1941-2020
A few days ago I was reviewing the Christmas cards we had received this year and noticed that one of the names missing was Mike Armstrong. I first met Mike Armstrong in 1959 when he entered the freshman class at the University of Rochester. I can’t recall who first introduced us. Mike was from Ballston Spa, New York and so we had been relatively nearby neighbors growing up but had never known each other. We became close friends through a common interest in physics. Not long after we had established a friendship I began talking to Mike about possibly joining the Sigma Chi fraternity. Mike decided not to pledge a fraternity until his sophomore year at which time he did become a Sigma Chi pledge and I became his big brother. We had a lasting friendship that that went on for years. He was initiated into the fraternity in 1961.
Mike and I had some fabulous experiences as undergraduates. One time he had acquired a 1953 Ford convertible. It was a very tired car. We had driven home for a weekend and were on our way back west on the New York State Thruway on Sunday evening after dark when a horrible sound erupted from under the car. We were sure there was some major mechanical problem so we pulled over decided to sleep in the car and worry about solving the problem the next day. The next morning when we got out of the car and walked around it we noticed that it had nothing more than a flat tire. We changed the tire and were on our way. We didn’t share that story with very many people. We lived together in the Crosby Dormitory our last two years at Rochester. We remained close friends who corresponded regularly over the next several years.
One of the funniest experiences Mike and I had involved an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting although Mike was never an alcoholic. Mike had gone to work for a company in Florida, Ryder Systems, that implemented information technology systems. He had gone to Memphis on a business trip to discuss the implementation of one of their systems for a company in Memphis. He called to inform us that he was driving and asked if he could drive through our hometown of Fayetteville on his way back to Florida and perhaps spend the night with Margo and myself. This was probably in about 1985. I had only recently gotten sober and was trying to get to as many AA meetings as possible. Margo and I had heard that one of our favorite speakers, Father Hilary Dreaper, a Benedictine monk, was speaking that night at an AA meeting in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. I suggested to Mike that since he would be driving right through Lawrenceburg on his way to our home he could meet us at the AA clubhouse in Lawrenceburg. We would go to the meeting together, then go out to get a bite to eat, and then come to our house. It was a plan!
As usual Margo was late and we didn’t leave the house on time in order to be at the meeting prior to its start. Mike had arrived in plenty of time, found the location of the AA house, gone in and gotten himself a cup of coffee and sat down to wait for us to arrive. The meeting started. They started reading excerpts from the AA "Big Book" and introducing members of the local AA group. Mike was convinced that I had done this as a practical joke. Of course we arrive 15 minutes late, found a place to sit next to Mike and the rest was just a great story.
Gradually our friendship grew more distant because we never lived in the same area for any length of time. Nonetheless we stayed in touch, corresponded, and exchanged Christmas cards. In about 1992, I invited Mike and his wife Bettie to come to Tennessee and hike up Mt. Le Conte in the Smokies. They flew into Knoxville where a small group of my fellow hikers picked them up and we proceeded to spend the night in Townsend prior to our two-day hike. I got the impression that this was not Mike's idea of fun.
This year when I realized that Mike had not sent a Christmas card I began to search for his name on Google with various tags that might locate some information on him such as Mike Armstrong University of Rochester. Sure enough I learned the worst -Mike had passed away last July. Even worse, he died of Lou Gehrig’s disease, the dreaded ALS. A further search revealed that the ALS foundation has a forum used by victims of this horrible disease and that Mike had been a regular contributor for several months. Reading those entries on the ALS forum I could hear his voice clearly speaking to me of the experience he was going through. I only wish I could have been there to help. It makes me regretful that sometimes we let relationships die when they need nurturing.
His obituary reveals the life of a unique and very talented individual:
Michael Frederick Armstrong
Michael Frederick Armstrong passed away on July 20, 2020, in Hansville, Washington, after waging a courageous battle against ALS with humor and strength.
Michael was born on March 6, 1941 to Frank and Virginia (Hawkins) Armstrong. He received his Electrical Engineering degree from the University of Rochester in 1963 and worked for the University of Rochester Computing Center for fifteen years. In 1973 he met Bettie Francis scuba diving in the waters off Grand Cayman Island and they married in 1981.
Michael loved problem-solving, learning, teaching, mentoring and all things computers and airplanes. He built his own crystal radio and received his Ham Radio license, call sign K2RDB, at the age of thirteen. Michael was vice president of Information System for Ryder Corporation in the 1980s and some of his most cherished memories were as SHARE president from 1986-1988. Michael was also a pilot, a licensed aviation mechanic and a Quiet Birdmen member. He volunteered at the annual Sun N Fun Fly-In in Florida and assisted with rewiring WWII airplanes at Fantasy of Flight. There wasn't a tool, manual or book he didn't like, and he secretly wanted his own hardware store (so he could play with even more tools). He relished receiving calls from friends with challenges, so he could show his problem-solving skills. His college years were so important and transforming for him that he created an Endowed Fund at the University of Rochester to provide educational opportunities for future students. No one was ever a stranger in Michael's eyes. He loved life, music, laughing, and appreciated his incredible klatch of family and friends. His beard could never hide his big grin and Mikey's twinkly blue eyes always made you smile.
Michael is preceded in death by his father and mother. He is survived by his wife and soulmate, Bettie, his sister, Patty and all of his loving extended family members. His ashes will be interred at Hansville Cemetery, Hansville, Washington and the Armstrong & Hawkins Family Plot, Corinth Rural Cemetery, Corinth, NY.
A memorial service date is pending until sometime next year. If anyone wishes to honor Michael, donations may be made in his name to the ALS Association Evergreen Chapter at webwa.alsa.org.
Mike, I will always miss your company and know that you are loved and missed. All honor to your name. ΣΧ
