Comments on: In Loving Memory of Rob Michelson. When a Bell Rings…

By: wendy hammond

wendy hammond — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:24:37 +0000

Rob was a special man with many great friends and relatives. It is early morning April 8,2010 when I am sitting here, finding this story about Rob. Only age 40 with a wife and 3 children. Oh how sad. I am crying for Rob, his wife ,children ,family and friends. I am also crying for my mom who has stage 4 colon cancer. it is metasisized into her liver. She turned 60 just 2 days ago.
The connection here is that we live in Bimghamton New York. This is where Rob went to school. At SUNY Binghanton in Vestal ,New York. This is how I found his story. My mother is such a wonderful person as well. She has never hurt anyone or said a mean thing. She worked hard to raise us 4 children along with our dad. She always seems happy. Last year she was diagnosed, but as you can see too late. She gets chemo and I want her to get into a clinical trial. I am at a loss for words about this disease. It is frightening to say the least. Rob was a wonderful and brave man from what I read here. Thank you Rob for all you have done to help. Wendy Hammond Binghamton

By: lisah

lisah — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 22:34:05 +0000

Dear Rob:
Remembering you again as this year is 2010. God bless you . You will always be remembered and never ever forgotten…

lisa Gonzalez Healey

By: Ruth Rosenberg

Ruth Rosenberg — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:46:11 +0000

I read the C3 Summer newsletter online today and just now learned about Rob’s passing. I did not know him well but remember our first meeting so vividly. It was the very first meeting of the fledgling Voices of New York Colon Cancer support group in a cafe on the Upper East Side – I was very new to advocacy and was blown away by all the research Rob provided and the passion he shared for his research. He definitely lit a fire in my mind and made me believe I could make a difference. Following this initial meeting, we didn’t see him very much, but he continued to email our small group about the latest legislative efforts and his work with C3. As our group developed over time, members came and went and it wasn’t unusual to lose touch. However, I was so sad to learn he had passed so many months after the event – I used to get a hard copy of the C3 newsletter and just discovered the online version has been landing in my SPAM folder. My heart goes out to his family and friends – for someone who impacted me so deeply after such a short acquaintance could only have done so a thousand-fold to them. I have made a small donation to C3 in his memory – his spirit and passion live on in so many of us.

By: Fran Yuricic

Fran Yuricic — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:31:06 +0000

It has been one year since you left us and it still hurts that you were taken away from us…..We miss you…..

By: lisa healey

lisa healey — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 04:10:31 +0000

I have thought about Rob alot during this month.
it feels as though I have not seen him in years.

Dear Rob rest in peace knowing your fight is being fought every day at the coalition.
God bless your family

By: Ann Wornick

Ann Wornick — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 23:18:18 +0000

I still can’t believe Rob has passed, he was such a remarkable person in so many ways! I am a young colorectal cancer survivor and first met Rob at C3′s research advocacy training in Orlando in Jan. ’07. He was such a vibrant energy force, full of passion, knowledge, dedication, and yes, anger at the situation. I later saw him again in March at C3′s Call On Congress and was sooo glad to see him again and participate together. I am terribly sad that we have all lost such a young man to a horrible disease, but we are all the much stronger and passionate for knowing such a man as Rob. I will never forget him and will keep him close at heart and mind as I continue on my own journey. God Bless his family and know that many thoughts and prayers are with you all.

By: Ted Latner

Ted Latner — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 18:20:14 +0000

I first met Rob in 1987 at SUNY Binghamton, when I was a freshman and he was a junior. He lived on the floor below me, but I didn’t really get to know him too well until the following year when I moved into his suite. My freshman year had been pretty miserable, but Rob took me under his wing and really looked out for me. It was almost like having my older brother at school with me.

I was sad when Rob graduated at the end of the year, but fortunately he came back a year later to pursue his masters. The following year, I moved into a rundown off-campus apartment with him and our friend Lee. Rob and I spent a lot of time together that year, travelling back and forth to classes, on trips back home during holidays and frequent trips out to eat.

Rob taught me a lot during our time together at school. He taught me how to gamble, taking me on my first trip to Atlantic City and then back a few more times. Somehow he ended up getting comped for everything so it only cost us whatever we lost. Admittedly he sometimes got a bit carried away at Blackjack. I never did get the hang of craps even though he must have tried explaining it to me about 10 times.

Rob also taught me that you can fight the system — specifically parking and speeding tickets He used to have a real lead foot back in college. I remember one time he told me to close my eyes when driving to campus and he asked how fast I thought we were going. I don’t remember what I guessed, but it turned out we were doing 90 in a 50 mph zone. I remember Rob having to take a few field trips to towns off of route 17 between Binghamton and Long Island to fight tickets, and he won more often than not — or at least got good reductions. I’m not surprised that he ended up putting those same skills to good use while advocating for C3.

Rob also taught me that Republicans could be great people — not a small feat considering that I was a young liberal from New York City. I never did quite buy into the greatness of Ronald Reagan, but I did learn to respect Rob’s political views and had fun debating with him.

Rob also helped to inspire me to pursue a career in Technology, after waffling between different things. I eventually ended up doing a similar job as Rob at JPMorgan, a few years after he moved on to the NYSE.

Rob and I stayed in touch after Binghamton, but I didn’t see him as often as I should have. Sometimes it’s easy to get distracted with things and to forget that time is passing us by. Rob had a lot going on too. I was so happy for him when he met and married Margherita and they had their three wonderful boys. I am in awe of how strong and supportive Margherita was during this difficult time and I know her support enabled Rob to keep fighting to the end. I still can’t believe he’s really gone, but he’ll live on in all of our memories.

One last word about C3 — Rob talked to me about the organization a few years ago and I could tell how much his work with them meant to him. I’ve donated to them several times since then and plan to continue in his memory. Hopefully their work will be finished one day, but until then, let’s help them to continue their advocacy and support.

By: lee

lee — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 08:50:10 +0000

Let’s make a difference and keep the legacy of Rob Michelson’s advocacy alive. In loving memory of such an incredible human being who posessed such a strong spirit.

By: Loe,Laurie,Joseph & Diana Cangro

Loe,Laurie,Joseph & Diana Cangro — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 20:06:24 +0000

Rob is a very special person and he will be missed. We are happy for the time we did get to share with him, but it was definately to short. It made us better having him in our lives. We feel truly blessed. He was a wonderful man. We all have a wonderful Guardian Angel now. Especially Margherita and the boys. Margherita, know that we are just a phone call away at any time. We love you and the boys.

By: Mela & Pat Correale and family

Mela & Pat Correale and family — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 16:29:46 +0000

Rob Michelson was a courageous fighter who will never be forgotten. Rob started a wonderful life with my very close friend Margherita, which was so tragically cut short. Rob was on a journey to find a cure for this dreadful disease. He knew that he may never find a cure in his lifetime but still kept fighting for the cause. To me, that speaks volumes about the type of person he was. He was a wonderful father and husband. We all feel this overwhelming sadness that he is gone. We will be there for Margherita (who has also had to endure the horrors of this illness)-and even though she never complained I know this was not an easy road for her. We know Rob will give Margherita the stregnth from Heaven to raise their beautiful boys to become fine men following the example of their dad. We will miss Rob–but we will never forget him.