Ron Waterbury and Carole Turkenik

Michael was not only a keen scholar of Oaxaca but also a warm and sensitive man, a singular character, and a gentleman of great humor and charm. We still remember and talk about how Michael enchanted the guests during the wedding of our son Jonathan in the Hotel Casa Oaxaca in 2000. Michael attended alone and ended up as the only male at a table of seven young females. At one point he left the event only to return a few minutes later bearing bouquets of flowers, one for each of the young women at his table. He then spent the rest of the afternoon regaling his table mates with stories that kept them in stitches. We remember, too, Michael and Angeles’ story-book wedding in a lovely garden, accompanied by the most ghastly weather. It poured and we all got drenched, but the bride and groom remained radiant through it all. The last time we shared an evening with Michael and Angeles was just a year ago at the birthday party in San Lorenzo Cacautepec of our mutual friend Enrico de Rosa, the Napolitano chef of the Mexita restaurant. The event was outdoors, and although we were in an enclosed tent, it was a bitterly cold evening. Together we huddled around the table downing shots of mezcal and dancing furiously to keep warm.

Michael, you were “unico.” We will miss you.

Ron Waterbury and Carole Turkenik