Michael Bauer, 62, died October 5th from a rare lung infection called Blastomycosis.  From 1999 until the end of his life he was paralyzed due to the autoimmune nerve disease C.I.D.P.  Yet few realized the excruciating degree of pain he endured (unless they asked him how he was) because of his huge love of life and the way he laughed at the humor he found in ordinary situations.

Customers calling The Bauer Group Inc. would sometimes get Mike on the phone and enjoy hearing him laugh and good naturedly joke about his inability to write down their order due to his paralysis.  That didn't stop him from trying to answer the phone though!  He loved hearing from the customers, and many became long distance friends over the years, giving him much joy.

A Celebration of Mike's life event will be held on Jan. 18th, 2009.  Contact his family for more details at donna@smileonastick.com.

"While the pain and paralysis that consumed Mike weakened him physically, his spirit, love of life, and caring for others grew stronger," said his beloved friend Paul Mathews. "Through it all, Mike never lost his ability to say in one hundred words what could be said in ten, and his frequent digressions, range of topics and unique insights never failed to bring on great laughter. But I digress. I'm sure I am not the only one who is a better person for having known him, and we have lost a true friend."

In 1987, Mike boldly launched a new product he created called Smile on a Stick. (www.smileonastick.com.) Over the past 21 years, the number of genuine smiles that this simple product has created around the world is impossible to calculate. In this feat alone, Mike more than succeeded in making the world a better place.

The main principles he lived by were: Honesty, Service to others, Kindness, and Fun... especially Fun.

He didn't understand when people called him an "inspiration" but the joyful way he lived his life, even in the face of adversity, was an inspiration to everyone who met him  His laughter lives on in our hearts.