Michael, I'm soo saddened to hear you have left us. I remember  you from elementary school , you were the kindest and sweetest person.  Tonight when I was rocking my daughter who has a rare disease, I thought of you. I thought of how I could have been a better friend to you. I wanted to find you and catch up. I'm  sorry that I didn't contact you sooner, you were truly an amazing person! I'm really heart broken but I know that heaven gained an beautiful angel. One thing I remember you always had alpha sprouts for lunch. I didn't know what they were till I met you. My condolences to you family and your wonderful mother. Lots of love. 

May he R. I. P.  A beloved friend to many. I'll miss our Phone calls & his sharing of events & Health Studies for $. We always checked up on each other by phone. 

On behalf of the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT),  I would like to offer our deepest condolences to Michael's loved ones on this profound loss. As you can see from photos shared by others below, Michael was been an important and respected part of the CILT community for many years.  Michael's community-mindedness was an inspiration to his peers. His efforts for disability justice rallied others alongside him. Through his considerable advocacy efforts, with CILT and also through the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee (TAAC), Michael worked hard everyday to change the world for the better.  Thank you, Michael for all you have done to raise up the needs of our community and to shape a better world, inclusive of us all.
On a personal note, Michael and I were both members of the TAAC and we often sat together at meetings (in the pre-lockdown days). I loved chatting and strategizing with Michael. He had the uncommon ability to be able critique something with sincerity and kindness.  He was one of the most kind and genuine people I have had the pleasure of knowing.  I will miss you, Michael.  We all will. 

Michael was a very special person - a shining example of what we can all, in spite of any physical limitation, be capable of, if we were only to put our hearts and minds to it...
He was humble yet noble and generous of spirit; always  there to offer comfort and affection
 I feel honored and enriched by the gift of his amity.
I will miss him,
 I will miss his sweet, reassuring smile, the softness and gentleness in his voice...  His parting saddens me, yet I find solace in the thought of him, our dear Michael, dancing now, in the radiance and  blessedness of his well deserved Eternity.


On behalf of Muscular Dystrophy Canada, 
We are tremendously saddened by the loss of a very dear man who’s kind genuine spirt was an inspiration to all of us.
Michael was Family at MDC, a member with us for over 37 years, we grieve his passing and yet we celebrate an extraordinary young man. 
Michael was an enthusiastic participant to our Network Meetings, and will be remembered always for his gentle support and encouragement, setting an example of courage to all those who knew him,
Forever in our hearts! 


On behalf of the City of Toronto's Accessibility Unit, we offer our gratitude for Michael's service as a member of the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee for the past 2 and a half years. 

As a member of this advisory body to City Council, Michael and his fellow members provided advice on removing and preventing barriers for people with disabilities and advancing accessibility for everyone living, working and playing in the City of Toronto.  

In so doing, Michael had an active hand in improving the equity and quality of life for all Torontonians.  With our profound respect to Michael and his family.

The first time I met Michael was over 15 years ago.  He was very friendly and I felt like I had known him my whole life.  He was knowledgeable, intelligent and a bright light.   When I last spoke with him, he asked me to pray for him.  Michael, may you rest in peace, now you are with your loving mom.  My deepest condolences to his family.  

It has been my honour to serve with Michael on the Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee.  His loss is a huge loss to the city and to disability community. Michael was warm and deeply kind, and brought a great deal of insight to our work.  I will miss him personally and will miss his thoroughness and dedication. My condolences to his family and all who loved him.

I came to know Michael through the time he dedicated as a client partner at VHA Home Healthcare.   Michael was involved in helping to shape and improve home care by generously sharing his lived experiences .    He was an integral part of a few key committees and many VHA staff had the pleasure to work alongside him over the past 5 years.     His insights, contributions and wonderful personality will be deeply missed by those of us who had the opportunity to get to know him and spend time in his company.    My sincere condolences are offered to his friends and family.

Michael has been my neighbour for many years. We shared many conversations, with him always seeming to know more news about “stuff” in the building than I did! He had an amazing memory for people’s birthdays. He would collect clothes and things for the Scott Mission. He would leave envelopes on my door stuffed with helpful articles about plants, and birds and NL...anything he knew I was interested in. He was often a smiling face. Sitting in the lobby, or outside in the sun,  on his walker, and greeting everyone. He never complained once about pain or disability. Our superintendent, David, on hearing the news of his passing, said “The building will not be the same without him”.  Godspeed, Michael. I will miss you.

Michael’s mother and my mother were sisters, so I have known Michael since he was a little boy, small enough for me to carry up the stairs on my shoulders at our house when he and his mother visited. He was diagnosed with a rare form of MD at an early age, but that did not deter him from striving to be all he could be and more than many people thought he could be. He graduated summa cum laude with a B.A, honours degree in Psychology and Certificate in Practical Ethics from the Department of Philosophy in 2005 from York University. He then went on to complete an M.A degree in Critical Disability Studies at York in 2007 and was working towards his PhD.  We all know how intelligent he was, but he also had a wonderful touch of humility so rarely seen these days. I urged him at a young age to find a way to use his disability to an advantage and in a way that benefited other people and society. I think he accomplished this based on the sheer number of people he was friends with and who he worked with in various groups and committees. I have received nothing but an outpouring of grief and support from all of you over the loss. I know Michael will miss each and every one of you. Michael said during his final days that he would still be watching over everybody and for everyone to look for a sign from him. Attached is a picture of Michael and his mother Rosemarie, who many of you knew as well. 

Actually I knew Michael and his mum Rosemary since his Cilt days, an organization for people with disabilities. We all became fast friends and I’ve kept in touch with Michael since then. He and his mum were dear friends and when I heard the passing of Rosemary his mum I knew he took it very hard and it became difficult for him after that. Now he has peace and joined his mum in heavenly bliss,   again they are together.  Here’s a picture of Michael and Carling Spicer Barry, she at the time worked at Cilt in the program Parents with a disability and we too keep in touch. In the summer of 2018, Michael phoned me and I happened to be on the ferry on the waters of the Salish sea and gulf islands going back to Toronto and I told him I was moving to Victoria, BC and he was shocked and so upset but I tried to elevate his worries that I would keep in touch with him and I did, but I never saw him again but we comforted each other when we needed each other throughout the years. You will always be in my heart and prayers Michael and Rosemary. God rest your souls, missing you. 

Michael is my dearest friend from school.  We have known each other for over 26 years.  He truly was a beacon of kindness and positivity.  I don't ever remember having an argument with him about anything.  Despite his physically debilitating conditions (muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis from birth), and all his sufferings in the hospital, he never wavered in his faith and devotion to Christ.  In our final conversation a week ago, he said that we must all keep in mind that Christ suffered immensely for all of us, before we complain about our own suffering.  

Many may not realize that after his beloved mother, Rosemarie, passed away in 2017, he had to live and survive on his own, with virtually no support from anyone.  It would've been an impossible situation for many, but he prevailed until he was struck with this awful pneumonia.  

I will always admire his strength, courage and generosity, and will cherish our friendship forever.   

May God Bless and grant Him eternal rest. 

My husband and I recently had  occasion  to  meet Michael and enjoyed our conversation with him.  We are so sorry to hear of his passing.  Our sympathies to his family. 

OBITUARY

Michael George Miceli

11 April, 1980 – 22 December, 2020

Kane-Jerrett Funeral Homes

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