After a long vacation of giving thanks with family and loved ones, Wabash came together to remember one of its own. Michael Bachner died unexpectedly last week of a heart attack. On Tuesday, a memorial was held at the Chapel honoring his life. As Wabash came together to remember Mr. Bachner ’70, a pirate flag was curiously draped across the front of the stage, giving friends and family a reminder of not just his love for pirates and adventure, but also his fantastic sense of humor.
Friends and family one by one stepped behind the flag to the podium to share amusing stories, anecdotes and endearing memories about the life of their beloved Wally.
“His heart had room for all, and he wore that heart on his sleeve,” Judy Wynne said, speaking on behalf of the bookstore employees. “That was a part of the man that he was.”
Wynne talked about their experiences in interviewing with Bachner. “He asked kind and interesting questions,” she said. “We knew he was really different.”
Wynne went on to describe some of the things that made Bachner different. “We always had to sneak things into the trash because he never wanted to throw anything away … not even a type writer eraser,” she joked. “Working with Mike was like a voyage on his pirate ship – exciting, unexpected, and rewarding. We are so lucky and so grateful to have been on this journey with him.”
Professor David Blix ’70 presented the invocation, benediction, and humorous memories of his friend, colleague, and fellow student. Both Blix and Bachner were members of the Wabash class of 1970 and by 1988 each had found their way back to the College in professional capacities. When they became colleagues, their friendship grew even deeper. “In time, we had names for each other,” Blix said. “I called him Big Mike, and he called me Old Dave.”
In describing Bachner as a student Blix said he was “a cheerful, livewire, smart-alec who was active in theater and talked back whenever he felt like it and, what’s more,” Blix chuckled, “got away with it.”
Blix also shared with the audience two comical stories about Bachner’s Wabash days that showcased his unique sense of humor.
Blix told of how Bachner and a troop of other Wabash underclassmen provided an ominous reminder to seniors about their upcoming comps, which were held at that time in the spring. “One morning that spring,” Blix said, “we all awoke to find a giant sign strung up between the arches of the chapel with letters several feet high that you could read from the flagpole, ‘COMPS ARE COMING.’
“The seniors were furious,” Blilx said.
Blix provided yet another amusing story. Bachner was a freshman living in Kingery Hall which was, during his time, a dormitory. In 1966, each Wabash living unit had one house phone and it was the responsibility of the person whose room was closest to the phone to answer it. In his freshman year Bachner had that duty. The only way to get out of it was to make people not want to call.
“Whenever the phone rang,” Blix said, “he’d answer it and yell loudly in the receiver, ‘Kappa Kappa Kingery, Rhine on the line, what the hell do you want?’”
“It was remarkably effective,” Blix mused.
Many of Bachner’s family members provided touching insight and humorous anecdotes about him.
“In my early life, I was a barber,” Andy Biddle said, Bachner’s brother in law. “But for some reason, never Mike’s barber,” he laughed.
Biddle also highlighted some ways to remember Bachner. “You can read a book to a child, you can take a trip down Sugar Creek, you can learn about Indiana prairie grass and flowers, and you can get excited by watching eagles soar.”
In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, Chuck, Bachner’s younger brother, shared a list of things he was grateful for about his older brother. “I am thankful for a brother who lived joyfully, thoughtfully, and lovingly and left a strong trail of paddle strokes down Sugar Creek for anyone who would like to follow.”
Blix’s final goodbye gave the audience an understanding of the friendship they shared. “Goodbye from Old Dave, Mike,” he said. “I have known you, I have loved you. I hope that I and all those whose lives you have touched will be worthy to carry on your legacy for many a long year’s time.”
Family and friends exited Chapel to a rousing rendition of the gospel hymn “I’ll Fly Away.”