Michael W. Andrews

Michael William Andrews, beloved husband of Jana Marie Antos, died of complications from ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) on January 19, 2007.
He was 45 years old. Michael's family has lost a loving father, partner and son; his friends have lost a witty and charming companion; and North Carolina has lost an advocate for the environment and the community.
A proud native of Texas, Michael adopted North Carolina as his home in 1996. Earning his living as a Principal Software Engineer with cipherOptics, Michael loved the challenges of his work. Earning his BS in Computer Science from the University of Texas-Tyler enabled him to secure his dream job, and he was thrilled for the opportunity to contribute to such a talented team of colleagues.
But work was not the sum of Mike's life. Shortly after moving to North Carolina, a trip to the Outer Banks motivated him to protect our state's natural resources. He volunteered his free time with the Capital Group Sierra Club and quickly assumed a leadership position. As Conservation Chair, Michael fought to preserve North Carolina's air and water quality through campaigns such as Tree Preservation; Save Open Space; Solutions to Sprawl; and NC Clean Smokestacks. He co-chaired a Transportation Forum to champion transportation alternatives for the Triangle, and advocated for the American Tobacco Trail and Raleigh's Greenway system. Michael also strengthened contacts with other environmental groups and community leaders, working to protect the region's water quality through wider stream buffers, storm water utilities, and tougher tree protection ordinances.
In addition to his environmental activism, Michael believed in the importance of community service on all levels-local, national and international. Michael had a strong faith and led by example. He was the person at the company picnic who quietly bundled up mountains of leftovers and donated them to a homeless shelter; he aided migrant workers needing assistance at the bank or in the grocery store; he anonymously mowed a busy friend's yard. Michael volunteered his efforts not just to his own church or neighborhood-he spontaneously donated time and energy wherever a need arose in the community at large. In the last years of his life, he focused attention to the problems of Sudan and the international community, urging elected officials to allocate more attention to that and other international crises.
Each of these qualities-a strong work ethic, a passion for the environment, and a commitment to community service-made Michael a unique and special individual. His warm smile and quick wit could instantly brighten any room. Even diagnosed with an incurable and debilitating terminal illness-with no chance of a cure-Michael lived each day with courage, dignity and a positive outlook. He was never bitter. His attitude and perseverance in the face of such a horrible illness were amazing. Michael loved his family deeply and was grateful for each day shared with his friends and especially, his family.
In addition to his wife, Michael is survived by his children, Shane and Sarah Andrews; their mother, Cherrie Tchir of Raleigh; his mother, Saundra Raley and maternal grandmother, Ernestine Dickerson, both of Lindale, TX; and his father, Robie Andrews of San Antonio, TX.
The family will receive friends on Sunday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Mitchell Funeral Home, 600 St. Mary's Street.
A funeral mass will be held on Monday, January 22, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The Sierra Club Foundation, 85 Second Street Suit 750, San Francisco, CA 94105. Better yet, in Michael's memory, dedicate two hours of your very own time to improving our community.