During his short life, Michael inspired many others by overcoming significant barriers to his material success. Struggling against a background of poverty, trauma, and ADHD, Michael formed lasting, meaningful bonds with friends and teachers at North Mecklenburg High School and went on to attend UNCC, CPCC, and ultimately transferred to UNC Chapel Hill where he graduated with a BA at age 30 (hard-won and meaningful). Michael's chief strengths included his warmth and sense of humor which he brought with him everywhere he went. Michael worked his way from hanger, to porter, to cashier, to assistant manager at Goodwill in Cornelius (2004-2006). From there, he became an assistant manager at GameStop in Birkdale Village (2007-2012) where he also worked as a cashier at Barnes & Noble during that time. Michael was gifted at helping overwhelmed mothers choose video games for their children, emphasizing replay value so that they would get the most for their money. When his wife was accepted to UNC Chapel Hill for graduate school in 2012, he transferred to the GameStop on Franklin Street until he became a full-time student at UNC where he majored in New Media and minored in Journalism. He was very concerned with issues of social justice and engaged with many student organizations. During his time at UNC, he wrote for The Escapist, and interned for PlayStation where he ultimately took a position in partner marketing management upon his graduation in 2015, moving to San Francisco. 

 A loving obituary is an honest obituary. Michael is survived by his former partner of 16 years, wife of 15 years, and friend of 20 years, Sarah Ruth Hoffman -- and the family he spent every holiday and birthday with for 16 years, Sue and Robert Williams, and is remembered and loved by his "chosen family" of enduring friends, including Brandon & Brittany Roland, Nguyen, Nam, & Raegan Duong, Hilary Ruff, Christy Kirk, Jay Hathcock, Wesley Wallace, Billy Brown, Thomas V, James S, PopTart (Caroline), Kenny R, Joe R, Julie B, Jason Malerich, Ashley & Michael Riddle, Rose Flower, Andrew Dodson, Rëlyt, Gina Gina, Molly & Shawn Ostendorf, Carolina Diaz, Aras, Harwick, J SW, Valerie Enriquez, Stephan Nantz, Master Tiff, Ginger Fey, Hieu Nguyen, and Reese, Brooke & Madi, A Hylton, J Beaver, Brandon M, A Lesemann, D Skinnon, N Clifton, Kevin Smith, his GameStop, Birkdale Village, NMHS, and ACORP friends, and many, many others.

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