Michael Burke Ruth

I cherish the friendship that we had, from kick-the-can on 56th Street to Madrigals to visits in Colorado and then Tacoma and everything in between. I have never known anyone as ready to jump into life like Michael.
I celebrate your zest Michael and thank you for the love of life you showed us.

MIKE WILL BE THOUGHT OF FONDLY AND MISSED VERY MUCH.

I last saw Mike a couple of class reunions ago. Even then he managed to remind me of my first impression of him - long before I knew how to articulate what it was that I admired about him. Mike advised that it would be good for me to come to Washington to see the landscape that surrounded him, much in the same way he extended a kind word to a new awkward classmate in the middle of seventh grade. Thanks Mike. You were ahead of your years in the way you revered life without fearing it. My heart...

One summer Elizabeth and I ventured from Seattle to Gig Harbor to Mike's vocational educational universal collegiate theological seminary for the philosophically inclined, (insane?), aka The University of Oof, aka "The Schoolhouse" for a little 4th of July celebration. After "visiting" for a while Mike leaned forward with his head slightly tilted and one eye squinting from the smoke in his mouth and asked me, "Smitty do you know anything about potato cannons?" I said, "Oof, whaddya talkin'...

My thoughts and prayers for Mike and his loved ones. May he now rest in comfort and peace.

Michael, My good good friend. I will miss you. We have been down so many roads together over the years. I can only smile when I think about our many adventures. Road trips in the "bus", snow camping for a month in the Three Sisters Range, sailing in the San Juan Islands, towing home old cars that have" potential", just hanging out. Always listening to music.You always seemed to know the words.Our phone calls,adventures and visits will be missed, but not forgotten. So long good friend and I...

Will remember Mike fondly.

May God bless and comfort all who loved Mike.