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By LAUREN ROTH lroth@leader.net
Sunday, March 16, 2003 Page: 3A
WILKES-BARRE – They said Mike’s bear hugs would have helped them get
through the sadness and anger.
Fifteen friends of Michael Pierson, whose stabbed body was found Wednesday
in a lake at Glenmaura National Golf Course in Moosic, stepped forward to
share memories during his memorial service Saturday.
“This has to bring us together,” said Kelly Hardesty, co-owner of the
Coming Out store in Wilkes-Barre Township.
Pierson disappeared after an argument early Jan. 28 during which, police
say, he injured his boyfriend in a stabbing. Police believed Pierson then
fled, possibly to Texas.
The two had been together several months and the relationship had become
violent and abusive, according to their counselor and friends. Pierson was
badly bruised in a fight a few days before the stabbing, and photographs of
the bruises were provided to police.
“Male upon male domestic violence is not getting the attention it
deserves,” Hardesty said.
Domestic violence was one of the issues Pierson addressed in his work with
the gay community. He was a Red Cross HIV/AIDS educator, the Men who have Sex
with Men coordinator.
“He was dedicated to healing others, even if he put himself in harm’s
way,” said JoAnn Heckman, who works with the HIV/AIDS community through
Catholic Social Services. Heckman worked with Pierson to put on a same-sex
domestic violence seminar at Wilkes University.
Pierson, originally from Avoca, had a dark past that involved drug abuse
and brushes with the law. He was once married and had a son, and was in
contact with neither of them, said Maggi Rambus of the Red Cross.
“He had made a new life,” she said, and became like a member of her
family. Pierson had approached her about volunteering at the Red Cross and
followed through, interviewing with Mark Innocenzi. He told him he wanted to
give back to the community he’d abused years ago.
“I hired him on the spot,” Innocenzi said. “He knew his faults, his
shortcomings. He never knew how powerful and loved he was.” He was promoted
from part-time to full-time employment.
“He saw no color. He saw no orientation. He saw a heart, and if it was
pure, he embraced it,” Innocenzi said.
Liz Pascal of Scranton also rose to speak to about 60 people who attended
the service at First United Methodist Church on North Franklin Street.
As a young lesbian woman in substance abuse recovery, she was tempted to
return to social outlets such as bars. But Mike kept pushing her to join the
Pride social group, for which he was the vice president. “I feel Mike reached
out to me and helped save my life. Because Mike reached out and made sure I
had some place to go.”
The service included hymns and an arrangement called “Improvisation on
Amazing Grace,” which his friend John Dawe composed on the church organ late
Friday night and performed Saturday.
Margie Bryant, treasurer of Pride of NEPA, called on the community to do
something positive in Michael’s memory. Ideas and messages are being collected
at www.prideofnepa.com/pierson. There will not be a local funeral.
Lauren Roth, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7218.