Michael Norton Yarrow

My favorite memory of Mike is him standing by the hospital bed of little Peter Evett as he lay dying. Mike sang for many hours. Peter´s heart beat steadied, and doctors, nurses, and others in the hospital began to stop by Peter´s room to add to the singing, but it was really Mike who kept it going. A beautiful send off.

I have been thinking about Mike so much lately. He was my favorite professor at Ithaca. He sowed the seeds of my lifelong passion for social justice. I am still friends with one of my classmates, and we recollect him so fondly. We are both social workers, a path that he was instrumental in forming. I don't know if these comments are seem by the family anymore, but, if so, I wanted them to know what a difference he made in my life and the lives of many.

Mike was always so kind to us - and able to teach us while making us feel capable...

Mike truly lived Antioch's motto - "Be ashamed until you've struck one blow for humanity". I am reminded of my fellow Antiochians (Mike and Ruth) daily as on my refrigerator, in a place of honor, is the lovely, heartfelt piece of art they send to me when I was desperate ill and in tremendous pain.

Ruth drew a pumpkin growling, I assumed, trying to growl away my pain. The post-Halloween note includes notes that only Ruth and Mike together could write.

I served on the board...

I still remember that great man, his courage back in the day, and his non-stop advocacy. We miss him!

We miss your gentle good humor and inspiring dedication to care for others. Much love to your spirit

One of the many Freedom Summer heroes of the civil rights movement.

Dear Ruth and family,
I know I said it when he passed but still to this day I cannot remember a better person to have known. I feel eternally blessed to have met and known Mike. He was truly a remarkable man who chose a remarkable woman to be by his side. He made this world a better place and me a better person for knowing him. I am so glad I got to meet and speak with him on a semi regular basis. Every encounter I learned something new either about himself or myself. You both will be...

Dear Ruth and family,
I was so sorry to hear about Mike's death. He was one of the best men I've ever known. This world will be far a less interesting place without him. He touched everyone that came in contact with him. He will be missed by all.