Michael Christopher "Mike" Lewis

I first met Mike in 1990 when I was a freshman and he was a sophomore. We were in the same drama class and I crossed the room to strike up a conversation. I'm not sure what made me do it, but he felt welcoming so maybe that's why. According to him, I said I liked his Mickey Mouse watch and asked if I could wear it? I remember it differently, that he just gave it to me hahaha. Either way, I think we both knew right away that this was going to be an instant, intense, and lifelong friendship. We were inseparable in high school. We spent our young adult years together, and when I moved to Richmond, he moved there too a bit later. We had wonderful memories of our college classes we took together, both as "older" students still in our early twenties. When I got married, we considered he should be my maid of honor, but he instead offered to usher my mom, who was very nervous about the whole ceremony. The minute she knew he was doing it, she was so relaxed . She's known and loved Mike since we were children. Mike loved her. When she passed away in 2014, I called him within minutes. He was so supportive at her funeral in so many ways, I will forever be grateful. He found out his mother had ALS a few years later, and immediately dropped everything to move to her house in Kentucky and be her full-time caregiver. I have great memories of visiting him during these times and playing board games and laughing with his mom. When his mother passed, he moved back to Virginia and quickly found out he had cancer. He endured some profound surgeries, he was a brave fighter. He fought cancer for almost 4 years. I am grateful for the time we had during these years, traveling to see concerts, and hanging out in our old stomping grounds. His spirit was intense and captivating, even in the end. The last time I spoke to him was on the phone was just before I raced home from Florida to see him. He made a joke we have had since high school, that has carried throughout the years, so that he could make me laugh. He didn't want me to be sad. I love him forever. I hear his voice all day, making jokes and narrating my life.

I met Mike in the early 90's when I moved to Virginia. We worked at a political surveying place together. And from there a lifelong friendship bloomed. I have such fond memories of Mike, we rescued an owl that was wounded in the middle of the road outside of his parents house, and felt like we had saved the world. The letters that would follow, once I moved home to New Jersey, he would draw pictures of the owl we saved, who we named but of course the name escapes me right now. We always kept in contact via letters or once the world wide Web opened up to all of us, through Facebook. Mike was full of light and love for everyone. To this day when I hear and arrested development song, we are back either in his room or the room adjacent with the pool table in it in his parents house dancing and singing , young and happy. His girls were his everything. He was a proud father and grandfather, and he would delight in telling me of all the things they did together. I had the pleasure to speak to him last year on the phone and it was like time had stood still. I will always treasure the memories I have with him. Rest in peace Mike. My love always, Mary