1 Upcoming Event
Memorial Service
DEC
23
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
University Presbyterian Church
209 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Michael Andrew Richardson, a loving son, brother and friend, talented software engineer, and outdoor enthusiast, died on December 8, 2025, near Denver, CO. He was born in Durham, NC, on February 3, 2004.
Michael graduated from Chapel Hill High School in 2022 and from NC State University (NCSU) in May, 2025 with a B.S. in Computer Science.
While in middle and high school in Chapel Hill, Michael nurtured a love for mountain biking as a member of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (https://nationalmtb.org). He later joined the mountain biking team at Chapel Hill High School, where he was a strong competitor and a dedicated mentor to younger riders.
Michael continued his leadership as a climbing instructor and route-setter at the campus climbing wall at NCSU. In the second year of the computer science program there, on his own time, Michael designed a computer program to simulate particle motion and documented the process in a YouTube video that reached nearly half a million viewers (https://youtu.be/NorXFOobehY).
In the summer after graduating from NCSU, Michael joined his brother Brian and two friends on a 4,800-mile Oregon-to-Maine bike trip to raise money for the Be Loud! Sophie Foundation (https://beloudsophie.org/), which helps adolescent and young adult cancer patients. The four young men raised over $20K for the foundation and chronicled their journey on a widely-followed blog (https://www.bikeloud.org/blog-2025). After the trip, Michael took the time to write thank-you notes to the many people who helped him and his team throughout the cross-country bike ride.
Michael moved to Denver this September to begin working remotely as a software engineer for SAS Inc., where he had interned for two consecutive summers. Michael chose Denver in large part because he was an avid backpacker, cyclist, rock climber and trail runner, and had spent many weeks with his family exploring these activities in Colorado.
Michael pursued these passions and built connections even while living with depression. In an annual letter to his future self, Michael wrote, "No matter how bad things get or how misunderstood you feel—you can always make someone else's day better—remember that."
Michael's family wishes to encourage anyone who may be experiencing thoughts of suicide to call 988, the national mental health crisis line, or to reach out to a medical professional, family member or friend.
Michael is survived by his father, Ted Richardson, of Hillsborough, NC, mother, Robin Bergamasco and stepfather Dante Bergamasco of Chapel Hill, NC, brothers Jeff Richardson and Brian Richardson of Chapel Hill, NC, grandparents Carol and Eugene Barreau of Charlotte, NC, and Wilmer and Douglas Richardson of Clemson, SC, aunts, uncles, cousins, many extended family members, and his devoted and playful kitten, Gerbo.
A memorial service for Michael and reception will be held at University Presbyterian Church in Chapel Hill at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. There will be a livestream of the service.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the UNC Suicide Prevention Institute (https://give.unc.edu/donate?f=346235&p=unch&s=MEDFOT25V3UU39).
Michael graduated from Chapel Hill High School in 2022 and from NC State University (NCSU) in May, 2025 with a B.S. in Computer Science.
While in middle and high school in Chapel Hill, Michael nurtured a love for mountain biking as a member of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (https://nationalmtb.org). He later joined the mountain biking team at Chapel Hill High School, where he was a strong competitor and a dedicated mentor to younger riders.
Michael continued his leadership as a climbing instructor and route-setter at the campus climbing wall at NCSU. In the second year of the computer science program there, on his own time, Michael designed a computer program to simulate particle motion and documented the process in a YouTube video that reached nearly half a million viewers (https://youtu.be/NorXFOobehY).
In the summer after graduating from NCSU, Michael joined his brother Brian and two friends on a 4,800-mile Oregon-to-Maine bike trip to raise money for the Be Loud! Sophie Foundation (https://beloudsophie.org/), which helps adolescent and young adult cancer patients. The four young men raised over $20K for the foundation and chronicled their journey on a widely-followed blog (https://www.bikeloud.org/blog-2025). After the trip, Michael took the time to write thank-you notes to the many people who helped him and his team throughout the cross-country bike ride.
Michael moved to Denver this September to begin working remotely as a software engineer for SAS Inc., where he had interned for two consecutive summers. Michael chose Denver in large part because he was an avid backpacker, cyclist, rock climber and trail runner, and had spent many weeks with his family exploring these activities in Colorado.
Michael pursued these passions and built connections even while living with depression. In an annual letter to his future self, Michael wrote, "No matter how bad things get or how misunderstood you feel—you can always make someone else's day better—remember that."
Michael's family wishes to encourage anyone who may be experiencing thoughts of suicide to call 988, the national mental health crisis line, or to reach out to a medical professional, family member or friend.
Michael is survived by his father, Ted Richardson, of Hillsborough, NC, mother, Robin Bergamasco and stepfather Dante Bergamasco of Chapel Hill, NC, brothers Jeff Richardson and Brian Richardson of Chapel Hill, NC, grandparents Carol and Eugene Barreau of Charlotte, NC, and Wilmer and Douglas Richardson of Clemson, SC, aunts, uncles, cousins, many extended family members, and his devoted and playful kitten, Gerbo.
A memorial service for Michael and reception will be held at University Presbyterian Church in Chapel Hill at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. There will be a livestream of the service.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the UNC Suicide Prevention Institute (https://give.unc.edu/donate?f=346235&p=unch&s=MEDFOT25V3UU39).
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Michael Andrew Richardson, please visit our flower store.
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