December 2001
This is a difficult letter for me to write and I appreciate your understanding. However, I thought that I should write to let you know about Mitchell's last days since his death was so unexpected. We will all miss him greatly. I want you to know that his death, although untimely, was peaceful.
Mitchell died from a heart attack while driving to class on December 7, 2001 in Cleveland, Ohio. His death was never alone or unattended. He was driving in early morning rush hour traffic - parking lot - when his car drifted into the guardrail. Motorists who witnessed the event got out to assist and found him unresponsive. Someone called the Emergency Response Team and fellow motorists started CPR immediately. He never regained a pulse even though he was taken to a nearby Emergency Department. From the time the car drifted off the road until the time he was pronounced was about 45 minutes. I had spoken with Mitchell on the telephone within an hour of his death and his last words to me were, "I love you my darling." That was how Mitchell ended every phone call. Neither of us could have imagined that this would be the last tirne he would say those words.
You may have known that about one year ago Mitchell was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. He had a flu and wasn't getting better. A work up revealed the cardiomyopathy - etiology unknown. This was a little frustrating for Mitchell. Prior to this flu he was so vigorous and healthy (other than being overweight). We hiked and took long walks and his energy was never limited. After the cardiac diagnosis he was started on medications and was closely monitored by his internist and cardiologist. He lost over 45 pounds in the last year, watched his diet and regularly exercised. He was doing great until 2-3 weeks before his death.
Mitchell was enrolled in the Executive Doctorate of Business Management program at the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. The program is designed for busy executives. The class meets every three or four weeks during the semester on Friday and Saturday. Most of the students are not from the area and fly in for the weekend, as did Mitchell. We measured time in 3-week increments - between residencies. This residency wpuld have been the midpoint of the three-year program. Mitchell was ready - papers done, he even practiced (not that he needed to practice) his last presentation at home the Wednesday before. His presentation was about American Energy Independence. He felt that we did not need to depend on foreign oil as a source of energy and that if the United States would develop the alternative energy sources these sources of energy would also be available to developing countries. He loved the EDM program. He had selected this program for several reasons: it was an executive program, it was in Cleveland so he could visit his family and stay with his Mom, and, it was where his father and his brother Michael graduated. However, once he started the program, he loved it for the challenge of learning, his classmates and faculty.
In between these last two residencies Mitchell felt like he was coming down with a cold - he felt tired. He had seen his physician and a repeat cardiac echo showed no difference from the previous year. He had a flu shot and we thought that some of the 'tiredness' might be from the flu shot. His physician told him that if he started to notice any throat soreness to call and he would start antibiotics to prevent any infection, which could compromise his cardiac condition. Mitchell never had any throat soreness - he just continued to feel 'a little tired.' He slowed his pace a little and rested in between activities. He still did everything that was part of his normal routine. He promised that he would see his physician before going to Cleveland if he was feeling more tired or if things changed. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday that week he said that he was ok and didn't think he needed to see the physician. He flew out to Cleveland on Thursday. When I spoke with him on Friday morning he said that the flight was hard - it was overbooked so he had to wait to hear his name being called rather than going to the club, the plane came in at the farthest terminal and he was just a little more tired. His voice sounded a littie more tired, I thought there was just a slight hint of hoarseness. My first thought was, oh good, now we can call the doc and get some antibiotics. Well, that just never happened.
I have enclosed a picture taken one week before Mitchell died. It is a picture of Mitchell, Igor, Santa, Mystic and me. We had taken the puppies (9 months old) to The Dog House for a Saturday family bath - self-grooming included us getting nearly as wet as the puppies. It just happened that they were offering pictures with Santa. Mitchell really didn't want to have our picture taken because we were pretty grungy from the bath, but he went along with it since I wanted to have our picture taken. Had we known, we might have been a little more prepared, but as you can see Mitchell was happy. We were having fun even though grooming the puppies is quite a task.
We held a wake/visitation for Mitchell in Parma, Ohio on Sunday, December 9th and Monday, December 10th. Mitchell was cremated and I will keep his ashes until an appropriate final resting spot becomes evident. I am planning two memorial services - one in Cleveland and one in Connecticut. In Cleveland the memorial service to honor his memory will be held January 17, 2002 at 5:30p.m. in Harkness Chapel, Case Western Reserve University and a reception to follow in the Dively Building (the building where Mitchell attended classes) at the Weatherhead School CWRU. In Connecticut a memorial dance party - sometime in February at the dance studio where Mitchell and I continued to take dance lessons even after learning the waltz for our wedding. Most recently we were learning the Hustle. A scholarship fund is being created to honor the memory of Mitchell. If desired, donations may be made to the Mitchell V. Morse Memorial Fund at Weatherhead School of Management, CWRU, Department of Development, Room 500, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-7235. The family is putting together a Memories of Mitchell book over the next year. Short stories, poems, or thoughts of Mitchell are welcome. He was a kind and generous man who touched the lives of many and will be greatly missed.
Thank you for continuing to keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Much love and peace be with you.
Beth Morse
by Michael Herrick, Matterform Media
