My close friend (from childhood), Michael (Mike) Riikola, passed away on September 1, 2024. He 'marched to his own drum' as a passionate intellectual, reading Nietzsche and the NYT before high school. Mike admired Jimmy Hendrix, along with playing his own guitar in a self-styled band. Along with being a practicing Phoenix attorney for 40 years, he became a very devoted baseball player in the MSBL. For me, he was my "master editor" and diagnoser of BS, and valued learning, philosophy and history far more than those of us who lived by grades alone!!! He was a light to the larger world for me, and I am very sad he is gone.
Fun facts:
1. He could make his eyes (aka eyeballs) vibrate.
2. He mistakenly (?) shot a rubber band that hit the arm of our very inappropriately-dressed 8th grade math teacher (tight sleeveless knit turtlenecks, '50's swing skirt, flip-flop high heels). Needless to say, he was sent to the principal's office!
My brother shared with me of Mike's death. He was one of my favorite people in high school, we went to lunch often and always laughed our butt's off. I'm sorry I didn't get to visit with him before he passed. I remember him fondly.
I also remember Mike as a very personable and funny guy. I always sought him out at reunions, but I was always disappointed. Surprised such a popular classmate was not an extrovert, at least not enough to join his admiring classmates.
I remember he could draw well, but if no one else does, perhaps I am conflating him with Rich Chidlaw. Surprised how sterile his obit was, suspect he would have rewritten it, given a chance.
In a class where wit was valued, he was among the wittiest. Sad to see him go. As a fellow lawyer, I only ran into him a time or two, but life can be like that.
Maybe I'm remembering incorrectly, but I thought he came to the 10 year reunion in a limo, spoofing the whole humble brag associated with those gatherings. I thought that was hilarious. I didn't know Mike well but I always appreciated his wry humor. In any case, cheers to his well lived life.
Wendy Korrick
My close friend (from childhood), Michael (Mike) Riikola, passed away on September 1, 2024. He 'marched to his own drum' as a passionate intellectual, reading Nietzsche and the NYT before high school. Mike admired Jimmy Hendrix, along with playing his own guitar in a self-styled band. Along with being a practicing Phoenix attorney for 40 years, he became a very devoted baseball player in the MSBL. For me, he was my "master editor" and diagnoser of BS, and valued learning, philosophy and history far more than those of us who lived by grades alone!!! He was a light to the larger world for me, and I am very sad he is gone.
Fun facts:
1. He could make his eyes (aka eyeballs) vibrate.
2. He mistakenly (?) shot a rubber band that hit the arm of our very inappropriately-dressed 8th grade math teacher (tight sleeveless knit turtlenecks, '50's swing skirt, flip-flop high heels). Needless to say, he was sent to the principal's office!
Kathy Kelly (Hanson)
My brother shared with me of Mike's death. He was one of my favorite people in high school, we went to lunch often and always laughed our butt's off. I'm sorry I didn't get to visit with him before he passed. I remember him fondly.
Stalker Reed
I also remember Mike as a very personable and funny guy. I always sought him out at reunions, but I was always disappointed. Surprised such a popular classmate was not an extrovert, at least not enough to join his admiring classmates.
I remember he could draw well, but if no one else does, perhaps I am conflating him with Rich Chidlaw. Surprised how sterile his obit was, suspect he would have rewritten it, given a chance.
Jeffrey Williams
In a class where wit was valued, he was among the wittiest. Sad to see him go. As a fellow lawyer, I only ran into him a time or two, but life can be like that.
Milton Barnes (Barnes)
... a force of nature from beginning to end!
Kathy Cook
Maybe I'm remembering incorrectly, but I thought he came to the 10 year reunion in a limo, spoofing the whole humble brag associated with those gatherings. I thought that was hilarious. I didn't know Mike well but I always appreciated his wry humor. In any case, cheers to his well lived life.