by Dennis Augustine
Cecile and I attended a beautiful Celebration of Life for our longtime General Manager at Rinconada Hills.
For 20 years (2006–2026), Mike led our Association with expertise, humor, and dedication. His passing after a serious fall shocked our community.
In honor of his love for vintage cars , world travel , and especially Tahiti , we dressed Hawaiian style. His vibrant shirts were displayed — a joyful reflection of the luaus and themed gatherings he created for us all.
The photos on display told a deeper story. In them — and in the many who gathered — you could see a man who truly loved life to the fullest. We saw shades of that joy at so many association events over the years.
A culinary school graduate, he shared his talents at countless holiday and cultural celebrations.
One small memory stays with us — during the COVID vaccine rollout, we found ourselves seated beside him. In that simple moment, we were just neighbors navigating uncertainty together. It humanized him in a lasting way.
Mahalo, Mike. You will be deeply missed.
