I was sad to see Mike Andrick Sr.’s face looking back at me from the obituaries (BDN, Nov. 19). I first met Mike Andrick Sr. when he was a volunteer driver for the American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery program.

Volunteers like Mike stepped up to the plate to help people battling cancer get a ride to their treatments. In later years, I ran into Mike a lot as he was always helping out at the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter. I’ve also had the honor of working with his son, Mike Jr., again in relation to the Shelter.

Frank Capra’s classic film, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” pointed out how one person’s life touches so many others. Mike is a great example of that, whether it’s the countless individuals who were helped by the shelter or the other efforts he put forth or through the work his son and others around him did because they were inspired and influenced by his compassion for humanity.

I liked the line in his tribute, “He never met a stranger” and I have to agree the expression, “There are no strangers, just friends we haven’t met” fit Mike well. I know it won’t take Mike any time at all for you to be given his wings in heaven as he truly was an angel here on Earth.

Christopher Olsen

Bangor