October 24, 1956 - October 8, 2010
Michael C. Wolford spent the first 23 years of his life in a rural Minnesota town where he learned to respect the outdoors, the importance of community and the value of personal integrity. During his last year of nursing school in 1978-9, Harvey Milk was assassinated, Dan White got off with a slap on the wrist and Michael watched the ensuing White Night Riots on TV in Minnesota. As he was just coming into his own sexuality, he realized, "Those queers know what they're doing. That's where I need to live."
He easily settled into San Francisco with an exciting nursing job at UCSF and a cozy apartment in Duboce Triangle. He soon fell in love with Rusty, an amazing partner of seven years, who preceded him in death to AIDS in 1989.
In 1982 Michael made a career change from the hospital to the stage when he was cast singing and dancing in Beach Blanket Babylon. His two and a half years in that San Francisco institution and the professional theater gigs that followed yielded some of the best times and friendships of his life.
He then returned to the steady income of nursing at CPMC in the Intensive Care Unit. This career proved to be a natural fit at which he excelled, ever broadening his skills and in turn teaching those skills to incoming nurses.
In the 1980s, Michael responded to the overwhelming AIDS crisis in two ways, one personal and one civic. His personal response was to dedicate himself to athletics and wellness. In 1988, he completed a B.A. in Human Movement Studies at SFSU. After running a few 5K races he quickly became an avid runner and ultimately ran a marathon in 3:48. He competed in numerous triathlons, achieving his personal best at the Vancouver Gay Games in 1990. He cycled centuries, lifted weights and even danced aerobics. At the age of 50 he still kicked ass riding his bicycle 545 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles in ALC 6.
His civic response to AIDS was demonstrated through activism and fundraising. He was a member of ACT UP Golden Gate, organizing and attending many important protests. For a decade he was involved in and ultimately chaired the High Brow Society, which hosted the huge drag ball and fundraiser every October known as the Muscle Sisters Ball. Michael was on the board of Folsom Street Events and oversaw the entertainment, vendors and first aid committees during his ten years there. He had the privilege of being Mr. February on the AIDS Emergency Fund 2008 Bare Chest Calendar.
His spirit of volunteerism continued up until his death. He sang in and was concert production manager for the SF Bach Choir for five years. He sang with and directed The Christmas Fairies for 15 years, spreading seasonal joy to various shut-in populations around SF. For the past three years Michael had volunteered as a clinician and counselor at Magnet, the HIV/STD clinic in the Castro. Most recently he discovered a great joy working in animal husbandry at the Marine Mammal Center, caring for the sick, injured and prematurely weaned California Sea Lions and Elephant Seals.
Michael loved to travel and never tired of exploring new places and experiencing other cultures. He marveled at new and different perspectives and always returned with a renewed appreciation for his many blessings in San Francisco.
In the final weeks of his battle with liver cancer, Michael was greatly supported by his large and loving group of friends and family. His parents Casey and Jane, brothers Jon and Craig, 3 nephews and a niece and many cherished long-term friends survive him.
A memorial service will be held on October 24, 2010 at the Unitarian Universalist church (Franklin & Geary streets) in San Francisco. A reception will immediately follow the service in the church's social hall. Memorial donations may be made to Magnet or the Marine Mammal Center.