Persevering Through the Pandemic :
Memories of My Friend
By Jennifer Johnston Media & Communications Director
Candle Lighting , December 19 , 2019
Michael Miceli
October 18 1945 ~ April 9 2020 he month of March began mostly normal for me , if not a little unnerving with all that was on the news .
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In late February , I remember trying to find some hand sanitizer and being surprised that it was wiped out at most of the stores around Harvard Square . Nevertheless , and despite the news stories from China , I was in pretty high spirits on March 1st as I attended a concert of my favorite contemplative rock band , Satigata , at Mount Auburn Cemetery where I work . The concert was to be the last for six months because we had a major conservation project slated for Story Chapel , where the band played . Everyone at the gathering was upbeat , and my friend Michael Miceli , who was the unofficial “ mayor ” and sometimes manager / roadie for the band , was hosting a party after the show at his apartment nearby . Although I did not attend the party , I took it for granted that there would be many more like it in the future .
By Thursday , March 12th , things had changed . I remember leaving my office that day feeling unsure about what the future would hold . By the next day , Mount Auburn ’ s President , Dave Barnett , and the Cemetery ’ s Pandemic Task Force were recommending that everyone who could work from home should start doing so immediately . This was scary , but I took comfort in the idea that I would still be able to visit Mount Auburn and walk around as I have for the past 24 years .
On Wednesday , March 18th , an extraordinarily beautiful early spring afternoon , I went on one of these many walks at the Cemetery , where I was delighted to run into various friends — one of them being Michael Miceli ! Michael was in a great mood , as he always seemed to be . The smooth deep tones of his former disc-jockey voice were echoing around Willow Pond as he saw me and approached with a big smile , “ Hello , Darlin ’!”
Michael was one of those people who could make anyone feel like a rock star or the most important person in any room . Whenever any of his friends appeared , wherever he
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