Born to Sing

William Michael Robson

August 14, 1942 — December 6, 2021

Michael sang Don Quixote's "The Impossible Dream"; and its sentiment, "To fight for the right without question or pause," echoed through Michael's loving and tuned-in life, along with his unforgettable smile and deeply caring gaze. His colleagues at the Massachusetts State Department of Disabled Affairs gave him a desk placard that read "Mighty Mike"; and the name stuck.

Michael's journey began as the eldest of four in a traveling Air Force family. With stops in faraway places like Labrador, he ended up at Bangor High School in Maine where he was a track star, sang in the All-State Choir, and was a National Merit Scholar. At MIT and the University of Maryland, he studied physics and went to work for NASA. He then pivoted from science and earned another degree in Special Needs Education. A poster-child for the Protestant work ethic, "Mighty Mike" soon became the director of the Massachusetts State Department of Disabled Affairs.

Sharing the liberal disposition of his parents, Bill and Betty, Michael was a lifelong member of the ACLU and lent his skills to many hopeful political campaigns. He went to the renowned Woodstock rock weekend in 1969, and sang with the Boston Choral Group across Europe. Michael professionally pursued his many artistic talents as a member of SAG-AFTRA, acting in musical theater, playing guitar, dancing (jazz and tap) and singing – and with his prepossessing good looks – modeling. Finally, Michael settled into teaching 9th grade math & geometry to special ed and then mainstream students at Brighton High School in Boston. When anyone asked what he 'did,' that's the job he mentioned.

Michael's sisters: Deborah, Robin with Steven Gessner; his brother Peter with Jean; his nieces: Amber Fearon, Elissa Robson & her children, Cole Hiscutt & Haven Sidibe, Jozephine Gessner with Megan Plot; nephews: Matthew Robson with Jessica, Jeremiah Gessner, all carry precious memories of Michael's beautiful character and a life lived with unassuming decency and humor.

On a September evening in 1980, Safoura Rafeizadeh went to Lilly's in Faneuil Hall with her sister and a cousin. By the second song at the piano bar, Safoura had fallen in love. So began her 40-year companionship with Michael Robson. They enjoyed going to plays, and at concerts, they quenched their thirst for music. Michael learned her birth language, Farsi, and sang classics like "Life of Love" (حیات عشق). They traveled annually to an island, long in Michael's family, in Schoodic Lake in Piscataquis County, Maine. They also wandered around Europe, went off to music festivals, and in the peace of their home, read to one another. Safoura comforted Michael through his precious final days at their home in Watertown, Massachusetts. They expressed their commitment, not by law, but by a bond of marvel and love. Michael's presence will be palpable till Safoura joins him.