Michael Messer Obituary

To our dear friends in the Messer,

Chen, Amkin, and Martin families: My family's souls reach out to you with sadness and comfort. The tragic loss of your beloved Michael will forever be etched into our universe. May Michael's soul be eternally bound up within the lives of the living. May you all be comforted among the mourners within the gates of Zion and Jerusalem. May Michael's memory serve as a source of strength, so sorely needed for the ongoing repair of this world.

I work for the Social Security Administration in New York and I had the privilege of working with Mike on the Touhy workgroup.



I met Mike for the first time when he came to NYC for a meeting with the workgroup. I vividly remember sitting by the water with him during lunchtime, while he spoke with pride about his children. Mike defined the word "mensch". He was a decent man, full of humor and intelligence-a truly good soul.



To his family and friends, I offer my deepest sympathy during this difficult time. We will all miss him greatly, but he will never be forgotten.

Although I didn't work with Mike, I benefited from his work in the Regional Attorney's office for SSA. The people of the United States are poorer for the loss of a fine public servant.



I can't imagine the grief experienced by his wife and children. I only hope that, in addition to the solace they find in the concern of their family and friends, they may find some small additional consolation in knowing that Mike touched many lives in the course of his public service and that more people than they can count have reason to miss him.

Dear Lynn and the entire Messer family, we were so, so sorry to hear of your terrible loss. We remember Michael as a youngster and think so often of the family we knew through our beloved Mildred. Please accept our most sincere condolences.

Our deepest feelings of sympathy to the entire family. We hope that through this loss a better world came be made by those of us that remain behind.

Deepest Sympathy to Mike's family, friends and associates. Having known and worked with Mike for many years, Mike was well-known as a man of impeccable character and an outstanding attorney. All who knew Mike share in this tragic loss.

I am an Assistant Regional Counsel in Atlanta. I had the privilege to work with Mike on a number of projects and workgroups throughout the years. It was impossible to work with Mike without be touched by his professionalism, his humor, and his devotion to his family and friends.

I worked with Mike on the Touhy workgroup. Mike was always helpful and caring. He talked about his family and always seemed so proud of his children. This is truly a loss for everyone he touched. My deepest sympathy to Mike's family.

I had the pleasure of working with Mike off and on throughout the last 15 years I've been with the Social Security Administration. Most recently, I worked with him on the Touhy Workgroup. Mike was a kind, considerate, and wise colleague who was always willing to freely share his vast experience and expertise. More importantly, he was a decent man who obviously loved his family very much. One of the last times I saw Mike was at a meeting in Baltimore. We talked about his children, and it was obvious how proud he was of them. My deepest sympathies go to the Messer family for their tragic loss. My thoughts and prayers will be with you.

Like Mr. Finder, I am a former Ass't State's Attorney of Cook County who moved away many years ago to work as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. This tragedy has touched AUSAs in Middle Florida and throughout the country. I speak for all of my colleagues in expressing our deepest sympathies to Michael's family, the Chicago USAO and the many outstanding lawyers of the Social Security Administration with whom we are privileged to work.

To Mike's Family and Friends:



I worked with Mike on the Touhy Workgroup for quite some time. He was a pleasure to work with and be around--he always had a smile on his face. I will truly miss him.



He did make the world a better place in which to live.



My deepest condolences to his family and friends.

I am an Assistant District Manager for the Social Security Administration. I worked with Mike as part of the "Touhy" group. Mike had a way of not taking himself too seriously. He laughed and he made you laugh. He loved his job, his coworkers, and especially his wonderful family. We have all heard his stories and his pride in his lovely wife and children. He will be missed. His light has only been dimmed, it will shine for a very long time.



I would like to offer my deepest sympathy to his family and friends. Keep looking upward for you strength through this terrible time of loss.

I am an Assistant Regional Counsel with SSA in San Francisco. I became acquainted with Mike as a member of the OGC Leadership Team and the Touhy Workgroup. In fact, he was one of the first attorneys who befriended me. We also worked together on the issue of illegal activity as SGA. He was a loving family man, a dedicated public servant, an excellent attorney, and a really nice guy. Always there with a smile. He was a vital member of the Touhy Workgroup. This senseless killing has so deeply affected the SSA/OGC family and the Touhy Workgroup, in particular, I cannot imagine how the family must feel. My heartfelt sympathies to you all. We'll miss you, Mike.

I'm a paralegal with OGC, SSA at Headquarters. I worked with Mike on the Touhy workgroup and will always remember his smile and laugh. This was a truly senseless tragedy and there are no words to express my sorrow. I hope the family will take comfort in knowing that Mike touched many more lives than they can possibly know and that the world is a better place because he was in it, even if for a brief time. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.



Sandy Harrison

OGC/SSA Baltimore

[email protected]

Mike was the first regional attorney I had occasion to work with when I came to OGC Baltimore in 1987. He was unfailingly cheerful and helpful no matter what the problem. My heart goes out to you for your terrible loss. May your faith provide you comfort. Please know that Mike was loved and will be sorely missed by a host of colleagues and friends.

I am a former federal prosecutor in Houston and Assistant State's Attorney in Chicago. My condolences to the Messer family following this needless tragedy. I will say a prayer for them this Friday night.

I have worked long distance with Mike many years. This is just such a travesty. He will be truly missed. I am so sorry for his family. My thoughts are with you in the coming months. Holly