Michael J. Winkler's Obituary
A Story Named Michael:
This is a story of a young boy who knew, by the age of six (or even younger) that he was different than boys his age.
It’s a story of a young boy who dreamt of being a dancer, became the object of incredible ridicule and bullying and yet became an accomplished dancer who co-starred at Westbury Music Fair in an ensemble of children much older than he.
It’s a story of a young boy who persevered under the old rules where bullying was ignored and children with creative talent took a back seat to football stars.
This is a story of a child forced to lie because it was the only way to get attention and to hopefully stop the pain of being different.
This is a story of choices….some good, some very bad.
It’s a story of a young college student with an incredible creative talent, writing as a freshman for the school newspaper about fashion design….it’s a story of frustration, low self-worth and giving up.
This is a story of a young man desiring to be like his sister teaching children and making a difference….it’s also a story of a bad economy ruining initial attempts at becoming a full-time, meaningful contributor to the teaching profession.
It’s a story about a young man and his father attending a hockey game together, enjoying an intermission when out of nowhere a young second-grade child runs full speed into his arms saying “Hi, Mr. Winkler…I love you! The young boy’s father standing incredulously until his wife tells him that that’s Mr. Winkler, the interim teacher that’s made such a difference in their son’s life.
It’s a story of continuing success at whatever he does, but never realizing that success is fleeting and bumps in the road cause frustrations and failure.
This is a story of almost 15 years of deep depression interspersed with incredible compassion, the ability to laugh, make people laugh, regress to deep depression and make people cry.
It’s a story of choices…some good, some very bad.
It’s also a story of a man telling his bosses that his best friend has died and that he must return to Florida to his funeral. The story continued as this man boarded the plane and met the CEO of his company onboard who told the man that he was sorry about his best-friend’s passing. The man responds, “he wasn’t my best friend, he was my partner”. Whoa, I’m out the man thinks. The CEO responds that his daughter is a lesbian…the CEO takes his seat…the conversation ends.
This is a story of a loving, caring, most incredible mother, never losing faith in her son…supporting him at every turn. Loving him more than you can imagine.
It’s a story of a sister wanting more for her brother because her love for him is so strong that giving up on him never enters her mind.
The story almost ends when the mother discovers her son dead in his home, screaming at him to awake…he never does.
The story continues when the father is told by his loving wife that their son has died and that he better get there before the police block him from doing so….the father arrives, seeing his son relaxed with his feet on the ottoman, his head cradled in his right arm….at peace. The mother and father cry their eyes out, both knowing deep inside the true meaning of peace on their son’s face.
The story continues at his funeral where people show their love for this young man, yet acknowledging his losing battle against depression.
This is definitely a story of choices, some good, some very, very bad.
The story continues as the mourners realize that kindness, compassion, empathy and respecting the rights of others trumps everything else in life.
The story will never end….for only if the young man knew that his father wanted to be as much like him as he wanted to be much like his father…..
We all have choices to make. Our choices always affect others. If we make those choices with empathy, compassion and the rights of others in mind, the story will surely have a happy ending!!
Embrace the peace that Michael Joseph Winkler now has. Pray that his peace and his story make just a little difference in tomorrow.
What’s your fondest memory of Michael?
What’s a lesson you learned from Michael?
Share a story where Michael's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Michael you’ll never forget.
How did Michael make you smile?