A Beautiful Celebration - He Will Be "Always on our Mind...

On my way to Midway, pecking away on my Blackberry. The Funeral Mass was an awesome tribute to Mike. Some 500 people packed Old St. Patricks. Eulogies were provided by Mike's brother, a lifelong friend, two lawyers who worked with Mike, a third lawyer friend and a judge. At the Union League reception we gathered for a '62 picture and I read Jim Wright's letter as well as an email from Thad Seymour.

In attendance were classmates who came from all over the country to honor Mike. I'll undoubtedly miss a name or two, but fellow Betas included pallbearers Mike Jackson and John Wilkinson plus Pete Brink, Woody Bradford, Tom Grey, John Hust, John Mussman and Dave Gundy (broken foot and all). Also attending were Commissioner Mike Slive, Don Samuelson, Zog Loomis, Ted Beal, George Beller, Frank Kehl and Ann Evans. Unfortunately, both Fred Cook and Colin Harley got stranded in Charleston and couldn't get there, much to their frustration.

I'll try to provide more context when I have a real keyboard to work with, and hopefully someone else can fill in some of the classmates I failed to mention, plus other details.
JW
John Walters
President, Class of 1962

The departure of Mike is a huge loss. His enthusiasm, generous nature and other directedness were rare gifts. Larger than life in positive and wonderful ways. He will be missed, by lots of people, for lots of different reasons - all interesting.

The "celebration" began with a two hour visitation. There was a constant line for two hours, with probably 800 staying for the service. Old St. Patrick's is a magnificent old downtown church.

Lots of 62s were there (and here I'm trusting memory): Mike Slive, Peter Brinck, John and Nancy Walters, Frank Kehl, George Beller, Ted Beal, Woody Bradford, Mr. and Mrs. John Hust, MIke Jackson, John Mussman, Dave Gundy, Tom Grey, Mr. and Mrs. John Wilkinson, Mr. and Mrs. Zog Loomis, Ann Evans, Don and Nancy Samuelson. Weather stalled Fred Cook and Colin Harley on the East Coast. I'm remembering the folks who stayed toward the end of the reception. Just remembered Peter Brinck. He and Mike Slive had to catch early planes out of O'Hare.

The high Mass was a splendid memorial service. It started with some PBS quality Irish singers doing Willie Nelson's "You are always on my mind." Set the tone. About as good as it could be. The service ended with "On Angel Wings." In between there was wonderful music, with a fiddle, piano, violin and periodic bagpipes - and great soloists. Wonderful music. Wonderful reflections.

The first half of the service were moving and often very funny tributes to Mike from law partners, law colleagues in the City, "mentees" and a grade school classmate. Who had one of the biggest, among many, applause lines by beginning: "I am not a lawyer."

A short summary can't do justice to the comments. They were variations on the themes voiced by President Wright, with many illustrations of the same endearing qualitities. Hopefully, we'll get them and work them into the web site being developed. Mike would have been very pleased. Probably would want to have a reprise of "You Are Always on My Mind."

John Wilkinson and Woody Bradford played key roles in the high Mass - a little confusing to me. They were quite superb. Although Woody appeared hidden behind the podium. Woody explained later "from his Episcopalean perspective." Something appeared lost in the translation.

And then there was a wonderful reception at the Union League Club. Quite a gathering. Mike's spirit was clearly there. I'm sure he would have loved his friends connecting with one another, one of the themes of the Mass. I left at 9:30. The room was still over half full.

Heath was there with her daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren. HIs daughters Heather (Chicago) and Kate (Colorado) were there with their families. They have a lot of Mike's wonderful qualities. Charming, warm ladies. My wife wanted to adopt them.

I was tempted not to write anything. Hard to capture the real elegance and moving qualities of the event. But thought many of you would like a "Cliff Notes" version of a splendid tribute to Mike.

Don
Don Samuelson

The class of 1962 gathers -- Mike looks on.
Back row: John Walters, Dave Gundy, Mike Jackson, John Mussman, John Hust, Don Samuelson, Frank Kehl
Front Row: Tom Grey, Woody Bradford, Ann Evans and Warren Loomis

Dear Class,

The devastating news of Mike's tragic death has affected me profoundly. I first met Mike at C&G in 1961. Kent and I shared a 1962 wedding anniversary date with Heath and Mike (and several other '62 couples!) Although we didn't often see each other between times, Kent and I always looked forward to renewing our friendship at class reunions.

When Kent died (in the same horrific way as Mike) eight years ago, Mike was one of the first Dartmouth '62's to contact me, and he has always kept in touch. When my father-in-law celebrated his 90th birthday last year, Mike sent him a card telling Kent's dad just how much Kent's friendship had meant to him over the years.

The phrase "larger than life" keeps recurring, and it is surely apt. Mike was a special friend to so many of us and never too busy to keep in touch. He will be missed.

With love and sympathy to you all,

Di
Dianne Morton, widow of Kent Morton '62

I remember seeing Mike in a mock trial on PBS years ago. He was part of the defense team at George Washington's treason trial (it presumed the colonies lost the AmRev). I guess Mike was a good lawyer. At any rate, he got GW acquitted. A nice guy, Mike was part of what made/makes Dartmouth so special to me.

John Clark

Mike's passing is a tremendous loss. I will miss my fraternity brother, fellow C&Ger, and great friend to the end of my days. Mike was my frequent correspondent, occasional host on his home turf, and several times an effective attorney in defending the NFL in lawsuits (though I think he could never bring himself to view the League as anything but an incidental adjunct to his beloved Bears). He was truly sui generis -- one of a kind. Mike was also larger than life -- and the only negative aspect of that was the excess weight that likely took him from us so much sooner than any of us would have preferred. God rest his soul, and bless his wonderful family.

Jay Moyer

All: It is a sad day in the Republique de Guymania. One of our leading citizens, Mike Coffield, died yesterday. Mike (or Mr. C or Big Dog or Mikee or Coffs) was at the first several Guymanias and was elected Guymania Man-of-the-Year in 1999. And he was ALWAYS with us in spirit.

I first met Mike in the fall of 1965. He was a second year student at the University of Michigan Law School, and he was interviewing for a summer job at Kirkland. Mike loved to tell the story--perhaps another apocryphal one--of arriving at Kirkland, which, as he told it (as only he could), was seeking law students who were "Law Review or better," and announcing that, while he wasn't Law Review, he thought he might be "or better." In any event, Mike came to Kirkland for the summer of 1966 and spent the entire summer working with Bill Jentes and me on FTC v. Dean Foods, including a six-week trial. One night, Mike and Heath and Nancy and I were at dinner at the Jentes' house to celebrate the end of the trial; our first son, Donald, was born the next morning.

Mike returned to Kirkland when he graduated from Michigan in 1967. He was an excellent trial lawyer and became a partner in the firm. He was restless to "do his own thing," however, and left with another Kirkland lawyer to start the two-man firm of Coffield & Ungaretti, furnished mainly with some old stuff from Fred Bartlit's office. I remember that he scheduled a meeting with ALL of his clients for the next Monday at 10:00 am. They all arrived at the same time, and the buzz immediately was that they were busy as hell and off to a great start. Typical Mike.

Mike talked Nancy and me into making our first trip to Aspen a year or so later. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Mike also became an immediate and life-long close friend to my three sons--who always called him Mr. C. As I've said many times (always with great affection), "Mike Coffield was a life-long bad influence on my children." When Mike and Heath were at their home in Snowmass, Mike would call up the boys and invite them over for one of his famous (or should I say infamous) "power breakfasts." "Boys," he would bellow, "the West wasn't won by a bunch of pussies eating margarine, skim milk and low-fat yogurt." So they'd have every "wrong" food you could have--usually deep fried in lard!!!

Mike was a larger that life figure--both literally and figuratively. I'm sure he's upstairs now, and I know that there is more laughter there today than yesterday. They're hearing Mike's jokes for the first time.

At Guymania XVII, we will raise our glasses high in a toast to Mike. Perhaps we'll tell a few of his favorite jokes as well. No one can ever replace Mike, and we will all miss him.

Don Kempf

Very saddening; a great spirit, and a force for the better.

Tom Gottschalk

Mike was a great leader of our class and beloved of all who knew him. He was bigger than life and taught us all to be human and better than we otherwise were in our work-a-day lives. I can't say enough about what his friendship meant to me and many others over the long years since '58-'62. Anyone's who's on the borderline thinking of coming should reread Henry V's St. Crispin Day's speech [1.] and make their reservations tomorrow. You'll never regret it. (English majors, did I get this right?)

Yours for Dartmouth,
Fred Cook

(Click here for Fred's reminiscence about Mike's contribution to Terry Bentley's funeral service.)

[1. "Englishmen now abed shall think themselves accursed they were not here and hold their manhoods cheap whilst any speaks who fought with us upon St. Crispin's Day." As recollected by an economics major. DLS]

I had the wonderful pleasure of being Mike's companion on many of his visits to Washington, and he did the same for me when I went to Chicago. We spent a lot of evenings ingesting calories of all types and telling stories, which got more embellished, if not outrageous, as the years went by. We sure did laugh and have a wonderful time. His death is really sad, and I will cherish my memories. I went to the airport in DC Tuesday morning to catch a flight to Chicago for the service, only to find that the flight was first delayed and then cancelled on account of bad weather. After waiting at the airport for about five hours I was forced to admit that I was going to miss the opportunity to say good bye. I wish I could have been there. I know that he knows that I tried. May God bless him and keep him.
Warm regards
Tom
Tom Green

The Dash By Linda Ellis I read of a man who stood to speak At the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on her tombstone, From the beginning to the end. He noted that first came her date of her birth And spoke the following date with tears, But said what mattered most of all Was the dash between those years. For that dash represents all the time That she spent alive on earth. And now only those who loved her Know what that little line is worth. For it matters not how much we own; The cars, the house, the cash, What matters is how we live and love And how we spend our dash. So think about this long and hard. Are there things you'd like to change? For you never know how much time is left, That can still be rearranged. If we could just slow down enough To consider what's true and real And always try to understand The way other people feel. And be less quick to anger, And show appreciation more And love the people in our lives Like we've never loved before. If we treat each other with respect, And more often wear a smile Remembering that this special dash Might only last a little while. So, when your eulogy is being read With your life's actions to rehash Would you be proud of the things they say About how you spent your dash? Contributed by Di Morton

A LIFE WELL-LIVED