| If you would like to contribute a story about or a photo of Michael,
please click on the following link and send us an email. We
will post them to this page as soon as possible. Thanks you for your
contribution and support. Email link: thoughts@michaelroberthorrocks.com
To read the eulogy presented at Michael's memorial Service - Click
Here
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from Robert
Sullivan
I
first met Mike, Miriam and Mick in my son's Kindergartens class in
1999. My son was only 4 then, the same as Mick. They played
during and after school both at our house and Micks. They became best
friends and still are even though they now go to different schools. Out
of the blue one day my 4 year old says to me matter of factly.
"Dad,
Micks Dad is bigger than you,
"Dad,
Micks Dad fly's planes,
"Dad,
Micks Dad has a boat,
"Dad,
Micks Dad doesn't tease him.
I didn't
know what to say after my sons honest remarks, but then said to
my son, "Micks Dad is a good Dad isn't he?" He replied,
"Yeah". Sunday, after
church my son said to me, "Dad, I feel sorry for Mick".
Micks
Dad was giant in my sons eyes.
Micks
Dad is a giant in my eyes. He has inspired me to be
the best Dad I can be. Thank You Mike, we will all miss
you.
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I am a
student of Tom's and wrote this in tribute in a hope to comfort.
I consider it given by the spirit and could almost not write it down
fast enough. I hope you find comfort in these words. Use it in
any manner you wish - it belongs to Michael. Our prayers are
with you.
AGM
Eddie
911-01
Michael's Song Click Here
by Charles e. Starnater 9-13-2001
Dedicated to the memory of Michael Horrocks 1st officer United flight 175 Capo2 |
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from
Jennifer H. Nicholas
I only met
Mike once, at my wedding. On August 26, 2001, I married Jon
Nicholas, a long-time friend of "Rocks." When I met him, I
said, "It is my great honor and privilege to meet you, Michael
Horrocks." How fitting now that I gave him a hero's greeting.
The more I learn about Mike, the more I realize how lucky I was to
meet him, even if it was briefly. Mike was a true friend and an
excellent example of how to live, how to love and how to laugh. I
only met Mike once, but I will miss him always. |
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Friends,
neighbors and even strangers pitch in to complete a walkway begun by
Michael. Some volunteers were highly skilled, others could
just haul bricks, but everyone involved gave it their all in what
they hope to be a lasting tribute to Michael. |
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| from Kevin Reeve
I spent the night before the memorial service at the same hotel
as several of Michael's friends from the Marine Corps. Most
were pilots for commercial airlines now, but a couple were still
flying for Uncle Sam. As we walked by the lobby where they all
were gathered, and they invited us to join them. I went down
and sat with them from about midnight till 2:00 am. I heard
many stories about Michael and his time in the Corps. What
struck me strongest was that these guys were always laughing.
They were all very bright guys, and while in the Corps, they had
lots of time to apply to practical joking. That combination led to a
collection of some of the funniest stories I have ever heard.
Michael was always surrounded by people with a great sense of humor.
I am not sure I have the facts right, but here is one of the stories
that I recall.
Mike and one of the men present were flying a C130 with a
detachment of Marines who were parachuting into a drop zone.
The co-pilot got some long paracord and tied one piece on each of
Michael's shoulders then carefully backed through the curtains to
the back of the plane with the strings held delicately in his hands.
He handed them to a young Marine and explained that he had to go to
the bathroom really bad and that these strings were tied to the
yoke. He said that if the plane started to turn right to pull
on the left string, and that if it started to turn left, to pull on
the right string and it would straighten out. He then ran back
to the head and left the hapless marine wondering what was going on.
Meanwhile, Michael was primed and ready for his part. Before
long he put the plane into a right bank turn. The Marine got
big eyed, and started pulling hard on the left line. Michael
then straightened the plane back out. The Marine was near
panic now, and Michael put the plane into a left turn. The
Marine, thinking that he is controlling the plane, pulls now on the
right string and Michael straightens the plane out. They
kept it up for a few minutes and then the other pilot returned from
the head, took control of the strings, thanked the Private for his
help, and they flew on without another word. They never told
the Marine he was not actually flying the plane. |
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The following pictures are from Chris Conner |
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Mike and I were helmut diving in Bermuda.
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Our last night in Bermuda after much alcohol.
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On the boat just before our helmet diving
adventure.
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Mike and Miriam at Cherry Point, NC Officers
Club
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Mike helmet diving in Bermuda just before he was
bitten by a (baby) moray eel.
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Mike & Miriam
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Stoli in Morehead City at Mike's birthday party.
This picture was taken moments before Stoli lunged at the
plate of lasagna.
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20th High School Reunion!
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Father's Day 2001 ... a special day
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from
Steve Wright
A picture
of Mike and I at a Halloween party in college.
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A picture
from WCU which includes Mike's bird "Satch". Satch
wasn't too happy in our college apartment and liked to leave his
mark (as only a bird could) on the floor, on your hand, and anywhere
else it could. One day someone left a window open and Satch
flew away. We still haven't deducted if someone left the
window open on purpose.
from
Steve Wright
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A picture from North Carolina after an afternoon
of Snurfing off the back of Mike's boat.
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Mike and Miriam in their N.C. home
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A picture of Mike putting the garter on Miriam at
my wedding. It just so happened that at my wedding, Mike
caught the garter and Miriam caught the bouquet. - from Steve
Wright
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From
Aunt Marge and Uncle David
Michael was
a marvelous mix of confident strength and easygoing gentleness.
With a most pleasing manner, he always made you feel he was
glad you were there. His smile was genuine.
A treasured memory of his Uncle David's is of a more serious nature.
When his grandfather passed away suddenly, Grandmother was
alone because her three sons were all at a distance. Michael
came immediately, and with a calmness beyond his years, took on the
difficult tasks of providing comfort, communicating the news, and
being the strength on which we all depended. Uncle David felt,
and still believes, that Michael was used of God that day to
minister to his family.
Michael never ran from a challenge, but rather tackled them head on.
We often told our own children when they faced a challenge,
"Just do your best." As son, husband, father,
friend, worker, Michael did just that.
Love, Aunt Marge and Uncle David
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from
Peter J. McCusker
MICHAEL
I
see him clearly
Carrying
two rings on a pillow
Wrestling
his brothers and sister
Squeezing
his mom
Jostling
his dad
Skimming
across frothy surf
Rifling
tight spirals through frosty air
Wearing
Marine Corps red, white, and blue
Parading
with resplendent bride
through
an arch of Mamaluke Swords
Cuddling
a curly-haired baby girl and straight-haired baby boy
Donning
a blue blazer with golden wings
Lean
and handsome
Tall
and bright
Laughing
Teasing
Joking
Serious
Capricious
Raucous
Thoughtful
Standing
tight with the rest
Yet
soaring above them
Like
a shooting star brightening our world
Then
vanishing in a flash of light
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Michael
Robert
Horrocks
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Four years ago, we were confronted by a
three-year-old boy standing on a rock next to a soccer field
relieving himself for the world to see …. it turned out that not
only was this a strange potty training method used only in Florida,
it was also the beginning of one of the most fulfilling friendships
with which God has ever blessed a family. From the moment
anyone meets the Horrocks family they are friends for life.
You and Michael wrote the book on living each day to the fullest and
set a beautiful example of what a marriage can be if you truly love
someone and put your family at the forefront of all that you do ….
I don’t have to tell you that nothing was ever more important to
Michael than you and Christa and Mick. We are not naïve
enough to say you guys never had a disagreement, but can honestly
say that we have never seen anyone enjoy making up more than you
two!
They say kids can read any adult like a book,
and we know that this is true because any child that came in contact
with Michael knew that they had met a kindred spirit …. there was
a childlike joy and innocence in everything he did. And he
shared his love of life with anyone he came in contact with, whether
you were a teacher, a football coach, a drill sergeant, a Dunkin’
Donuts manager, a distraught soccer or basketball parent or player,
or even a West Chester field hockey player. He taught our
family how to love, to laugh, to play and now to cry. I think
Christa captured it best when she said that if my dad said
“let’s go to the beach”, we did, and if he said “let’s go
swim with dolphins”, we did …. Michael lived every day to the
fullest and brought us all along for the ride and we can’t thank
you enough for letting us into your lives.
For the rest of our lives, any time one of us
rides a wave, drops a line in the ocean, dribbles a soccer ball,
plays catch with Naya, shoots a basketball, enjoys a great cup of
coffee and oatmeal, or spends a beautiful a day out on or in the
ocean, we hope you and Christa and Mick will be there with us ….
and we’ll all know that Michael is there enjoying the moment with
us, and we’ll know that we have been blessed with having been
touched by an angel.
With love,
Carolyn, Gerry, Tim & Leah
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