New: 2SLGBTQIAQA+ Viewpoint― An Introduction to Michael A. Horvich

He has been called a "Renaissance Man" and rightfully so!

Selfie of author 2025 at age 80

What can I say?

I wrote this about myself in the third person, “he” rather than “I”. It was a choice, I think, to pretend that I wasn’t bragging and that the comments about me were more objective than me just talking about myself.

Also, in several writing courses, it was “shame on you” if you began too many sentences with “I”. According to an article by The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,

Students often arrive at college with strict lists of writing rules in mind. Often these are rather strict lists of absolutes, including rules both stated and unstated:

-Each essay should have exactly five paragraphs.
-Don’t begin a sentence with “and” or “because.”
-Never include personal opinion.
-Never use “I” in essays.

We get these ideas primarily from teachers and other students. Often these ideas are derived from good advice but have been turned into unnecessarily strict rules in our minds.

The problem is that overly strict rules about writing can prevent us, as writers, from being flexible enough to learn to adapt to the writing styles of different fields, ranging from the sciences to the humanities, and different kinds of writing projects, ranging from reviews to research.

I will admit that while my accolades are not part of my daily mantra, it does make me feel good (I impress myself 😀) to read about how I have spent my life, the footprint I will leave behind, and the good I have done in helping others, which will survive me, all being part of my legacy.

About Michael

Michael hopes to share, through his writing, some of the lessons and experiences of his 80 years. He grew up during the 1950s and came out in the 1970s. It was not an easy time for Lesbians, Gay Men, and Transgender People. There were not many positive role models, gay characters on TV and in the theater, acceptance by family and friends, places in which to socialize, let alone “hook up.”

While Queers (now OK to use this descriptor) still have a long way to go, and while currently our hard-earned rights are under fire once again … being part of the LGBTQIA+ Community today is much easier than when he first identified myself as part of that community. This is particularly true, currently, for the Gender Affirming and Gender Questioning Community.

Truly … love is love … and his husband of 41 years lived the last 12 years of life walking the Dementia/Alzheimer’s Disease Path. Gregory was not a VICTIM of Alzheimer’s; he was a HERO! Through this ordeal, Michael learned many valuable lessons about love and the importance of caring for others unconditionally, which he shares in some of the stories he posts.

He also writes about his insights and philosophies about life in general.

Michael was raised Jewish, but considers himself Buddhist and shares his growth in this area as well.

If other LGBTQ+ community members can relate to any of Michael’s stories and feel better about themselves, he feels he has achieved a great deal. “You are not alone!”

Check out his website to find out more about him.

http://www.horvich.com

Brief Biography: Michael A. Horvich

Michael holds his Bachelors of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana, additional degree work at Hunter College in New York, his Master’s Degree as Education Generalist with a concentration in Talented and Gifted Education from National Lewis University in Evanston, and an Advanced Certificate in Education Administration and Supervision, also from the University of Illinois in Urbana.

After a 30 year elementary school and university teaching career, Michael retired in 2000 but has been more than active as an educator, speaker, story teller, writer, poet, photographer, blogger, artist, jeweler, book binder, lecturer, actor, supernumerary, museum curator, flea circus ringmaster, Tarot card reader, spiritual advisor, and dementia/Alzheimer’s caregiver partner for his life partner Gregory Maire (RIP.)

During and continuing after his active career in education Michael: 1) earned two fellowships from the State of Illinois in Talented and Gifted Education, 2) was co-founder/secretary of the Illinois Association for The Gifted, 3) received a Chicago Council for the Arts grant, 4) won a competitive application residency in Non-Fiction Writing at The Ragdale Foundation inLake Forest, Ilinois, 5) was donor and curator of “Michael’s Museum: A Curious Collection of Tiny Treasures, a permanent exhibit it at Chicago Children’s Museum, 6) was co-creator of the documentary “Alzheimer’s: A Love Story” which won acceptance to 90+ film festivals locally, nationally, and internationally and won 35+ awards, and 7) was founder of the More Than Ever Education Scholarship Fund, administered by La Casa Norte, a premier Chicago area not- for-profit supporting youth confronting homelessness.

Since retiring from teaching 30 years ago, he has set himself the goal of writing every day and feels a sense of emptiness when he fails to meet this goal.

For ten years, he maintained three blogs: one on Alzheimer’s, one on Michael’s Museum, and one featuring his writing. They are now inactive but archived.

For “Prism & Pen” on www.medium.com, since July 2022, he has written over 250 essays and poems while garnering more than 1,000 followers.

For “Substack―Michael A. Horvich Writes: Memoirs, Musings, & More”, at mhorvich.substack.com since the beginning of June 2025, he has written 30+ pieces and has earned 70+ subscribers.

So far, he has self-published 17 books, all of which are available for sale at www.lulu.com

Poetry: Sit With Me a While
Poetry: Sit With Me a While Longer
Poetry: Sit With Me Another While Longer
Counting Down The Yardstick: A Past Life Memoir
A Pondering: Thoughts on Thinking
Gyroscope: An Alzheimer’s Love Story and Caregiver Support Memoir
Michael’s Museum: A Curious Collection of Tiny Treasures―The Story
Michael’s Museum: A Curious Collection of Tiny Treasures―The Photos
The Museum of Michael’s Mind: Volume One of Michael’s Memoirs
The Museum of Michael’s Mind Volume Two of Michael’s Memoirs
Gay Stories and Poetry: Written for Prism & Pen―Volume One
Gay Stories and Poetry: Written for Prism & Pen―Volume Two
Gay Stories and Poetry: Written for Prism & Pen―Volume Three
Gay Stories and Poetry: Written for Prism & Pen―Volume Four
Good Grief: Grieving the Death of a Loved One the Right Way…your Way!
ALZHEIMER’S: The Musical
A Relationship of Writers