Michael Harrigan
Mike was more then a friend to me. He was a brother.
As he was to all who knew him at The New School and I'm sure many other places.
Like all siblings there are disagreements, misunderstandings, etc.
but there are also the good times,
when stories of adventures had the past day are shared,when enjoying a friendly game,
When driving through the warm spring nights of his last week,
listening to music, arms hanging out of the window.
His arms, along with the rest of his body were "well developed"
and he took a certain pride in his body and atheltiscism.
Despite this pride in his physique,
there was an unspoken understanding among those who knew him,
that his body was insignificant put next to the size and compassion found in his heart.
I knew that even when he had our disagreements, the next minute, the next hour, or the next day,
he would try to mend any sort of personal conflict he sensed.
The most striking thing about Mike, was his demeanor.
He affected so many people in his short stay.
His charisma and non-chalant attitude were incredible signs of his character.

All you have to do is look around you.
Just ask around, and you'll hear so many stories of lives he's changed.
In the last few days, through reminiscing with fellow students
and friends of his that I happened to know (which is but a tiny percentage of people he actually knew).
I have heard stories of great charity, great compassion,
great conflict and great achievement.
No matter how you felt about Mike he demanded your respect.

The one thing that has helped me the most in dealing with this crushing loss,
is knowing that Mike will never die.
Even in the deepest darkest part of my mind I know he will never die.
His blood may have stopped pumping through his veins,
but the love that poured from his heart will never stop.
He taught me how to love the world, to love life and I know he would want that love to be had by everyone on the planet.
Mike helped me to see the beauty in so much of life,
and my eyes will forever see the new spectrum he has shown me.

I remember talking to him about the skies of New Mexico,
and he told me about how he wanted to see the stars, in the open sky,
without being dimmed or dulled by the glow of city lights.
He talked about them with such a passion,
he wanted to bathe in the celestial beauty and take it all in.
It gives me comfort to know Mike is now living among them.
With Love,
Will Bennett
Love,
Brendan Kennedy

As read beautifully at Michael's Funeral Mass at St. Leo the Great Roman Catholic Church on 4/24/02