Dear GSBA Members and friends,

It's with great sadness that I write to let you know of the passing of Mike Schemm, one of our community's most generous and amazing champions of LGBTQ equality.

Mike Schemm, longtime member of GSBA, passed away on Saturday, Sept 7, 2019. Mike was one of the first accountants who joined GSBA when it was formed in 1981 and immediately become the trusted accountant of so many in our community.

Earlier this summer, some of us had the gift of seeing Mike at our Jewel Luncheon and then again at the annual Founders Brunch, where he proudly proclaimed that he still had a copy of his first dues check he wrote to GSBA in January of 1982. A past GSBA Board Member, Mike was an unwavering champion for GSBA, including the GSBA Scholarship Fund.

For some of us, he is best known for his yearly mailing parties, when we gathered to stuff personal letters which he wrote to every client encouraging them to give generously, and - if they needed a suggestion as to where to give - he gently suggested, 'Why, the GSBA Scholarship Fund, of course!' This personal touch brought in over $20k per year. Many of these donors we never even met, but Mike was so trusted, community members were always happy to follow his lead.

If you didn't see Mike at a GSBA event, there's a high likelihood that you would see him at a Seattle Men's Chorus concert. He always showed up for his two most beloved organizations. Although Mike moved to Bali, Indonesia, a few years back, he continued to return to Seattle, especially to attend our annual Scholars Dinner.

We send our loving thoughts to his partner, Pion - who lives in Bali - as well as his sisters and brother, plus our entire community, made stronger and more loving because Mike walked among us. Mike led by example of how to live your values and love your community. There are literally hundreds of students whose lives were forever changed through Mike's generosity.

Mike, we will think of you often and miss you a lot.

With profound sadness,

Louise Chernin
President & CEO

Courtesy of GSBA

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