WMHS graduate was a talented woodworker
Published in the April 20, 2016 edition
NORCO, Calif. – Michael John Rice, 58, passed away peacefully in the comfort of his own home on Friday, April 1, with his wife Debbie and friends by his side after a courageous struggle with cancer.
Known as “Boston” to his many California friends, Mike was born and raised in Wakefield. Mike was the second son of five children of the late Charles F. and Gladys (Edmands) Rice.
After graduating from Wakefield Memorial High School in 1976, Mike continued on to pursue his love of woodworking and enrolled at the North Bennet Street School in Boston. North Bennet is devoted to creating careers for students from around the world through intensive training of fine, hands-on craftsmanship.
After graduation with honors as top in his class, Mike took his highly qualified cabinet and furniture making skills to California. From 1980 and beyond he put his signature methods and construction strategies into use toward the creation of high quality hand made cabinets, home furnishings, custom furniture and building restoration. Mike was a genuine outdoorsman. As with the wood he crafted on a daily basis, he was always one on one with nature.
Being an avid camper, fisherman, self-taught landscaper and experienced carver, he created the “Norco Walking Stick,” which Mike custom made from his recycling of mesquite branches found along the local trails he hiked with his many dogs. He enjoyed spending hours in his garage workshop with his dogs by his side, just tinkering away at whatever project caught his interest.
He leaves behind a wife Debbie Rice and her family from Corona, Calif.; a brother Charles Rice of Raymond, N.H., sisters Kathleen and husband Jack Schmidgall of Byfield and Pat Robertie of Brentwood, N.H. and Sharon Pierce of East Wakefield, N.H. Mike was an uncle to 14 nieces and nephews and great uncle to 17 nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind his own aunts and uncles, cousins and many, many local friends.
To know Mike was to love Mike. His free spirited personality enabled him to enter a new chapter in his life during 1980, fulfill his dreams of professional woodworking, surround himself with wonderful friends, own homes, raise animals, enjoy nature along the way and especially find the true love of his life: his spouse Debbie who took wonderful care of him.
Mike was the master of his own ship and spent his most recent days with undaunting determination to survive as he still immersed his spirit into the beauty, power and softness of nature. He will truly be missed by all who knew and loved him.
