Dear Michael,
It is hard, truly hard, to write about you in the past tense. I am deeply sorry. You were my leader and mentor, and I learned so much from you. You were not only a leader or a team member but, above all, a truly remarkable human being.
I never had any doubts when discussing things with you or sharing my ideas. You always cared about what your team had to say; you always listened to us by your heart. The advice you gave me continues to guide me in both my professional and personal life. Your boundless energy, ambition, and kind heart were truly inspiring to all of us.
You are, and will always be, a special person, Michael. I feel incredibly fortunate to have met you, worked with you, and learned so many life lessons from you.
Dear Heckmann family,
I am profoundly sorry for your loss. Michael was always a strong advocate for mothers and women in the workplace. I once thanked him for his supportive attitude, and he replied, "Hey, I’m the father of amazing daughters! and the husband of perfect wife. They’ve taught me what ‘girl power’ really means. Of course, I’ll always support women in life!" He really did! God bless your family!
