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Year 11... Have never forgotten.. Just heard your name called at exactly 11:22AM. Will continue to listen every year as always. Forever in the hearts of your St. Paul's family. That sweet smile and gentle spirit did not leave us. It lives with us always.

Michael,

We met in Chicago and enjoyed getting to know you. When you went back to NYC, things changed and we forgot about each other. But, you told me about working at the WTC. When I heard the news about what was destroyed on 9/11, I immediately thought of you. It was too painful to talk to your family right then and did so about a year later. I felt your mom's pain in her voice.

The only thing I can think of is "Has this world been so kind to you that you should leave with regret? There are better things ahead than any we leave behind." ~ C.S. Lewis.

I miss you and think of you often and fondly....

SHARING: THE LIVING MEMORIES OF A DEPARTED VISITOR:

MICHAEL PARKES: MP: WE COUSIN WE BROTHER WE ARE!

CONTRIBUTING OUR CREATIVE THOUGHTS: WITHOUT A PAUSE ON YOU: A PAINFUL COMMENT OF COMMUNICATION TO THE BEYOND: TEARS TEARS TEARS TEARS TEARS OUR TEARS WILL NEVER END: CEASELESSLY 'TIS PAINS OF 'TIS LOST ON 'TIS BEING: IT WILL NEVER END: NOR WILL THIS SADNESS BE FORGOTTEN OR FORGIVEN: NEVER IN THIS LIFE: THE NEXT AND FOREVER MORE: NEVER! EVEN NOW: AS WE WRITE THESE THOUGHTS IN HONOUR AND LIVING MEMORIES ON ONE OF THE RETURNING GREAT ONES OF OUR CLAN!

IT WAS TOO SHORT TOO SOON! REST ASSURE OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN WILL ALWAYS 'KNOW TIS SIGNIFICANT OF YOUR BEING!

WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED DIFFERENT: NOT NORMAL ALL YOUR LIFE: THEY ARE A SELECTED FEW THAT SEES YOU BEYOND THE PERCEPTIONS OF THE PRESCRIBED NORMS: WHEN OUR SHADOWS MET THERE WAS A BRILLIANT SMILE: EVEN NOW THE LOST OF YOU MAKES US CRY, THOU ART A BEACON AN EVER LIVING TRANSMITTER OF INSPIRATIONS!

FROM: VISUAL TRUTH: A TERRORISTICALLY SOCIAL CELL OF TERRORISM IS GOVERNMENTAL POWER: THIS TRUTH ON THE VISUAL PHYSICS: COLLAPSED CONTROLLED. ALWAYS SHARING WITH TRUTH: HE SMILED AND SAID THAT SOMETIMES! WE REMEMBER THE HOURS ON THE PHONE LINES: OUR DIALECTIC REASONING: IN OUR FAMILY TIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIMES: THE OLD JAMAICAN STYLE: ORAL KNOWLEDGE FOR THE FAMILY LINE: BY ONE WHO SAW BEYOND THE TIMES! SOMETIMES KNOWN AS THE CRAZY ONES: DUE TO WISDOM OF LONG!

DICTIONARY MEANING: {“terrorist |ˈterərist| noun a person who uses terrorism in the pursuit of political aims. DERIVATIVES terroristic terroristik, adjective terroristically adverb ORIGIN late 18th cent.: from French terroriste, from Latin terror (see terror ). The word was originally applied to supporters of the Jacobins in the French Revolution, who advocated repression and violence in pursuit of the principles of democracy and equality.

ONE SUNDAY AFTER CHURCH, BY AUNT SONIA: WE ALL GATHER AT THE TABLE SOMEONE SAID: NEVER THE NORM YOU ARE: DALE'S REPLYING COMMENT: NORMAL OR ABNORMAL NEVER THIS GUY: HE'S JUST ONE OF A KIND: MICHAEL: IN AGREEMENT HE SMILED:

OUR IDEAS OUR THOUGHTS THERE ARE A FEW WHO KNEW HOW DEEP OUR VIEWS: HIS RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION MATTER NOT WHEN IT COMES TO LISTENING TO YOU! PRODUCTIVE SUPPORTIVE ON MATTER WE SOUGHT TO DO: MANY TIMES HOW SO MANY TIMES THIS IS HIS LIVING PATTERN OF TRUE.

AT THE CHURCH ONE SUNDAY: AFTER THE CEREMONIES:WE JUST PASSING THROUGH, MADE A STOP TO SEE OUR FAVORITE TWO.

MONIQUE AND MICHAEL. THERE WAS AN OLD PIANO: SO WE STEPPED TO TEST THE TUNE: MESSING AROUND MICHAEL CAME IN VIEW: SMILING HE SAID: YES WE KNOW YOU GOT SOME TALENT TOO, YOU WAS PAYING ATTENTION IN THE CLASSROOM; YOU SHOULD COME TO CHURCH TOO: LET MORE PEOPLE HEAR WHAT WE KNOW YOU CAN DO!

YOU HAVE THE TALENT TO GET A SCHOLARSHIP LIKE ME TOO!

OUR REPLIED: NO THANKS: WE SEE WHAT YOU GOT TO DO: BALANCING THE BOOK FOR THE CHURCH, RUNNING OVER HERE, BEING OVER THERE: OFTEN THE PEOPLE DON'T CARE: OUR APPROACH IS DIFFERENT NONETHELESS, WE STILL GET SCHOLARSHIPS: YOU FOR NYU AND WE FOR SVA: BECAUSE WE DOING ART WE DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH YOUR TYPE OF STRESS: SOME WE PONDER HOW YOU DO IT!

MICHAEL SMILED AND SAID TRUE: STILL HE CONTINUE TO DO

MI LADY IN BEING STRONG FOREVER WE REMEMBER!

You are loved, missed and will never be forgotten. Thank you for your kind words and friendly advice when I first joined St. Paul's Church. Your legacy lives on through the memories and hearts of those who knew you.

It is 9:28AM and year 10.. Mike it has been 10 years now... I can't believe it! It was the week or two before that I last saw you at church. You have not been forgotten. I will always remember your smile! We both believed in the youth and anything I do I always remember how involved you were. You always had me beat.. Lol.. Always a nice person! You will never be forgotten. May you always rest in peace.

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Michael, I know I post the same tribute each year. 10 years Michael.... We spoke days before everything changed. I moved to Bear Stearns where you were and you moved to WTC where I was. We laughed at the irony of the move and how life takes us in different directions. I will always remember you and that conversation. Nothing is an irony Michael and I'm 100% sure you are in a good place watching over us.

Michael,

I know you just by phone but we built a very truthful collegial relationship. Do you remember the evening (for me)and the morning for you of 31.12.2000? We were discussing P/L and B/S for reporting on time. I was asking you what will you do for the New Year and you said you would go to the Church by midnight! I'm so sorry we lost you, I was hoping long time you are alive! But I'm sure you are well in Paradise. Your colleague Violeta

I knew you for too short a time but your gentle spirit and your kindness will forever remain in my heart. Thank you for the budding friendship that I am sure would have blossomed full bloom had you survived.

Rest well!

9:55AM - 8 years later... I am doing it again Mike. Waiting for your name. You remain forever present all the time in my thoughts. Every year this day remains being such a surreal time in our city. Time may pass, but the day lives on forever. You will always live forever in my heart! I know you are watching over us all!

Michael

You were a great human-being; full of life and warmth. Always smiling, and I am sure that's what you must be doing right now and always...

Prashant Jain

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It was a wonderful experience to have known you and to have worked with you as the Scoutmaster of Unit 565. What an adventure it would have been had we been allowed in each others circles for more time. You were inspirational not only to the young people you worked with but to all who you came in contact with. God needed a Scoutmaster of your calliber to lead his troops. Good work, Michael! Love you.

This all still seems surreal. The last time I saw you it was on Knutsford Boulevard where you screamed my name...LOL...after all the hugging and chatting you then handed me a business card. I'm glad we got the chance to catch up and to talk and to laugh and share plans and goals. Michael you are loved and I still think of you with bittersweet feelings. I pray for you and Monz and Uncle Jim all the time. What a wonderful life and how sad that it was cut so short. You are missed.

10:58AM - 7 years later.... I waited for your name to be read (as I do every year) and wonder what these 7 would have brought if you were still here.. You will never be forgotten! I know you are seeing how fast the kids at St.Paul's are growing up and marvelling at this in complete amazement. You would have been so influential to them at this time. Continue doing your great work up there. Until we meet again! God Bless your family...

Dearest Michael:

Every year on this day especially, I can't seem to stop crying. You were one of my dearest friends and I loved you very much. I thank God for bringing you into my life and for showing and teaching me so much. You will never be forgotten and I can't wait to I see you again in glory. My best to Mom and Monique and the rest of the Parkes family. You are always in my thoughts and prayers. God Bless You All

I miss you everyday Michael! I cannot believe that it has been 7 years since I last saw you. It still seems like yesterday. Sometimes I still think I can call and hear you say "chello" in the corny Michael Parkes way that you did. I would love to hear that again. I would love to hear more of your super corny jokes that made me roll my eyes but would still manage to make me laugh. But the essence of you was that true friendship you extended to us who were so fortunate. In my case I could go on and on because my memory bank has so many deposits from fond moments spent with you. Some instances do stand out more than others, such as, the times you spent at my house tutoring me math while in high school,spending hours with me on the phone in graduate school going over an accounting problem even though you had somewhere to go, ice-skating in Prospect Park, pranking at the Brooklyn Public Library at Grand Army Plaza; now this wasnt funny to me at the time but it somehow makes me chuckle now: you laughing me to scorn when I tripped over my own feet running after a frisbee at Riis Beach and fell flat on my face; You never forgot my birthday; I still have that wooden Gyname necklace you brought me back from Jamaica...I later found out that the symbol stood for the omnipotence of God and there is nothing to fear in the presence of God who is everywhere so fear is irrelevent...how appropriate! It took me 7 years to go back to working on an airplane and as much as fear may have been a part of it I was also angry that an airplane played a role in taking you away. I am free of that fear and anger now because I know that even though I miss you terribly still, you are OK and it was never in your spirit to harbor fear and anger.I carry you with me in my heart at all times but I do feel closer to you whenever that airplane flies over NYC on its final approach into Laguardia. I look down from that little window and feel just a little bit closer to you because thats where you last smiled. Until we meet again my friend....

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Six years have passed and still you remain part of us. Last week I finally brought myself to deleting your email address from my contact list. I guess I had failed to do so for fear that my action could erase you from my memory. Much to my suprise, one week later I have "discovered" this website honoring your memory.

I was fortunate enough to "thank you" one last time; and in many ways I think my psyche knew it was a goodbye (of sorts).

Your absence has been heavy on my heart but even in death you gave me another great gift; a lifelong friend who has remained in my life since you've been gone. That friendship and your ever-present spirit continue to teach me invaluable life lessons.

Evidently, you are still among us.

Michael, I still can't believe your gone. I remember looking at the back of your bean head while you were serving in church. I joined the army and think of you whenever they try to motivate us with tapes of terrorist and their foolishness. You motivate/motivated me and the other youths around me. Your memory will forever live on. I love you,Diana

6 years already.. You are always in my thoughts. We miss you so much.. It would be great if you were here to see the work we are doing at St. Paul's. Then again, you are probably watching us from Heaven cheering us on!

I am so glad to have found this wite that commemorates a life that touched so many.

Michael and I were classmates at NYU Stern School of Business. We shared laughs (and tough teachers), late night computer lab assignments, crazy classmates and finally, graduation together. You always had a positive attitude about everything, even when the rest of us were frustrated beyond comprehension. You were truly, the calm before the storm for me. I was so happy that our friendship continued to the end.

You called me a week before just to catch up. We commented on how it was good to see each other at the train and to have had the opportunity to walk home together talking. We made plans to get together for lunch. I said I would call on Friday, and for some reason time slipped away from me and I forgot. I'll call Monday, I said. Sadly, I never got that chance. I have regretted that ever since.

Michael, I think about you often. I take solace only in the fact that every once and a while, I see you smiling at me in a memory of mine. You were a stellar human being and I am honored to have had the privilege of knowning for the time that I was allowed.

I just wanted to wish my condolences to the family, especially to Monique, also known to me as Anya. Anya and I went to Immaculate HS in Jamaica and both migrated here to NY and went to Tilden HS. When visiting their home and even at school, Michael was such a great and personable guy. Very friendly, easy to talk to, and a great sense of humor. I didn't know how to reach out to the the family, except now, but my prayers and thoughts are always with you,especially during the time. Monique email me.

Janice

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Wow- I can't believe that I found something online about Michael, but I am so happy that I did. I would like to share some things I remember.

Michael and I went to school together at UIC. (University of Illinois- Chicago). He was finishing his Masters and I my Bachelors. We both worked for Residential Life (Dorms), which is how we met. Michael was all of the things that many of you talk about- funny, kind, gentle spirit, intelligent, caring. I knew that he was a believer and begin to see the many things he was doing for Christ and the church. Although we only knew one another for 1-2 years I truly felt blessed to know him.

The last memory I have with him was close to graduation. We were discussing what his future plans were. He said he was either going to go back to Jamaica or go to New York. I remember he graduated mid semester (December), which was right around my birthday. He bought me a birthday gift (a journal with bible scriptures at the bottom) and a book mark. I still have them both. On the bookmark, was an old Jewish proverb-

I believe in God, when the sun isn't shining

I believe in God, when I'm alone

I believe in God, even when He is silent.

At the time I found the selection of bookmark odd and sad for a gift, but when I looked back, it all made sense.

Michael and I lost touch once he left Chicago, but I thought about him from time to time. I found out what happened by accident. (Reading someone else's UIC alumni newsletter on my day off). I remember being speechless. It did not seem real.

Now that the years have passed, I realize that I must look at what I gained and not what I lost. I realized that I received a very special gift from God... the chance to even know him - and what a priviledge it was. ;-) I think Michael is a shining example for everyone. His life taught me that no one knows what tomorrow holds, but we must love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength- no matter what. We must also have a passion for our purpose, so we do not look back over our lives with regret. I can't imagine Michael having any regrets. ;-) He is a true angel.

Nicole Morris

BTW- Michael signed the back of the bookmark. I still look at it from time to time because I can see/touch his handwriting.

I'am the sister of one of Michaels friends Derrel.... my memory of Michael was when I took a road trip with my brother & his New York University buddies. I remember feeling so happy to know my brother has such a great group of friends who are wonderful examples of strong, intelligent, compasionate & very funny men. There was a moment on the trip when my brother had not come back to the hotel & I was ever so worried, and I remember being comforted by his friends and reassured that Derrel would be just fine. My prayers go out to Michaels family & closest friends. May the lord continue to grant you strength & confort ...T.Y. I'm happy & blessed to have shared momentarily in his wonderful spirit, I still remember fondly.

God Bless Alway!

Michael... (exhale), I never had the pleasure of meeting you but you have touched my life in ways that no one can conceivably understand. I am the youngest grand-son of Lawrence O. McLachlan and son of Aston & Rochelle. You are my cousin, role model, and motivation to do well. It's not often that we encounter angels on our family tree and we are all proud of who you are, who you were striving to be, and just you being you.

Far too often we don't take the time to say the things we feel but hopefully you know how much you are loved and missed.

Keep Smiling,

Dave

I don't know what to say about you Mike. You were one of the few men in my life, that as a friend, who were such a gentle spirit. I can't remember a time ever if I've ever seen you cry or upset ( except for the time at the banquet when a speaker fell and hit your grandmother on the head-- we were at Jamaica hospital all night till early morning you knew she would be alright ) I miss you so much and I miss being your friend. I think of you often and I am healing. You are gone, but you will never be forgotten. My thoughts are so jumbled I don't even think that I am making any sense. The memorial service that was held for you at the church was beautiful you would have liked it. No big crying and all that people smiled a lot. And all the ladies were there talking about you, "Mr. Lover Man". It took me 2 years to write this, this is therapy for me to write about you and then let you go. I had a son his name is Brandon you would have liked him, I think that I'll take him to see your mom and grandmother. Well Michael you were my friend and I miss you and alot of people miss you.

Good bye, Camille

Michael it is now almost 2 years later..... Your spirit continues to live on. I hope you are doing great things up there. Until we meet again. . .

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Where do I start? When I came to the realization that you were gone I was devastated. To think the one person that believed that I can accomplish anything was gone out of my life. To tell the truth I still can't believe your gone. You know I went to church the other day and I had to give a speech and when I looked out to the back where you usually stand and smile at me, there was someone standing there in that same spot and it was not the same. I didn't get that look of encouragement and it just felt wierd for that person not to be you. I didn't understand how God can take someone like you away, my friend, my advisor, my shoulder to lean on , my backbone, my brother in Christ. How can I make it on without you? But you know what you taught me what it is to stand up strong and be a leader and I will always remember you for that. I think that is why I am so outspoken now. Heaven has gained someone great and I guess the Lord called you to do a task that only a person like you with great skill can get done. I hope we meet again, and I will make you very proud of me. I love you and miss you. Krissy

Michael, i think about you everyday since 9/11. It still hasn't really hit me that you are gone. I miss you so much.You were one of the few in church that i could turn to for anything. Noone can ever take your place.We have lost a great person but heaven has gained one. Continue to do your work up there until we will meet again. I love you Michael and I will never stop missing you.

Micheal, you are indeed missed. I did not face your death last year. I wish if were able to work together on things with the church. You had a great big heart, a beautiful smile and a wonderful spirit. St. Paul's is lost without you! I know that you are shining a light in heaven. Continue to shine your light, so that we can see it down here!

Thanks so much, Michael, for your warmth, gentleness and kindness. It was blessing to have known you.

Sometimes, I don't feel like you are away because I keep a picture of you as a book mark in my Bible.

Knowing how close you were to God makes me feel closer to Him through you. Thank you again.

Nicole Daley

You are missed Michael.. You were a GREAT person.

Thank you for blessing my life with your friendship.

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