PANTON — Michael Oscar Hermann died on Wednesday, April 18, with his devoted family at his side following a brief and valiant struggle with intestinal cancer diagnosed in July of 2011. Michael was a beautiful man, inside and out, and deeply cherished by his family and friends. He lived well and he died with dignity and grace, teaching new lessons about life, love, and compassion. He was a youthful 65 years of age.
Michael was born on February 15, 1947, to Viola and Matthias Hermann, in Reading, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1969 and he later earned a J.D. in Intellectual Property Law from Franklin Pierce Law Center (now University of New Hampshire School of Law). As a long-time resident of Vermont, Michael was active in the community, serving most recently on the boards of the Panton Planning Commission, the Addison County Regional Planning Commission, the Counseling Service of Addison County, the Opera Company of Middlebury, and numerous other not-for-profit organizations. He was dedicated to and worked on various political, social justice and environmental issues as an activist and citizen.
Michael was a gregarious man with a brilliant mind, wide-ranging intellect and childlike sense of wonder. His abundant enthusiasm was infectious. He truly lived “in the moment,” enjoying his family and friends and often exclaiming how lucky he was to live so happily in the beautiful state of Vermont. A friend pointed out that Michael was “disarmingly simple yet maddeningly complex” (a description originally of Beethoven).
Michael did not defer his dream: He carefully constructed his life so that he could live and work for decades from his home and office in Panton near Lake Champlain. He loved practicing law, helping businesses grow over the years and forming many life-long friendships with his clients. Around the work day, he often hopped on his skis to enjoy cross-country skiing from his doorstep, bicycling over to Button Bay State Park and Basin Harbor Club, or simply walking down to the lake to watch the sun go down over the Adirondacks. It was a life he cherished and never took for granted.
Michael was a singer (bass) and performer with Green Mountain Chorus (barbershop), Middlebury College Community Chorus, Opera North (in its early years), and numerous other groups. He had a life-long passion for opera and enjoyed dozens of train trips annually down to New York City and Montreal to experience his favorite operas and singers. He had a special love for the works of Wagner, Verdi, Puccini and Mozart.
A man of Michael’s talents had many accomplishments but the one he was most proud of was successfully raising three children as a single parent. He adored them as much as they adore him. He was known by one son as “papa bear” right up until his death.
Michael’s family and friends will sorely miss his great cooking (especially the wonderful brunches and popovers), stimulating conversations, compassionate nature, and loveable personality.
Michael is survived by his beloved wife and partner of 23 years, Lynne; his adored children, Tamara, Zarra, Killian, and Samantha; his lovely granddaughter, Amanda; his brother Rodney; and numerous wonderful family members and friends. He was predeceased by his parents, both of whom died in their nineties, and his brother Brian. His first marriage while in his twenties was to Julie Cloud.
Michael’s family is profoundly grateful to the many family members and friends who helped sustain him through his final challenging year. Their love and devotion made a huge difference in Michael’s life and was of enormous assistance to family members caring for him. We are deeply grateful to Michael’s superb team of doctors, nurses, and caregivers, including his chief oncologist, Dr. Marc Greenblatt; Janet Elly, MSN, FNP; Jean Fay, RN; and the wonderful staff of the Oncology Department at Fletcher Allen Health Care. We also express our gratitude for the excellent care provided by Dr. Amy Littlefield, NP, Jared O’Donnell, RN, Addison County Home Health Care and Hospice, and the wonderful staff of the Vermont Respite House.
During his last year of life, Michael’s incredible grace under fire inspired us all and in the most profound ways. As Michael is our trailblazer into the unknown, he leaves us with a wonderful suggestion from Mary Oliver’s poem, The Summer Day: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? May we all heed the insistencies of our deeper selves. Truths come from such depths. Truths we need.”
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Opera Company of Middlebury, P.O. Box 803, Middlebury, Vermont 05753, and The Hope Lodge, American Cancer Society, 237 East Avenue, Burlington, Vermont 05401. An intimate private gathering is being planned to celebrate Michael’s life.
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