Comments on One foot in front of the other: March 23, 1962-January 15, 2008

With sadness I learned today that Michael had died...

2008-07-24T13:47:00.000-04:00

With sadness I learned today that Michael had died. He and I were friends when he lived in Philadelphia. We worked together. He helped me move. We went out to countless chinese and japanese restaurants.

I knew him when he was debating his decision to teach English in Japan, and we wrote letters back and forth all during his time there. He truly loved being there. I remember his fascination with the temples he visited there and the people he met.

I was at his apartment in Philadelphia a couple times. Before he moved, he gave me a drum, which I still have.

When he moved north I lost track of him. I'm glad to know he found new friends who appreciated him. I'm very saddened that we've lost him, but heartened to read about those whose lives he touched.

--
Bob Neubauer

I had just learned of Michael's passing last night...

2008-03-18T12:18:00.000-04:00

I had just learned of Michael's passing last night and am deeply saddened for your loss. I first had the opportunity to meet Michael at Columbia Pres. in New York while we were both undergoing the same treatments for parathyroid cancer. When we first met, Michael was reading a japanese dictionary so he could plan for his much anticipated trip back to Japan for his journey to all the spiritual churches along his trek. Since we met, Michael and I shared many thoughts and fun times. We would dine at japanese restaurants , take day trips to New York City and go shopping for his upcoming trip to Japan. As life usually does, I became preoccupied with work (I am a Police Officer) and family, wife and two children (10 and 7) I feel strongly that Michael may have distanced himself when he was told of the severity of his illness so as not to bring fear to my situation ( to me, that was Michael and the absolute caring that this man brought to this earth) his photography and writing is something that I will always refer to when times are a little tough (like right now) I am very saddened that I just found out of Michael's passing because I would have wanted to be there for Michael and your family , as I know he would have been for me. Rest in peace dear friend, you will always have a place in my heart.

I think I was one of the last students of Michael....

2008-02-27T00:39:00.000-05:00

I think I was one of the last students of Michael.
He was so kind to me, and to other Japanese people.
He said it's because Japanese people helped him when he was in Japan.
I could know how he loved Japan.
I'm really glad that I could meet him in NJ.

Thank you, Michael.
May your soul rest in peace.

Ayako from San Jose

R.I.P._/\_Thank You!

2008-02-26T15:50:00.000-05:00

R.I.P.

_/\_

Thank You!

To Michael's family I send my deepest sympathy. Th...

2008-02-18T22:08:00.000-05:00

To Michael's family I send my deepest sympathy. The world is certainly a better place because Michael was here. His words and photographs are a gift to us all. I have only known Michael since July through his Blog and a few telephone conversations.I was newly diagnosed with parathyroid cancer and he was a wealth of medical information and personal strength to me. I will miss him.
God Speed, Michael

Hello and nice to meet you, Sister.Thank you for l...

2008-02-18T15:36:00.000-05:00

Hello and nice to meet you, Sister.
Thank you for letting me know about his final days. I could know all about what I had wanted to confirm.
His calm expression on his last portrait, taken after the Jukai ceremony, soothes something in me deeply.
I'm very glad to hear that you and your spouse will visit Japan this spring with his ash. Michael told me before that he wanted to die like 'Sakura'(cherry tree).
Spring is the best season to see 'Sakura'.

Dear Michael,
One my friend, who lost her best friend to cancer long time ago, told me that I didn't lose you but add you in the rest of my life.
...I hadn't thought that way.
Every time I heard the word;'someday' from you, I had no idea what to say to you, but now I think 'someday' will be created by me (perhaps you and me) from now on.

I expect you will come back this spring. Japan'll also embrace you.
I have many places where I want you
to see. I'm going to talk to you as I used to.

Don't you think I should rather sing and dance feeling you around in the nature of Japan? :)

Emiko
from Japan

Michael touched me through blogland, and knowing h...

2008-02-18T13:29:00.000-05:00

Michael touched me through blogland, and knowing him made me want to be a better person.
I wish I had kept in contact, but I will always carry him in my heart.
My thoughts are with you and your family.
regards
Nancy Fogleman

I don't know how I express my feelings in English ...

2008-02-18T10:46:00.000-05:00

I don't know how I express my feelings in English because of my poor English. So I write it in Japanese.

あなたの死に大変驚いています。
あなたの英語は私には難しくて、時々よくわかりませんでした。残念です。
でも、私のブログにいつもコメントを書いてくれてとても嬉しかったです。有難うございました。
先日、あなたが薦めてくれた映画「アメリカンギャングスター」を見て来ました。
NYへ行く時には知らせる約束でしたね。6月に行くことになりました。あなたが写真をよく撮っていた場所にも行ってみたいと思っています。
どうぞ安らかにお休み下さい。

Please accept my sympathies on the death of your brother.

May he have a peacful journey. And I pray that his...

2008-02-17T04:30:00.000-05:00

May he have a peacful journey. And I pray that his friends, family and readers have the strength to continue without him. He will be missed.

Michael came here and shared so much of himself so...

2008-02-14T23:41:00.000-05:00

Michael came here and shared so much of himself so honestly. He touched the lives of many strangers, including this one. He will be greatly missed. Thank you, Michael.

Reading Michael's blog for the last several months...

2008-02-14T21:15:00.000-05:00

Reading Michael's blog for the last several months has been an illuminating joy, and from the comments Michael received throughout his time blogging I hope he may have had some idea of the sort of impact he had on his readers.

We have been thinking of Michael ever since we hea...

2008-02-14T18:49:00.000-05:00

We have been thinking of Michael ever since we heard that he had passed away from reading The Record, and we were shocked. Only acquaintances, he never told us he was so ill. My husband, Rich, opened an art supply store in Teaneck this past year, and we knew Michael for a very short, but wonderful time. He started to come in to our store frequently sharing his love for photography, and he & Rich would talk frames for his upcoming shows and projects. He filled our store with his loving presence, warm smile, and shared with us a wonderful sense of really living. He had a way about him that invited one to simply enjoy a slice of life with him. For that honor, we are privileged to have known him (even a little). Our thoughts and prayers are with Michael, always, and for his family. We had heard there was going to be a Memorial in February. We hope we haven't missed it. How can it be possible to love someone after knowing that person for so short a time? Well, we love Michael. Period. God bless you. Janie & Rich (artistic 1)

Thank you for posting this beautifully moving stor...

2008-02-14T07:18:00.000-05:00

Thank you for posting this beautifully moving story of Michael, Daiku's, last days. He was a very special part of so many people's lives, and his kindness and beauty will go on in the world for ages.

With blessings and gratitude.

Michael attracted much love world wide as he wrote...

2008-02-13T11:03:00.000-05:00

Michael attracted much love world wide as he wrote his thoughts and he moved many people with his words and powerful photos. He will be missed and yet contribution, his photos celebrating humanity and our neighborhood that he loved so much remain with us.

For me death is peace and I understand we are all facing death.
To face death with love is a blessing.

Suzannah B. Troy

I'm deeply sorry for your loss. Thank you so much ...

2008-02-13T02:11:00.000-05:00

I'm deeply sorry for your loss. Thank you so much for sharing this.

Thanks for posting. Michael has been a friend and ...

2008-02-11T23:35:00.000-05:00

Thanks for posting. Michael has been a friend and an inspiration to me for a long time.

Though I never had the pleasure of meeting Michael...

2008-02-11T22:45:00.000-05:00

Though I never had the pleasure of meeting Michael, I feel like I know him through his legacy of truly inspirational and heartwarming writing. He touched so many lives; mine is one of them. Gd bless...

Rest in peace, Michael, Daiku.

2008-02-11T16:14:00.000-05:00

Rest in peace, Michael, Daiku.

Thank you, Michael, wherever you are. Thank you to...

2008-02-11T10:08:00.000-05:00

Thank you, Michael, wherever you are. Thank you to the memory of you. I only read your blog, but doing so enriched my life greatly. I am privileged to have had this window into your life, and death.

Gassho, Friend.

I have been incredibly touched by Michael through ...

2008-02-10T00:34:00.000-05:00

I have been incredibly touched by Michael through this blog. There are so many things about life and death that we are afraid of and avoid that Michael bravely dealt with. He faced death with courage and dignity. I am thankful he shared his experiences with us; I have learned, and will continue to learn, a great deal from him.
My prayers are with you, his family and friends.

I was recently trying to search online to see if M...

2008-02-10T00:32:00.000-05:00

I was recently trying to search online to see if Michael had passed, to no avail. Thank you for sharing in the midst of your sorrow. I never met your brother, but I am strengthened by his courage to share his experiences. May we all feel strength in our personal journeys.

Beautiful tribute! Beautiful picture,beautiful res...

2008-02-09T11:17:00.000-05:00

Beautiful tribute! Beautiful picture,beautiful responses from Michael's "blog friends",infinite legacy left by a radiant soul....Beautiful and beloved brother
Nancy

Thank you so much for letting us know about Michae...

2008-02-09T10:05:00.000-05:00

Thank you so much for letting us know about Michael. I've been checking back to his blog daily - wondering if he was feeling angry or sad at his blog friends.

I got to know your brother through his extraordinary blog over the last year or more. I even had the pleasure of meeting him in the East Village several times.

He was a wonderful, brave, kind and generous person. He wrote beautifully and his photos speak for themselves.

thank you so much for letting us know that he has moved on and how he moved on - surrounded by a family that loved him. We join you in celebrating his life. I know how much he impacted mine.

Thank you for letting us know. Thank you for givin...

2008-02-09T06:19:00.000-05:00

Thank you for letting us know. Thank you for giving us a chance to celebrate and grieve for Michael. As the other commenters here have said, he was an inspiration. I hope I can live my life with half as much zest and compassion.

I stumbled upon your blog Dec 07. I was touched by...

2008-02-08T23:57:00.000-05:00

I stumbled upon your blog Dec 07. I was touched by the words, by the images, by your strength and your courage.

"To my newer readers, welcome aboard. Speak up now and then." you wrote. I never did.

I am writing now, choking back tears. Great Sky, happy journey and may flight of angels sing thee to thy rest.

gasshos,
manoj