Michael left this life after twenty months' decline at Marin Terrace memory care. Walking and talking Friday afternoon, he began his final descent that evening and passed two evenings hence with characteristic poise and dignity. The family was honored to be present, sharing his love. A sense of peace and even joy persist to us now.
Michael was born in Staten Island to Michael and Mary Margaret (Peg) Walsh Collins. His brother Frank was born 2 years later, and with their mother, they moved to Bantry, Co Cork, Ireland, for a year, hometown to both parents. They returned to Staten Island and a year later took the long train journey to San Francisco in order to join several maternal siblings who had immigrated earlier - Walsh, Ward, Reilly plus 32 maternal first cousins. He attended St. Teresa's school until 8th grade. High school and college were at St. Joseph's/ St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park. Finally realizing he had a choice whether to become a priest, he opted out and earned a teaching credential.
A "natural", he loved teaching for all 53 years! He started at Everett Middle School, and after several years accepted an English and Latin assignment at Sir Francis Drake High School, San Anselmo. He had married Barbara and had a daughter Mary Katharine (Kate) and son Daniel. Loving variety, he taught Mathematics, French, Work Experience, night school, coached baseball, eventually becoming an administrator. By the late 1970s, his duties had included a stint in the District Office and an A.P. at Redwood H.S. Barbara passed, and a year and half later, he married a colleague Laura Foster. A year later their daughter Althea was born. He realized his passion was working with students and returned to the classroom, occasionally Latin at Tamalpais, but mainly at Redwood H.S. Versatile, he taught English, French, Social Studies for 20 years, but his first love was Latin. He built up Latin to 5 full classes.
Mandatory retirement encouraged him to interview for a position at Bentley School in Oakland, and he accepted it with pleasure 3 days later. He later taught for 4 years at Stuart Hall in San Francisco, finishing with several years at Bentley. He had often been a favorite teacher or Teacher of the Month.
In his 40+ years with Laura, his experiences expanded. They traveled as much as possible in the US, Europe and the Americas, sometimes with NEH grants or taking students especially to France and Italy.
Music was always a source of joy to him. He joined and later led a Schola Gregoriana for 40+ years, sometimes as a teaching tool for his Latin students. Barbershop expanded his knowledge of music as did Winifred Baker Chorale (classical.) He and Laura also loved jazz and dancing. Eventually he combined music with drama and was in 15+ productions by the Redwood Players, Novato Players, Mountain Theater and the Revels. He kept fit with tennis. His final trip with Laura was an upscale hike on the Camino de Santiago in Spain where he characteristically checked out church acoustics by chanting "Ave Maria". Only once - by a nun in a church in Paris - was he asked to cease.
Predeceased by his brother Frank, his first wife Barbara and his son Daniel.
Survived by his daughter Kate (Kevin) Gallagher, his wife Laura, their daughter Althea (Chad) Thigpen and children Camille and Bryce. For 30 years, a friend of Bill W.
A "proper" mass with Gregorian chant will be held followed by a "proper" Irish wake when this super-spreading ends.
Covid and air pollution from wildfires prevented us from holding a requiem mass until now. It will be accompanied by his beloved Gregorian chant Schola and your participation is encouraged.
**Funeral arrangements**
MASS: Friday, January 7th at 1 pm, St Raphael's Mission church, San Rafael. Refreshments afterward: banquet hall at Il Davide, 901 A Street, S.R. CDC guidelines for vaccinations and masks will be followed.
Link to funeral recording:
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/TnuQ-3jyofTFNe78QhjRQTF6H51fjAqb_mgI9WcMp04FCHAj1z3pDnsCc0cZvi9o.RW-ksO0HzvA2lmOB Passcode: W?w$#Z7A
