I was a good friend of Mike's from 1982 until I went away in the service in 1983. Michael developed a serious alcohol problem as a young man, and while in Arizona in his 50s, the alcoholism became too much of a monster for Mike to beat. Sadly, it took his life. I saw the death and funeral notification online and posted in the Arizona Republic ( Newspaper publication?) through Abel Funeral Services. As of March 14, 2022, Mike has a grave marker identifying him and giving him dignity in death.

My name is George M., and I was a good friend of Mike Richards. I first met Mike at JC Penny's, Macon Mall, Macon, Georgia in Fall of 1978. I was a stock boy, and Mike sold carpets. Mike was a fastidious person. I lost contact with Mike until after I dropped out of college in 1981 and returned back to Macon in Summer, 1982 where I noticed Mike working at Showbiz Pizza. We both had no clear plans for our lives, so we drank and partied until I went into the US Navy in August, 1983. We had phone contact throughout my time in the navy. I made contact with Mike again in 1989 after living in Rhode Island with my future wife. My wife and I got married on September 1, 1990 in Mike's living room, and it was a small wedding, but it was nice, and Mike went out of his way to make sure everything was in place. I went into the US Coast Guard in November, 1990 and lost track of Mike until I saw him again in 1996 while home on leave. If memory serves me correctly, that was the very last time I had physical contact with Mike. I lost all contact with Mike until I did a person search on the Internet. I found Mike and he admitted that he was in trouble due to alcohol. He couldn't hold a job in Georgia, and he expressed an interest in going to culinary school in the Phoenix, Arizona area. I bought him a bus ticket and set him up in Tempe, AZ and for awhile he was doing well, going to culinary classes and working at Grand Canyon National Park between semesters. However, by December 2017, alcohol had again taken control of Mike and he was just barely staying afloat financially, mentally and physically. I flew out to Phoenix, AZ in December 2017 and tried to help him get an apartment; however, the alcohol "monster" had its claws embedded firmly in Mike. He was suffering from many medical conditions conducive to too much alcohol consumption, and I tried to help him, but I was unsuccessful. I had to leave Arizona due to my own medical situation. Once I returned home, I attempted one last time to help him get an apartment and encouraged him to seek professional help with his alcoholism, but he was unable to accept the help that I offered to him. I tried, but Mike was too addicted to alcohol. I stopped all contact with him after giving him money for an apartment that he spent on alcohol. That was in December 2017. One day in 2019, I did an internet search and discovered that Mike had passed from unknown circumstances that the funeral home could not discuss with me; However, I knew it was from alcohol. If anybody reading this sad story stops alcohol or drugs because of it, then Mikes death will not be in vain. If this article saves just one life, Mike and I will have won over ALCOHOL! God bless you Mike. I hope you are in heaven with your, mom, dad and sister, Leigh. Take care buddy!

I would like to thank Kathleen Desmond for taking the photograph of Mike's grave marker.

This generous act gives Mike identification and dignity.

Abel Funeral Home

1627 N. 51st Ave

Phonix, AZ

Michael Patrick Richards, Tempe, AZ, passed away May 30, 2019. If you have any information regarding the person, please call Abel Funeral Services, 602-442-7747∼Michael Patrick Richards

Tempe – 57, passed away May 30, 2019.