Thanks for your service to our country Mike! Your family must be very proud.....especially your Dad! RIP

Dear Norman family, Please accept my deepest sympathy for the loss of your dear loved one. It seems no greater sadness is felt than when someone so dear to us is loss. May you find comfort in your memories and draw strength from a promise God has provided which gives the hope of someday being reunited with your beloved Robert (John 5:28,29). This promised future is one that will be filled with great joy because it will include perfect health and everlasting life on a paradise earth where "the former things have passed away" (Rev. 21:4, Psalms 37:29). May you during this most difficult time find some comfort in knowing that God does care and He does hear our cries. Please accept my most sincere condolences.

Family and friends of Mike. I just learned of your life's extraordinary journey from the time my wife and I visited you and your parents in VA Beach after serving with your dad at NAS Alameda. Yes we lost contact but the memories rush back. You were the poster boy of naval Aviation and I also wish we could have met again during a performance. We live nearby and visited Williamsburg frequently-if only we had known! Keep flying safely and playing softly Mike. James E. Kenkel CAPT USN (Ret)

Glad to have known him. Many good memories. Such a loss. May God comfort his family.

Godspeed, classmate and company mate. I remember you as thoughtful, compassionate and brilliant. First class year I remember you discussing an aero assignment. Your task was to calculate the drag of a car's radio antenna. I never did hear the solution but I'm sure, knowing you, it was quick and accurate. Your recent passing saddens me greatly and adds a new and eternal dimension to your coveted "Wings of Gold". God Bless you and your family Mike 29th co Cdr, USN Ret

I just went on line to look up a very old friend of the family and was taken aback at his passing. I'm so sorry. I was a childhood friend of Mike's back in San Diego. Both his parents (Bob & Diane) were my godparents. I took Diane's name as my middle name when I was baptised. Mike was probably 13 or so years old at the time. I remember so many wonderful and fun times that our families shared. I am sorry to hear of his passing. So wonderful, so talented and so funny. He will be missed. All my love to his family and friends. Sam.

I knew Mike and his parents from the time he was a 4th grader and I was a third grader. In fact I talked to him this year and just found out about the death of his mother which blew me away as I had just seen her a few years go. I was calling her so she could call my mother to cheer her up. He did not let me know he was so sick. If his wife would like to hear some wonderful childhood memories just email me.

I met Mike around 2004. We actually first connected on a dating website. We emailed for sometime and then began talking on the telephone. The telephone conversations became an every night event. Sometimes we'd talk for hours. I was living in Virginia Beach while Mike was living in his lovely home in Williamsburg. We finally decided to meet. With that we became very close friends. He was playing his music in Newport News and Virginia Beach at that time. Mike wrote a wonderful song for me and would sing it at Starbucks. We had such fun together. Mike was a very kind and gentle man. He cared about other people. We eventually went our separate ways, but did keep in touch from time to time. Mike let me know of his illness and that he was soon to be married to Carol. He was very happy and excited to be marrying the love of his life. Carol is very lucky to have spent the time she did with him. Mike, you have been reunited with your beautiful dog again! I know you missed her so much. God Bless you Mike. You will be missed by many! I love you!

I only saw Mike as a little kid at NAS Alameda where his father Bob then a LT USN Banshee pilot in 1957-58 was my boss. He was very proud of Mike and Mike was I'm sure very proud of his father. I last saw Bob and Dianne in 1969 when Bob was at Pentagon. A fine family who I'm sure impressed all they met. Bud Hoff Capt USN-ret

I will always cherish all the moments that will be forever tattoed on my heart ...sharing a few sunrises together ...sitting on the beach in Flager just two old friends listening to the waves crash on the beach sharing a beer no words needed..or singing Keri Noble's (piece of my heart.) a few picnics which he made the best peanut butter and jelly sandwiches..His specialty...He always told me they were world famous...Going out to dinner with his Mom I dont think I have ever laughed so hard at them both...I will miss our silly inside jokes ..he made a card for me once a picture of a fly on it...for years after that card we'd call each other Martha and say the dirty little phrase that went along with it....He'd still laugh at that silly phrase 10 years down the road....walking Sierra...or Sierra climbing into my lap thinking she was a 10 pound lap dog....she'd lay across me and would not budge..He say he had never seen her act like that before ( which I always doubted)..He try to correct her and Id say leave her alone shes fine I love her she is adorable...he'd say are you sure your up for about 75 pounds of adorable ?..afterwards Id look like a chia pet and Mike would laugh so hard at that....I recall him agonizing about Sierra in her final days...that was not just a dog she was so very much more..She was family...and when she passed he lost a piece of his heart.... The best story and the one that made him always laugh the hardest was my practical joke gone wrong at Kings Mill...It happened after he had a break up he was a bit blue and I wanted to cheer him up .....and he loved to bring it up just to watch me blush...On a whim I drove to Kings Mill.....My practical joke that went horribly wrong...I made a picnic basket with gifts for him and Sierra...inside the card attached was a note to meet me later for a picnic after his session was over... inside the card something very personal I signed the card your biggest fan I gave the picnic basket to the hostess and a 20.00 to deliver it to the guitarist...how was I to know there were two guitarist that night at Kings Mill?...I peeked around the corner...and it wasnt Mike...I pulled the hostest aside I said you gave it to the wrong Mike!....go get it back! I paid her a 50. to go get it back...as this other guy opened the card on stage and revealed the personal item as he scanned the crowd for his biggest fan...his eyes bugging out of his head....and he said outloud on stage "well okay where is my biggest fan?".I have never been so embarrassed in my life...Mike laughed until he cried and he was laughing a week later when the other guy spoke to him about (that crazy blonde girl) and what had happened...He always tell me I should leave the practical jokes up to the master which was him. Mike was the voice of reason during some of the darkest days of my life...and when I had to go through surgery and chemo again he always call or send a text or a small hello...I still have the statue from Mount St Helens..the cards and so many memories and keepsakes over the years...the C.D's of his music..Hearing his voice on them is ever so bittersweet....He had been searching for his special someone for so long....Id always say to him ..Martha she will come along she is out there I just know she is ...maybe she is just a bit dirrectionally challenge...he'd get this little boy twinkle in his eye a evil grin and just laugh and tell me they have G.P.S systems now Catbird... Im so so very happy she found him and he found her.

I'm saddened to learn of Mike's passing. Unfortunately I just learned of it now through the SFTE website. I worked at times directly with Mike during the design and development of Boeing's HSCT or High Speed Civil Transport. Being a pilot since I was 16 and as flying qualities engineer at Boeing, Mike and I enjoyed many conversations about pushing the envelope and flying. I remember waiting in line for a sandwich with Mike during a lunch break at a nearby establishment while working at Langley and I was proud to tell Mike in my younger years I went through the high altitude chamber at Edwards AFB and was one of the last students to put the oxygen mask back on learning a lot about my hypoxia signs. Mike calmly told me, "Yes, that's why they/military are limiting that - testing." 😃 It was at that instant that I wondered how many brain cells I - lost. Mike's version of the tether idea to space using carbon nanotubes always fascinated me and his knowledge of space as well. Godspeed, Mike; you are missed. Paul

Mike was my cubical mate in Flight Operations at McDonnell Douglas, Long Beach, CA. I'd like to think I started him at U of Southern Cal. When he hired in I was working on my Master's, talked up USC, and next thing I know he is onto his PhD. After his checkout in the MD80 we flew test flights together quite often. A "good stick", professional and a lot of fun. We both were in the Reserves although different sides--he Navy, me Air Force, meaning A LOT of goodnatured ribbing. Another common interest--we were fans of "Mork and Mindy", a TV comedy starring Robin Williams, about an alien sent to earth from Ork. The names we called each other were endless (Your Rotundness, Your Behindness, Your Preposterousness, many not repeatable...). I regret I lost touch with him as our paths in Flight Testing went different ways. But I bet that he has found Ork and maybe Mork. "Nonuu, Nonuu, Mikey."

My heartfelt grief and sympathy is shared during this time of loss. Earlier this year Mike shared with me me his yearning to find his life's love and partner. During his tenacious battle with illness he found the love of his life in you Carol. He feared dying and you craddled his fears. Thank you for loving my friend and making all his time complete in you. I am forever grateful for the time you had together. There are no words to to fill the void of absence but I pray that love shared will fill in abundance and carry you always. To Michael: Loved. Honored/ Forever Etched...

My sympathies to the family. Mike was my cubical mate in Flight Operations at McDonnell Douglas, LB. I also flew MD80's with him, perhaps talked him into taking advanced courses at USC like I was (must have worked as he got his PhD), and we both were in the Reserves, he Navy, me Air Force. Of course this resulted in a lot of joking on the superiority of each. He was a great person to work with, a lot of fun, and a true professional. AND we both liked TV's "Mork and Mindy." He will be missed. Nonuu, Nonuu, Mikey, Nonuu. Nonuu.

No words can give comfort to the many friends, and family you left behind.I'm so happy you found your special someone; after so many years of searching...In my child like mind I'd like to think now you are in the family business with your Mom and Dad being a watchful guardian angel over Ali,Eric, and your Bride of course..in your spare time enjoying picking with great ledgends like S.R.V,,Jimmi,JerryG,SteveC... The moon was high in a autuman sky. The light cast down and you came outside and the night filled the dark with a thousand stars proving nothing was better than where we are. In the pull of the moon and the weight of the stars you anchor me with all that you are, like the stemming of the tide the moons attraction to the sea you are you are all of these things. A tea kettle whistles deep within a home. As a radio sings a song its sung coutless times before And I step outside with a searching heart to save up wishes as we look above. So the sky dismissed the stars and the night became unseen the sun woke from its slumber and the moon packed up its things; saying The only way to Love is to know it might be lost So take hold lightly let go lightly whatever the cost.14-15 years of friendship went by in the blink of an eye my friend. I bet I know from which constellation you will be smiling down from with that devilish boyish grin. Cura Ut Valeas

Soar with the eagles Mike... Oh to catch the wings of flight and soar where Eagles go. To leave the woes of troubled souls behind me far below. I'd listen to the songs of birds and sail in endless flight. Chase the sun in cloudy skies and play with stars at night. Knowing I had found the way to trails where angels trod, When my wings could fly no more ~ I'd take the hand of GOD. ♥