld hands on labs many years ago. Always keen to help and get things back up and running. As many others have said I learnt many many useful pieces of information from your SRM content. Also loved the other non IT related content you posted over the years. You definitely touched many many people in the IT community and will be missed greatly. God speed and rest easy..
It is with a heavy heart I leave these final words. I know you were suffering and I am glad that is over but I will miss you dear friend and I am honored to have not only worked with you but had the opportunity to enjoy some amazing experiences around the world with you. God will shepherd you home and take good care of you till we meet again.
Hi Michael, from wherever you are, I just want to let you know how thankful I am to have gotten to know you, work with you, and learn the trade with one of the best and most devoted experts in the IT world. My career would have never gotten to where it is at today without your influence, and the passion you have spread to your IT circle! I will never forget the Calgary Stampede event that you and Angela took me to, and the time we spent in your home lab doing work on NSS. And of course, the great and delicious steakhouse and wine dinners we’ve had after all the important VMware meetings and long days of hard work! Thank you for your friendship, and leadership, Michael. Please enjoy peace and more great things in heaven! I will miss you!
Dear Michael,
It was by chance today that I heard of your illness, learned of and read your death notice on Twitter, and found that you are now gone. I’ll admit it’s a little strange writing this note knowing that you won’t read it, but we’ll agree that it’s to your memory, and your memory lives on.
Thank you for shared stories, food and wine over many years, from Calgary to Vegas and from Metafore to VMware. Of working together in your home lab and inspiring mine. Of tales of travel and adventure, which forced me to conclude that to you an “interesting time” meant an adrenalin-filled and potentially dangerous escapade for other mortals.
You left the party earlier than planned. I’d say “Rest In Peace”, but wherever you are I’m certain that you are still moving full speed ahead.
–Vern.