Michael Wallace Heldridge

Michael Wallace Heldridge Died peacefully at 62 years of age on January 24, 2009, at his home in San Francisco, CA. Born on November 8, 1946, in Minneapolis, MN, Michael moved to CA with his family in 1961. He was a Vietnam Era Veteran, serving as a medic in the U.S. Army. Following military service, he was reluctant to settle down. Michael pursued a life of travel and adventure, working as a private investigator and a merchant seaman. His travels often landed him in precarious situations, and he accrued an arsenal of good stories - he enjoyed nothing more than swapping them and laughing with his friends. Eventually Michael settled into a 20-year career on the waters of San Francisco Bay as a tankerman with Crowley Maritime. Michael lived his life generously, simply, and free from want. He endured many hardships, but he always held steadfastly to what mattered to him most - his circle of close friends, his family, and the sea. Michael is survived by his loving family: his mother and father, Shirley and Richard Heldridge, of Carmichael, CA; sister Kathryn Tyson, of Davis, CA; brother Dan Heldridge, of Larchmont, NY; and sister Sarah Moore of Brielle, NJ. A private service with friends and family will be held in San Francisco. Following the service, Michael's ashes will be scattered on San Francisco Bay, which he called "My Office". "He reached for her hand and he slipped her the keys. He said I don't have any further use for these. I see angels and ariels in leather and chrome. Swooping down from heaven to carry me home. He gave her one last kiss and died and he gave her his Vincent to ride." Richard Thompson