Mike Giraldo

16 years later - I still think of Mike - or Mikey as we called him - often. He was such an inspiration. I doubt anyone is still listening here, but I would like to share an artifact I have from his all-to-brief but meaningful life that I have framed to this day:

"Mikey's Brief Word on Life"

- People are unreasonable, illogical, and self centered.
Love them anyway
- If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Do good anyway
- If...

Maria, Manuel, John-John, Kenneth and Mercedes, Words could never express my deep sympathy when Salena Called me with the news of your loving Son Mike. Our children spent many days playing together, I had always hoped my children would learn from spending time with your son's. Without a doubt I had never knew any family that was closer, or parents that took more time with their children than you and Manual. Mike was truly the BEST child in our area. I always knew Mike would obtain every goal...

Dear Maria & Family

I learned tonight the very hard way that someone I knew and loved so very much as a child, has left my life. I couldn't believe my eyes, when I learned of MIke's passing, I thought they were kidding, it has been years since I have seen him (since his graduation - really).
I was truly saddened, that God took such a wonderful person from our lives, but he is in such a wonderful place now.
We will keep your family in our thoughts and prayers, and know...

It was almost eight years ago when I began to develop a friendship with Mikey. Mike was a young freshman at Texas A&M and I was slightly older and knew a little more about "life". I knew Mike had graduated high school with my sister, but otherwise did not know him very well. We became friends immediately. Mike always had a way of looking at the world that I found both amazingly intriguing and absolutely hilarious. He was the best of friends. I will never forget our trip to Cancun...

I went to high school with Mike. We didn't "hang out" but we had a lot of the same classed He was a great guy and was always laughing. My heart and prayers go out to the Giraldo family. Mike will be terribly missed.

Mike and I have been friends since high school. We used to play basketball and pool all the time. He re-invented the "Mikey" shot each time we played a round of pool or a game of basketball.

Even when we went our seperate ways after high school we would visit each other during college and when we started working. I can't think of a time when we didn't have fun together.

He was a fun and energetic individual who will always be one of my closest...

Words cannot describe the shock that we are all facing right now. Mike was in my Pre Calculus class and made me smile every time I saw that 2 foot grin of his...he could literally make you smile without any effort. He had a disposition about himself that we should all have...control what you can, and leave the rest up to Him.

Mike is a man that we should model and honor with our words and deeds.

He will be sorely missed.

With hope that we can all carry...

Mike leaves me with the memories of the wonderful vibrant young man he was.

I had much admiration for Mike's kindness and thoughtfulness.
I came to know Mike when he was a COOP with HP. At the time I
was expecting my 2nd child, and he was such a kind and thoughtful
young man during my days of pregnancy. I guess that is why I admired
him so much, to see this young man be so considerate of others
made me realize that this was an individual with much...