Mike, my D partner! I can never replace you! Rest well, you will be missed!

Mike was a neighbour of ours in Unionville. Always a warm smile and a hello! Sending our deepest sympathies to Patti, the children and grandchildren, and his family and friends.

Uncle Mike I can’t believe you are gone. You made so many great memories for me as a kid and you did the same for my kids. Fishing, boating, tubing, games and laughs. My kids thought of you like a grandpa. Going to Restoule will not be the same without you. We will miss you dearly. Love you so much.

Mike was great to my family. We spent lots of time with Mike at the cottage. He taught my kids how to fish, went for numerous walks with them and played lots of board games with them. He would drive for hours to watch my son play hockey. He always provided him with great hockey advice. I always enjoyed the talks we had together and the life lessons he taught me. He will be missed. Mike meant a lot to my kids and family.

Mike, our brother-in-law, as Robert would say he felt like the older brother I never had. Robert remembers in his younger days playing goalie on the driveway as Mike practiced his slap shot, fear gripping his heart each time a puck whizzed by. Our trip to Halifax with the kids to take in the World Juniors Hockey tournament. Getting stormed stayed in the airport (Patti supplying us with sandwiches and pickles), missing the opening game and lost luggage. Mike looked after us all making sure we got there and what a great time we all had. His sense of humour and his laugh and his willingness to help out wherever have been missed and will continue to be missed. Rest easy.

Robert and Kim

Mike was an owner at Orchard Point Harbour condominium where we shared a few cocktails and many humorous stories. Played golf with Mike with OPGA boys. He was a good golfer, but it never helped my score playing a round with him. Mike, keep your eye on the ball and swing easy buddy

Carpy

I met Mike at the University of Pennsylvania in the early 1970s, but only got to know him well about a decade ago. He had strong views on many issues, but we both enjoyed history and discussing politics and we were able to respectfully challenge, tease one and enjoy one another's views. Mike was very supportive of our efforts to strengthen the hockey program at Penn. He loved his Penn Hockey teammates and hosted the last (2019) Toronto reunion we had at his beloved Miller Tavern. His premature death cuts deep and we already miss him greatly, but we will carry forward our treasured memories of him and continue to advance his dream of bringing D1 varsity hockey back to Penn.

Mike was our neighbour in Restoule but was also our cousin so I have known him all my life. His mother, Edna, and our mother, Lois, were sisters and our families alternated Christmases together for many years burning up the highway between Oshawa and Orillia. Mike was cooler than cool. He was a few years older than me and was going off to university in Pennsylvania to play hockey when I was beginning high school. The Viet Nam war was raging then and the culture and music he listened to reflected those times. Exciting and scary times in the US with riots and student protests. Mike was able to experience many things that we were envious and curious about. Living in Italy and playing hockey there, later living in England with his young family…going to those huge soccer games and,again, absorbing different cultures. Lots of interesting stories to share. But none more important to him than sharing the stories of his own children and grandchildren who he loved dearly. RIP Mike.

Mike came to Penn as a young man. He joined the varsity team his sophomore year and fortunately for the Penn program he was moved to defense in the middle of the year. I had the privilege of being his partner for the last few months of my senior year and became friends with Mike on and off the ice. He was a credit to our team and a leader in subsequent years when Penn was a playoff team. I enjoyed our far to infrequent visits in recent years at hockey reunions. Mike was a true gentleman and it was a privilege to be his friend . I will miss him greatly.

My brother,my constant,my confidant,my Restoule partner,my favourite hockey player, my golf coach,my worry, my heartbreak, my forever friend.

Thinking of you Mike and all your gifts. Your incredible mind, sense of humour, your athleticism, business sense, kindness and generous spirit. You always wanted to share what you had whether that was entertaining at your home and making us insanely good food, (Mallory always said your ribs were better than Auntie Patti's but that's a secret - writing this here because I know you'd love that) or your wealth of knowledge or just a good story. You had such a good soul - a wonderful brother in law and uncle to our kids and we shared so many good times as a family. You were always ready to help whoever needed it and you never hesitated to help Steve and I and we are forever thankful for that. Mike, you've left us too soon. We'll be here to support your family thru this...I know that would be your first concern, but we will all miss you. Until we meet again...XO

PS I hope you can say hi to 'Fluffy' up there for me.

I met and became friends with Mike as a five year old in Grade One at Couchiching Heights P.S. With Ralph Mc, we played every sport under the sun and he was always the best at every one of them. It was great to re-unite with Mike when he came back to Orillia a few years ago. I enjoyed the walks, the coffee meet-ups and especially the golf games we shared, where we had so many similar memories and impressions and shared lots of laughs. As in our school days, I admired his intelligence, his subtle wit and quiet confidence. I will miss him as will so many of us.

I met Mike playing golf with the OBGA a few years ago. Enjoyed the time that I spent with him talking about hockey & life while playing golf. I shot my best score ever three years ago with this nice gentleman at Braestone Golf club & will never forgot that great day that I shared with Mike. RIP

Mike what a blessing it was to have you return to Orillia and share such great outings with 'the gang' of golfers (OBGA). The stories, the laughs, the memories and the challenges of sport. We played together back in Squirt/Peewee hockey and to reconnect as (old) adults in Orillia was amazing, truly amazing. My thoughts and prayers go out to Laurie and the rest of the family. Thanks for sharing the photo gallery enclosed here. RIP my friend

Mike’s patented laugh keeps playing though my brain - I can see his eyes squinting, his face redden, and his thumbs point skyward as he lets go with a hearty guffaw. What I would give to see and hear it just one more time. Mike never judged his friends and that is one of many qualities that I greatly admired in him. I (and Chris your golfing ‘hon’) will miss you dearly. Good bye bud.

I remember Mike and I sitting together at the Unionville Presbyterian Church. We were supposed to concentrate on collecting the donation plates but, more importantly, Mike and I would put together the hockey lineup for that afternoon's hockey game with our boys! Favourite expression to the boys - "Unbelievable!"

Thousands of other memories including spending a week in England with Mike, Patti and the kids. We took his chauffeured car to Wimbledon but, alas, it was one of the few days Wimbledon got rained out. Nevertheless, we had strawberries and cream in the rain.

We'll miss you Mike.

It's been a few years since our last conversation, but will always cherish our time when we got together with Brother Rod & the boys .Rest easy my friend !!

Michael. upon arriving back in Orillia, you instantaneously rekindled the laughter we all enjoyed as a group in the OBGA. You’ll always be one of the guys, sadly leaving us far too early. Rip my friend.

Mike reminded me that 67 years ago that a little 3 year old from 27 Fitton’s Road wandered down the street to 43 Fitton’s Road and with the the Hubbert bravado, knocked on the door and asked my mother if the little one could come out to play. That little guy was me and we were best friends from then on. Road and pond hockey and junior golf were the best child memories that we both cherished together. May you rest in peace brother because that is what you were to me.

How lucky are we to have had a great man like Mike in our lives. Going to Aunt Patti and Uncle Mike’s house growing up is a cherished childhood memory, and I know he loved me and Mitch like his own.

We will miss you, Uncle Mike. Say hi to Papa for us.

When he arrived at Penn I thought how can this guy possibly make the team .Four years later he established himself as one of best players Ever to play the game for Penn

The first time I remember meeting Mike was at my grandfather's (Clayton) wake. He proudly said "I am your father's oldest cousin" and gave me a firm handshake and warm smile.

The last time I spoke with Mike, I was thanking him for holding onto my wallet, I'd dropped it on a walk in Restoule. We spoke about Portugal and I'd begun to mentally prepare some rudimentary Portuguese lessons for his travels. I hope somehow, someway, he's flying over the Azores now.

To Patti, Drew and Daniella: I'm sorry for your loss, thinking of all of you ❤️

A dear friend and teammate. Gonna miss the reminiscences, lunches and golfing. You will be in my thoughts always. Farewell, BUDDY!