Michael Ayers

THE NEW YORK KID-Michael was born in Manhattan during World War II. His family moved to various locations in the Bronx throughout his childhood. As an only child, his boxer Chips served as his brother.

COLLEGE FIRST TRY-Michael attended Fairleigh Dickerson college in New Jersey for two years. He got restless and took off for Florida and while there made his way to Cuba before the Revolution.

COLLEGE SECOND TRY-Upon returning home to New Jersey, Michael enrolled as an English major at Ithaca College. He was an average student but an above average Editor of the school paper. His quirky headlines-Flakes Fall as Fall Weekend Fling Flops-and his pointed editorials earned him a “big man on campus” reputation. Later he would leverage this experience into a career starting with a Wall Street Journal scholarship to the Bergen Evening Record.

SENECA GYM-Upperclassman Michael from the Big City and entering frosh Jeanie Heagy from rural Pennsylvania meet at a dance and thus began a friendship that caught fire and lasted over 50 years. Michael always claimed that on their first date Jeanie accidently poured wax from the candle on the table on his hand. Mikey-it was the other girl at the table.

FAMILY THREE-The arrival of their only child, daughter Tracey Jacqueline resulted in a union among the small family of three that grew stronger and stronger over time. Always a protector, supporter and advocate of his family, Michael screened all Tracey’s dates, coached her as she became an All- American softball catcher and hitter, achieved advanced degrees in psychology and started her own Brief Therapy practice.

FAMILY SIX-With the marriage of Tracey to Glenn Vecqueray and the arrival of grandson Connor, Michael broadened the scope of his care to include them and Glenn’s daughter Katie. Now summers in Colorado that included introducing golf to the family became an important and essential part of his life.

SILICON VALLEY -Michael’s corporate career reads like a cross section of the Silicon Valley’s evolution over the late 1970s through the 80s.He assisted in the attracting of financial backing for these technological changes while working at companies such as:

-Instant Replay- for Ampex Corporation

-Talking Chips- spokesman for National Semiconductor

-Video Games-core member of start-up team that took Activison public

-Artificial Intelligence- core member of startup company Tech/Knowledge

THE BIG SHOW-While working for Ampex in New York, Michael served as liaison between the home office in Northern California and the production team for the Broadway show Purlie backed by Ampex . As a native New Yorker, he knew the Big Show drill including pre-opening night changes followed by the opening night wait at Sardis for the Clive Barnes review to come off the presses of the New York Times. The headline read “Purlie is Victorious” and thus started a successful run of several years on Broadway.

THE PILOT- Shortly after moving from New York to Northern California where the family three lived for 22 years, Michael the English major stretched his learning capabilities to include getting his pilot’s license. He was always particularly proud of this accomplishment. The picture above is Michael standing in the seat of the Piper Cherokee that the family three used to introduce themselves to their new life in California.

13 HOLES IN ONE-Michael’s passion for golf infected the whole family. Glenn was with him in Mexico when he got his last-13th- hole in one. While living in Northern California, he played at Stanford University and upon retiring to the Desert joined several golf clubs, finally settling at Palm Valley Country Club. His passion was shared with golfing buddies, often with the same east coast background.

TRAVEL-Michael and the family three had ample opportunities to travel throughout the years often with an emphasis on golf. In addition, Mikey accompanied Jeanie on international business trips to Tokyo, Beijing, Zurich, London, Paris. The trip to Australia to see Ayers Rock fulfilled a life long objective. As he put it, “he wanted to visit the rock and collect the rent they owed him as an Ayers descendent”.

JOY OF LIFE-Michael’s joy of life and propensity for twisting things to make you smile will always be remembered by those who knew and loved him. His is an example of grabbing life and living it to the fullest. He had no regrets because of this. A tall man in stature, a big man in heart has left behind a sea of fond memories.