I met Mike my freshman year in college at App State. He lived in a big house just off campus with my friends Will, Dave, and several other people who I don’t even remember.

For me it was great to have older friends living off campus so I could get away from dorm life-which I didn’t much care about. I remember the night that house caught fire. It was late when the fire broke out and most everyone was asleep. Thankfully, they all got out and no one got hurt.

Our friend Will tells the story about accidentally grabbing a pair of Mike’s jeans in a rush to get out of the house during the fire. Will and Mike were definitely not built the same, which meant that Will trying to put tall and skinny Mike’s jeans on during a raging fire was a no go.

The telling of this story amongst our group of college friends over the years regularly brought laughter to the point of tears. That image of Will and Mike standing out in the cold in front of that burning house; Will waddling like a penguin with Mike’s jeans pulled up just to his knees; Mike wrapped in a blanket because he couldn’t find the jeans Will had tried to put on—sad, yes…also hilarious!

With that house burnt to the ground, everyone had to find other places to live-which eventually led to me, Dave and Mike sharing a house next door to the one that had burned down. That house-aka the Twilight Zone-was the source of many gatherings that resulted in quite a bit of college mayhem. A highlight being the Halloween party that almost literally brought the house down when the floor collapsed due to way more people in the house than it could support. (Again, nobody got hurt.)

Mike and I shared a couple of other places as roommates in college, including a curiously constructed and completely un-insulated log cabin with electric baseboard heat. When hurricane Hugo came through in 1989, the wind blew half the roof off the house and we had to (ok, got to, because Mike was a chef there) live at the Green Park Inn a few days until it was fixed. We even got to take our dogs.

That’s just a handful of memories about my friendship with Mike. I could write an entire book probably. Among the many things that made Mike unique within our group of college friends, was that he was older than us, having returned to college at the age of 23. I’m pretty sure at first he thought we were quite silly and immature—which we were—but we all saw Mike as a big brother type who taught us, tolerated us, and mentored us all along the way. In fact, I probably learned more from Mike than I did many of my college professors. He was one of a kind. A truly sophisticated intellectual who drove a loud pickup truck, drank Budweiser, and smoked Marlboro reds.

I got to spend time with Mike’s sister Ryan and brother Matt yesterday at his memorial service and celebration of life. I also got to know his two boys a little. Mike Jr. is 20 and attending App State like his dad. RJ is 16 and is a rising junior in high school. They are quite impressive young men who will go far in life thanks to Mike and his wonderful extended family.

May you rest in peace Mike Leary—and may we all aspire to leave such a lasting legacy as yours. Until we meet again my friend!

Wishing you eternal peace and offering prayers of comfort and peace to the family. 

Mike & Paula Richardson