Michael Masin

Pat,

I was so sorry to hear about Mike. My heartfelt condolences to you and Mike's family. 

You two were the best friends one could possibly have had as we were all "growing up". I often think of the wonderful,laughter filled times we spent together. They were very special and I am forever grateful for having had Mike (and you) as a friend.

May he rest in peace,

Mike Masin

Beth Hindley (Brokaw)

Dear Pat and family,

My heart aches for you all on the loss of Michael.  What a caring man and fine artist.  My husband Mike and I were wandering the Pagent grounds and ran into him.  I knew of the artist Michael Hallinan but had no idea it was "my" Mike Hallinan form Taft.  It was a joy to reconnet an see him over the years.  We treasure the small works we have and say farewell to a bright spirit.  So many good menories of the Hallinans and their big group of friends.  How many parties did we attend at their home?  Rest well dear Mike.          Beth Hindley Brokaw

Gary Granbery

Pat, so sorry and sad to hear about Mike, my condolences and thoughts to you and your family.  Great memories of time with you and your family in Atherton.  We lost a great talent.  Peggy and I remember going to Laguna to see Mike's work in the Pagent of the Masters.  Our thoughts are with you!

Robert "Bob" Mummey

My thoughts and prayers go to Mike and his family and Pat and his family for the lose of a father, a husband, an uncle and dear brother. I have a very vivid memory of Mike when we both were on the Taft track team and Pat was participating in basket ball. Mike was a sprinter and good one. One of his races was the quarter mile. At one of our practices Mike decided to try the half mile which was my event although I always came in four place.

So off we all went to run our half mile. Mike started out in front and never looked back. Upon finishing ahead of all of us, he walked down the track and on to the grass and then threw up !.  Later after recovering he said " I will never in my life run that race again". He didn't.  I am thankful Mike was a part of my life and I believe the world is a better place because of him.

William "Bill" Streb

My thoughts and prayers for you, Pat, and for Mike's family. I have fond memories running track with Mike and the weekends in Atherton after graduation from Taft when Mike was at San Jose State and I, for a short time, shared an apartment with Pat and Gary Granberry st Cal.  Mike had a great sense of humor and is the only person I know who flexed his bicep when brushing his teeth. He will be missed.

Fred Austin

Pat,

My condolences on your brothers passing. In aviation we say a friend has "gone west" when they pass on. So here is wishing Michael, "Blue skies and tailwinds" on his final flight.

Fred Austin

Linda Larson (Ashley)

The Hallinans, Pat and Mike—such a powerful duo.  Sometimes it could be a little intimidating to be around them.  How could any two brothers be so cool and always, always funny?!  That they and their older brother, Tim, all eventually became involved in the arts was something I never would have guessed.

As it turns out, Mike said it wasn’t his guess either.  He said he was with a person who was painting so while he was waiting, he picked up a brush himself.   There began his life’s career.  He became an acclaimed artist whose luminous works hang around the world.  But from my perspective, it is the man Mike became (or maybe always was) that is as solid, admirable and enduring as his art.  If you read his Taft profile, you’ll see that he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.  His description of his touchdown shows that he was, of course, still funny but he peppered it with just the right amount of self-deprecation also.  Very MH. 

I walked into a friend’s house in Laguna and there on the wall was a big poster by Michael Hallinan.  I had no idea they knew each other.  She said he’d done it to support their daughters’ volleyball team.  She said Mike always shared his art to benefit the children and I would imagine other causes also. 

Mike did not come to our last few Taft reunions.  They were always in the summers when he was displaying and selling his art.  But our most recent reunion was in an October so I went to the Sawdust Festival during the summer and found him and his art and made him promise to come.  He said he would but he didn’t.  I don’t know if he was busy with work or if “something came up.”  But my guess is that, in the end, he just chose to stay with his family.  A loving choice and possibly the correct one—they deserved all the time they could have together because he left us all too soon.   

Steve Rousso

I think my first memory of the Hallinans was carving a "T" on Chalk Hill the summer before Taft opened.  Mike was a fun loving character.  I came walking into my bedroom one day and he jumped out of my own bed to scare me.  It was always fun to go to the Hallinans house.  We played ball and horsed around - talked about girls and joked with each other.  In other words, priceless times.  We were on the track team together, but he was the runner and I was the imposter.  He was incredibly fast and a delight to watch.  I will always keep the memory of him striding gracefully around the oval in my mind.

My condolences, Pat, to you and Mike's family and my best wishes to all.

Steve

Russell Kidd

It feels odd that I was not a personal friend of either Mike or Pat, but I certainly remember them both as very popular and bright guys.  I do remember him from the track team---when I think of the great runners we had, Mike and Curt are the two guys that come to mind.  One memory of Mike is that he had some of the rosiest cheeks of any guy I had ever seen.  He always looked like he had just come in out of the cold and could use some hot chocolate.  (I think the girls probably liked that.)

I did not realize he was an artist but have learned more about that in reading the tributes here.  Thank you, Pat, for posting some of his beautiful paintings and for the great picture of him and his wife.  You can see his artistic energy in his face

My wish for his family is that they pull close together and comfort each other.  Thank you, Pat, for letting us know.  God bless you all.

Russ Kidd

Vicki Gauert (Dooling)

Dear Pat: I send prayers to all of you on the loss of Mike. As everyone has stated, what wonderful memories we have of Mike and you and what personality " stars" you both were!  Our lives have truly been enriched by knowing him during our early years ( and you as well Pat!)  These memories of course will sustain us and of course, his beautiful art will certainly keep him alive with all that have it gracing their walls!  

God bless all your families,

Vicki Gauert Dooling