Michael Biggs

I lost touch with Michael after I left Scudder.  He was one of the most positive people I ever met.  Michael kept his priorities straight, too.  By that I mean he valued his family and friends above work and personal possessions.  I am so sorry to hear of his passing. 

Dear Mike,

Long ago we had a land of our own--

You called it FLAY, and we made a map

And a comic strip of adventures there.

Every night my sister Mary and I

Lay awake making up oour life in that land!

Long ago, when we were kids.

 

At my 75th, A German friend Hartmut and wife

 Came to the party and told me he and his childhood friend

Once had a land of their own over in Deutschland.

It was, of course, much more complicated,

Modeled on a book of plays about an imaginary place

By the poet Eduard Moerike and his friend Ludwig Bauer,

On the title page this quote: "Du bist Orplid, mein Land!"

 

The gardens and lawns of Erindale inspired us

As we explored the geography of FLAY.

The empty lots and creek on Oakland Blvd.

Made more ruggest territory for that place.

A few years later we explored Mt. Diablo for real

With a new boys' organization, the Boy Naturalists,

Conceived and led by students at Cal.

One of my Pomona suitemates from Berkeley

Had also belonged--brilliant fellow; he drank his way

Through our Freshman year and flunked out,

Then was killed that summer fighting fires in the Sierra.

 

Since that  time we've gone very different ways--

Mine to several very different landscapes,

Yours to Hangtown, your son Steve, and the lives of Tom and Katie

And your piano talent still haunts my heart.

Your friend Ham, in Seattle, played with you back east,

And you liked my cousin Stephanie's singing--

So we've been close, if more often apart,

And you are a big Golden State nugget of my life

And always will be.

 

Mike and I corresponded often in the past 18 months and I was always happy to read anything he had written. His emails about his dining experiences were so thoughtful and detailed that I sometimes suspected he was a retired inspector for the renowned Michelin Guide.

 

Mike's emails were also the inspiration for a new feature we had just launched at The Sacramento Bee called "Dining Scouts." I asked Mike to be one of the "scouts" and I was excited to be able to share his writing about food with our many readers. The first installment ran this past Sunday. Mike wrote glowingly about one of my favorite restaurants, Ambience.

 

I had arranged to dine with Mike and his wife on Saturday at a restaurant I would be reviewing. I was eager to hear Mike's take on the food. That morning, he called me to tell me he woke up with a temperature and would have to cancel until he felt better. He died shortly after and I was  stunned to learn about it  via an email. I never got to meet Mike. But I really admired him and was fortunate to encounter both his wisdom and kindness many times.

 

Mike's advocacy on behalf of his son Steve was an inspiration to so many other families.  He was a soft-spoken and good-humored man, but he could be forcefully eloquent when the situation required.  I admired him greatly, and will miss him even more...  Brian Boxall, and the entire Boxall Family. 

I knew Mike Biggs since the 1970's at Tunerville.  Mike was always full of enthusiasm and energy, always optimistic.  I also knew his dad, Reg Biggs, a first-class gentleman.  Mike was a worthy son to Reg.  Mike excelled at the piano.  He was interested in the well-being of persons he knew.  He was a sincere friend, and I will miss him.  Ted Parker

mike and i were friends for many years, he at scudder, me at various financial firms in sf,including being a life insurance agent, banker and stockbroker.he and i relished chinese, swans,schroeders ort little joes, then would walk that wonderful city back to our respective offices.we later might meet on the sp commuter train going home,me to mp and he to los altos. we shared dinners at each others, ginny and farida meeting. mike had an insatiable curiosity about everything and remembered events,names and places better than anyone.he and i served on the planned parenthood board. he also was a marvelous story teller, even a naughty gossip, which never failed to amuse me, for i have similar tendencies. but mike was always kind and friendly, never thought ill of anyone that i can recall. our last visit some 7 yrs ago when i dropped by to see mike and ginny at their home in hangtown(placerville)/ i was on my way to our campground up at lake tahoe, an annual must event. i am so glad i saw him expanding on the view from their deck.i will miss our times together. tommy