As the youngest Hippler child, I had to follow in the footsteps of my sister Judy (class of 1967) and Mike (class of 1970). When we lost our parents too early in life (Mom in 1977 and Dad in 1981), the three of us bonded even more closely than we already had our whole lives. Then Judy and I lost Mike in 1991 to AIDS. Following is a brief update on who he was after North Springs and how he lived and loved his life. He went on to excel at Duke University, majoring in English and then teaching high school in rural southwest Virginia, fulfilling a dream to live in a log cabin by a creek, get a dog, and have a lot of land around him. Then he fulfilled another dream in life--to study and dance ballet. He won a full scholarship for classes at the Joffrey School of Ballet in New York--pretty amazing for a mid-20 year old who had never taken ballet in his life. He waited tables in New York restaurants by night and studied ballet all day every day. It was a little late in life to make his career of it, but he went for it and got to be on stage in the corps de ballet while Rudolf Nureyev starred. From New York, Mike went to California (in part to be near our parents who moved there and to help take care of our sick mother). Again, he fulfilled another dream becoming an award-winning, renowned writer and activist advocating gay rights. Again, he waited tables to support himself while pursuing his interests, talents, and passions. Settling in San Francisco, he lived life to the fullest and had a wonderful, brilliant and loving partner, also a renowned award-winning journalist who remains near and dear to Judy's and my family. Mike loved who he became and he pursued with passion and intellect everything he did in his short life. And--he was unbelievably fun--loved hiking, water skiing, snow skiing, piano playing and more. He was, and remains in our hearts, an amazing inspiration.
I saw him in San Francisco before he passed away. He was a good person and is missed. p.s. do you know of any other gay classmates from 1970? Jim Linsey
Mike was a one of a kind guy and the most fun person I have ever known. Although he and Beth (my sister) were the dearest of friends for many years, he included me in his circle and I loved him, too.
He drove us to All State Chorus the year that he and Beth were seniors and we went driving through the Ga. Tech campus..at one point, he yelled, "NO BRAKES" and took a speed bump without slowing down. We were screaming and laughing at the same time.
I got to see Mike in San Francisco in 1989 when my husband was attending a conference. Mike met me at the station with pom-poms in hand and started singing, "Are You a Spartan?" as soon as he saw me.
I am so glad I had a chance to know him and love him. He touched so many lives by just being MIKE and all who knew him have precious memories of him.
Mike and my brother, Byron, (who died in a car accident in 1966) were friends and -- I don't know why I still remember this -- but I recall my brother going to a birthday party for Mike in 1964 or '65 and givng him the Beach Boys record, "Fun Fun Fun." He said that was the perfect record for Mike.
I grew up with the Hippler's living right around the corner from me. They always had the greatest projects and fun things at their house. One of my earliest memories of Mike was when they had built a tree house in the back yard. They had a rope swing from which you could swing on from the tree house. I was afraid to swing, so Mike got on the ground and said that he would catch me ... that was Mike to me from then on. He was always so talented, smart and a hero to me.
Melissa (Missy) Hippler (1973)
As the youngest Hippler child, I had to follow in the footsteps of my sister Judy (class of 1967) and Mike (class of 1970). When we lost our parents too early in life (Mom in 1977 and Dad in 1981), the three of us bonded even more closely than we already had our whole lives. Then Judy and I lost Mike in 1991 to AIDS. Following is a brief update on who he was after North Springs and how he lived and loved his life. He went on to excel at Duke University, majoring in English and then teaching high school in rural southwest Virginia, fulfilling a dream to live in a log cabin by a creek, get a dog, and have a lot of land around him. Then he fulfilled another dream in life--to study and dance ballet. He won a full scholarship for classes at the Joffrey School of Ballet in New York--pretty amazing for a mid-20 year old who had never taken ballet in his life. He waited tables in New York restaurants by night and studied ballet all day every day. It was a little late in life to make his career of it, but he went for it and got to be on stage in the corps de ballet while Rudolf Nureyev starred. From New York, Mike went to California (in part to be near our parents who moved there and to help take care of our sick mother). Again, he fulfilled another dream becoming an award-winning, renowned writer and activist advocating gay rights. Again, he waited tables to support himself while pursuing his interests, talents, and passions. Settling in San Francisco, he lived life to the fullest and had a wonderful, brilliant and loving partner, also a renowned award-winning journalist who remains near and dear to Judy's and my family. Mike loved who he became and he pursued with passion and intellect everything he did in his short life. And--he was unbelievably fun--loved hiking, water skiing, snow skiing, piano playing and more. He was, and remains in our hearts, an amazing inspiration.
Melissa (Missy) Hippler
James (Jim) Linsey (1970)
I saw him in San Francisco before he passed away. He was a good person and is missed. p.s. do you know of any other gay classmates from 1970? Jim Linsey
Jan Colvin (Davenport) (1972)
Mike was a one of a kind guy and the most fun person I have ever known. Although he and Beth (my sister) were the dearest of friends for many years, he included me in his circle and I loved him, too.
He drove us to All State Chorus the year that he and Beth were seniors and we went driving through the Ga. Tech campus..at one point, he yelled, "NO BRAKES" and took a speed bump without slowing down. We were screaming and laughing at the same time.
I got to see Mike in San Francisco in 1989 when my husband was attending a conference. Mike met me at the station with pom-poms in hand and started singing, "Are You a Spartan?" as soon as he saw me.
I am so glad I had a chance to know him and love him. He touched so many lives by just being MIKE and all who knew him have precious memories of him.
Nita Sharpe (1973)
Mike and my brother, Byron, (who died in a car accident in 1966) were friends and -- I don't know why I still remember this -- but I recall my brother going to a birthday party for Mike in 1964 or '65 and givng him the Beach Boys record, "Fun Fun Fun." He said that was the perfect record for Mike.
Paula Strak (Willett) (1971)
I grew up with the Hippler's living right around the corner from me. They always had the greatest projects and fun things at their house. One of my earliest memories of Mike was when they had built a tree house in the back yard. They had a rope swing from which you could swing on from the tree house. I was afraid to swing, so Mike got on the ground and said that he would catch me ... that was Mike to me from then on. He was always so talented, smart and a hero to me.
Paula Strak Willett