Their Story
Remembering Michael R. Perich.
Michael was a loyal, honest, strong, determined, and courageous young man who had a great sense of humor. He was competitive with his peers, devoted to his friends and family, and loyal to all, especially to the people he loved and believed in. He set the bar very high for himself but was able to overlook shortcomings in the people he loved, because he chose to focus on the good in people; in many ways Michael was an old soul.
In Michael’s 25 years of life, he was an extremely reliable person. He always thought about others before himself. Wherever he was in the world he found time to call his elderly grandparents weekly, and he always offered a helping hand to those in need. He had an infectious laugh, enjoyed practical jokes, and influenced many people to be the best version of themselves.
Michael enjoyed adventure: traveling to new lands, exploring new cultures, and sharing food and customs. He loved lifting weights, scuba diving, snow skiing and snowboarding, cooking healthy foods, sky diving, and driving fast cars, and he never failed to challenge the people around him to create healthy lifestyles.
As a youngster Michael became interested in the military and was drawn to the service of his country. He was intrigued with World War II and often discussed it with his grandfathers, who served in that war. Upon high school graduation, Michael was appointed to the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York, and graduated with the Class of 2006.
After the Academy, Michael went to work in the service of our country and to serve in the United States Naval Reserve. Michael’s smile was magnetic in that it would draw people to him. He had a warm personality, yet he could be quiet and didn’t have to be the center of attention.
He made his family laugh by wrestling with his dad, even during his last visit home, and he was fond of surprising them: he would say he couldn’t come home for a particular occasion, then show up anyway. His family was proud of his integrity, his unwavering loyalty, his refusal to gossip or judge, his selflessness, his dedication to his Roman Catholic faith, his determination to stick up for the underdog, and the way he listened — the eye contact he maintained made you feel as though you were the most important person in the world.
LT Michael R. Perich was lost on September 28, 2008, his 25th birthday.
