I initially intended to post this directly on Facebook but decided I preferred instead a more permanent tribute on my blog…

My thoughts this morning turn to Mike Crider who passed away a year ago today. Ours was an interesting relationship. Mike was referred to David & me by someone — I don’t recall who — for the HVAC work we needed after buying our first house in 1995. He was doing HVAC work for Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization.

We worked together almost 30 years, but it wasn’t long before our professional relationship became more personal. Mike was gay as are we, and so we’d talk about life & love.

He looked tired and hungry on one particularly busy day, so David fixed him lunch. 

David also guided Mike on the care and feeding of Pachysandra so he could help his Mom with her plants. David reminded me today of another service call when David’s mother happened to be in town visiting. Mike sat at the kitchen table explaining to them the importance of planting milkweed for butterflies.

Mike’s service calls weren’t like any normal contractor. I quickly learned I had to set aside whatever I was doing when he came to work on our furnace or AC. He wanted me with him constantly to chat, to explain what he was doing like a father might show his son, or scold me for not keeping the filters cleaned.  

A few years ago Mike bought a truck that was painted with flames on the side. The little boys across street just loved that truck! When Mike installed new AC units, he spent about a day and a half handcrafting the sheet metal work. To him it was art. He was so proud, beaming when it was done.

Mike honored me one time shortly before he passed by saying he enjoyed the service calls to our house because to him it wasn’t work, it was a chance to visit with friends. 

We haven’t found another HVAC guy yet. It’s time I stop putting it off. But one thing is for sure. We won’t find another Mike Crider.

In the title image above, Mike was trying to fix a meter so he could measure the freon in our air conditioners.

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