Michael Mackoff Shapiro

Michael Mackoff Shapiro (GRESHAM). Better known as Mike, Mikey, Babe, Dad, Bro, Uncle Mike, Alastair Caine. The man, the myth, the fastest wit in the west. Mike made his grand entrance into the world in Littleton, Colorado on 9 October 1991, ruddy and long-limbed: an infantile incarnation of the formidable largess that would weave its way through his life like Ariadne's thread. An insatiable and bubbly baby, an adventurous toddler, a beloved only son. Although he was the youngest of three by quite a few years, Mike had no trouble keeping up with his older sisters and submitted to their flights of fancy with joyful brio. In him, they had found a cherished companion and partner-in-crime. The missing piece in this particular Shapiro puzzle.

A child of Colorado and Minnesota, Mike grew up between the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and the lushness of Paul Bunyan's forests, surrounded by monumental landscapes and larger-than-life personalities. Over the years, Mike himself evolved into something of a monumental human, stretching up past six feet but not quite to seven, never invisible even if he wanted to be, his tuft of coiled blondish hair peeking up above all other heads in the room. Perhaps in such circumstances it is inevitable that everything about him took on a prodigious quality, from his formidable wingspan to his boundless imagination to his overflowing heart. A brother to everyone and a faithful friend, Mike always had room in his world for anyone who needed a hand, a listening ear, a place to live. His compassion flowed from a deep and tender well.

Mike's talents were bold, they were humble, they were so sneakily varied that their scope may have eluded even him. He was blessed with the crooning voice of a young Sinatra and the crisp and eloquent dance moves of Michael Jackson. His years of studying puns at his father's knee equipped him with unmatched skills in that arena, and his comical repartee was known to bring seasoned masters to tears. He was a discreet musician, a gifted storyteller, a tranquil gardener, an intuitive handyman. A kinetic learner and a kinetic man.

Along with big shoes to fill, Mike leaves behind his wife Tiffany; two sons, Bowie and Oz; his mom Kathy; his sisters Rachel and Amy; his niece Maïmouna; his nephews Harper and Massamba. He is preceded in death by his dad, Rick, and his faithful furry companions Rambo and Duke. Friends and family are invited to a celebration of life ceremony on Friday 29 august in Seaside, Oregon. In lieu of flowers or donations, you can honour Mike's memory by setting off a Roman candle or two. One more brilliant and ephemeral blaze of brightness in a dark night sky.