March 15, 1954 �" February 4, 2015
It is with heavy hearts that hundreds of San Francisco city and community-based organization employees mourn the passing of a tireless advocate and leader in the field of the adolescent health, Michael Baxter, MSW. As the San Francisco Department of Public Health's director of Primary Care Youth Programs and Family Planning, Michael oversaw and directed the operation of eight youth clinics located throughout the city, with a particular eye to enriching programs for low-income, homeless, incarcerated, and LGBTQ youth, and youth of color. Michael's incomparable energy and generosity of spirit infected every project he touched. He was honored to serve as the steering committee chair for the San Francisco Adolescent Health Working Group, as the advisory board chair for the 3rd Street Youth Center and Clinic, and as the chair for the Dimensions Clinic Collaborative, as well as serving on numerous other committees and working with a multitude of different city based organizations.
Michael will be remembered not only for his passionate, unrelenting dedication to his work, but also for his incredible ability to see humor and light in even severe situations. He was able to charm people, men and women alike, wherever he went, and used that to further the worthy causes to which he had dedicated his life's work. Although his aims were serious and he took his work very seriously too, one never left a meeting or phone call with Michael without a laugh and a smile on their face. He was a guiding light not only to the thousands of youth served by his programs, but also to the hundreds of employees that worked under him. Michael nurtured protégés throughout his career, individuals that will continue his legacy of advocating for and promoting adolescent and family planning medicine programs long after he is gone.
For 24 years, Michael's passion to care for others with a distinctly dedicated focus, carried through to his home life. His husband, Alex Martinez, mourns the loss of such a giving, caretaking, and honorable man who exemplified his devotion to less advantaged souls by co-parenting a street youth, Steven Cooper, since birth and then raising him with Alex from 10 to 18. It was because of Michael's need to help, mentor, and heal the wounds of others, that Steven, now 24, has learned about love and being loved. Michael's pure heart will be greatly missed by all of those he touched.
Memorial details are to be determined, for more information please email [email protected].