tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880188429623084423.post1821112590505008372..comments2010-03-22T12:10:59.530-04:00Julie Matthewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11451481909167020067noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880188429623084423.post-85736215821572888062010-03-22T12:10:59.525-04:002010-03-22T12:10:59.525-04:00Michael was a splendid human being. I&#39;m sorry you had to learn the sad news this way - and that you didn&#39;t get to know Michael better. I miss him every day.Julie Matthewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11451481909167020067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880188429623084423.post-89749935159109489542010-03-21T21:56:44.074-04:002010-03-21T21:56:44.074-04:00Julie: I found this when I searched for Mike tonight. I went to grade school with him in Oak Park, IL and was saddened to &quot;find&quot; him, only to lose him all in a minute. I want you to know we will have your remembrance in our book this October when we gather after a 41 year absence. I am sad I wasn&#39;t aware of both his talent and his successes. Thank you for posting it so we could find it. Now we will all know.E from EChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232000403990920496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880188429623084423.post-14081656642268150122009-03-20T00:25:00.000-04:002009-03-20T00:25:00.000-04:00Julie-<BR/>I came across this post while doing some aimless surfing tonight. I know it's a year too late, but thank you for your post about Michael. We studied together at Stone-Camryn Ballet in our youth, and while we did not keep in touch, I have often wondered how he was. This makes me so sad; he was good people, and a much better student than me! :)<BR/>peace,<BR/>Andrew SchultzAndrew Schultzhttp://www.andrewcollinsmusic.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880188429623084423.post-44919128685533888492008-07-27T21:58:00.000-04:002008-07-27T21:58:00.000-04:00I came to know Michael Bjerknes when I was as an 11 or 12 year old ballet student at the Ruth Page School of Dance in Chicago in the 1970s. I have live in Bermuda for the last 20 years, but had heard through common friends that he was ill. I am so sorry to hear of his passing and send best wishes, though belated, to his family. He might have been 17 or so at the time I first got to know him. I was a little girl learning russian in anticipation of a junior high school history trip. When he came across me studying backstage during the Chicago Tribune sponsored Nutcracker performances , he offered to help. Even at that young age, he was an amazing teacher/tutor. Later, I joined Joffrey II (years after Michael) and would see him sometimes at City Center in New York where Joffrey rehearsed. I respected him greatly for his ability to combine his ballet career with very rich intellectual life -- one of the most inspiring people I have ever met.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880188429623084423.post-45717934196792759752008-07-27T21:57:00.000-04:002008-07-27T21:57:00.000-04:00I came to know Michael Bjerknes when I was as an 11 or 12 year old ballet student at the Ruth Page School of Dance in Chicago in the 1970s. I have live in Bermuda for the last 20 years, but had heard through common friends that he was ill. I am so sorry to hear of his passing and send best wishes, though belated, to his family. He might have been 17 or so at the time I first got to know him. I was a little girl learning russian in anticipation of a junior high school history trip. When he came across me studying backstage during the Chicago Tribune sponsored Nutcracker performances , he offered to help. Even at that young age, he was an amazing teacher/tutor. Later, I joined Joffrey II (years after Michael) and would see him sometimes at City Center in New York where Joffrey rehearsed. I respected him greatly for his ability to combine his ballet career with very rich intellectual life -- one of the most inspiring people I have ever met.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880188429623084423.post-26250680057904651612008-04-19T19:35:00.000-04:002008-04-19T19:35:00.000-04:00Michael was a very special dancer, and one I did keep in touch with periodically when in and out of Annapolis over the past few years. As a former Executive Director for the Joffrey I remember him as having a very sound mind and an amazing control of his height in dance. His insights over my years helped in a number of ways to close the gap of communication during the work out of debt I inherited with taking over the business management of the Joffrey. I am sad to learn of his passing today as I too had colon cancer but was one of the lucky one's I quess, as its 15 years since that procedure.HYoungwww.youngassociates.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880188429623084423.post-45627260158883842962008-04-18T22:07:00.000-04:002008-04-18T22:07:00.000-04:00Thank you Jule for your very heartfelt blog. I did not know Michael well. He and Pam were in Houston Ballet just before I spent time there. We shared many mutual friends. Later we spent time in many a class with Maggie Black. A good ten years later we reconnected, as I came across his beautifully trained students while principal of Boston Ballet School. We e-maileed and shared experiences a few times here and there. When I heard the recent devastating news I was so incredibly saddened. In contacting my friends that knew him they were too. What a loss for the ballet world, for all the young students that have benefitted from his knowledge and his care, and of course his family. Too young-too soonto be taken from this earth. But none the less he leaves a great legacy. He had a profound impact on so many in his quiet, most eloquent way. A great man,dancer, teacher, and human being. Please extend my deepest condolences to his wife Pam, his children, and his family. He will not be forgotten.<BR/><BR/>Dierdre Miles BurgerDierdre Miles Burgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12919411395331588069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880188429623084423.post-45974968328959164122008-04-17T08:56:00.000-04:002008-04-17T08:56:00.000-04:00Mark,<BR/> <BR/>Michael was literally one of the best people I've ever known. What a terrible loss to this world. <BR/> <BR/>I can't think about Michael without crying, so I can't even imagine what it must be like for you. I miss him so much already. I hold your family in my heart and prayers. Thanks so much for your kind words back to me.Julie Matthews Burnettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11451481909167020067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880188429623084423.post-42539291681772524212008-04-16T18:49:00.000-04:002008-04-16T18:49:00.000-04:00Pam forwarded your post to the family. These are beautiful and kind words. Thank you.<BR/><BR/>Mark BjerknesMark Bjerkneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08805548350123426689noreply@blogger.com