Michelle Owens
The following are the words that were read at Michelle’s induction ceremony.
Michelle had a rich 13-year history with the Crossmen dating back to 1990. She was a member of the guard for 5 years from 1990 to 1994. She was a talented performer who led by example. Michelle was in the weapon line all 5 years and, at times, was a featured performer. She was always helpful to others and cared a great deal for her fellow members both on and off the field. Michelle was the guard captain her last 2 years.
After Michelle aged out in 1994 she went on to teach the guard from 1995 to 2000. Through the years, she worked as a tech, a writer/choreographer, and a Caption Supervisor. Michelle was part of a team that produced some of the best guards the Crossmen ever had.
Michelle was loved by all because of the way she taught. Always demanding but with a warmth and a charm that was inviting to all. Countless people through the years have said that Michelle was their favorite instructor. She got the best out of her students because she supported them. Michelle would take the time to individually help those that needed it. She learned every count of the show so she could understand firsthand the issues the performers were having so she could be very specific on how to make her student’s better performers. Aside from building great performers, Michelle also believed her role was to mold these young people into strong, independent, caring human beings. Michelle was an all-around great educator and an asset to the Crossmen. Michelle went on to teach other groups such as the Magic of Orlando, The Cadets and the Troopers but she came back home to teach the Crossmen in 2015 and 2016. Michelle was caught off-guard at the emotion she felt when she got back in front of the group in 2015. Michelle spoke about what a great feeling it was to be back home where she started. It was a special year for that drum corps to have someone teaching them that connected them to the corps of the past. Michelle was giving of herself not only to the guard but members of the whole corps who were interested in stories from the 90's. It caused members she marched with and taught, 15 to 25 years earlier, to take an interest in the corps again.
In September of 2015 Michelle was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She lost that battle a year later in September of 2016. Michelle’s personality was one that was always giving to others. She was always more concerned with how you were doing and what was going on in your life than herself. It is with this simple character that she was loved by all who met her. Michelle had a smile that could light up a room and made people feel good.
Michelle’s love, support and kindness to others came back to her tenfold as she battled cancer. So many people from Michelle’s past reached out to her. It was a testament to the lives she touched through the years. It was also a true awakening for both of us that if you lead a good life and care for others, you will truly be remembered. Michelle’s was a life cut short but a life well lived.
Those are the words of Jeff Sacktig.
And we would like to add this from Gary Cuzzocrea: I firmly believe her contribution to the overall morale of the entire drum corps during those glorious years was monumental. Always there to talk to, to offer emotional support and leadership by example, Michelle's impact on the Crossmen in all ways was significant.
And finally this from Eric Kitchenman: Like a pebble dropped into a pond, Michelle’s influence on the Crossmen resonated for many and to this day those ripples keep pushing the personal and professional boundaries of those she inspired. That’s the spirit of Michelle. People all over our activity either in marching band, color guard or drum corps knew Michelle and were touched by her presence. They met her or crossed paths with her and they simply cannot forget... Michelle Owens.
Michelle had a rich 13-year history with the Crossmen dating back to 1990. She was a member of the guard for 5 years from 1990 to 1994. She was a talented performer who led by example. Michelle was in the weapon line all 5 years and, at times, was a featured performer. She was always helpful to others and cared a great deal for her fellow members both on and off the field. Michelle was the guard captain her last 2 years.
After Michelle aged out in 1994 she went on to teach the guard from 1995 to 2000. Through the years, she worked as a tech, a writer/choreographer, and a Caption Supervisor. Michelle was part of a team that produced some of the best guards the Crossmen ever had.
Michelle was loved by all because of the way she taught. Always demanding but with a warmth and a charm that was inviting to all. Countless people through the years have said that Michelle was their favorite instructor. She got the best out of her students because she supported them. Michelle would take the time to individually help those that needed it. She learned every count of the show so she could understand firsthand the issues the performers were having so she could be very specific on how to make her student’s better performers. Aside from building great performers, Michelle also believed her role was to mold these young people into strong, independent, caring human beings. Michelle was an all-around great educator and an asset to the Crossmen. Michelle went on to teach other groups such as the Magic of Orlando, The Cadets and the Troopers but she came back home to teach the Crossmen in 2015 and 2016. Michelle was caught off-guard at the emotion she felt when she got back in front of the group in 2015. Michelle spoke about what a great feeling it was to be back home where she started. It was a special year for that drum corps to have someone teaching them that connected them to the corps of the past. Michelle was giving of herself not only to the guard but members of the whole corps who were interested in stories from the 90's. It caused members she marched with and taught, 15 to 25 years earlier, to take an interest in the corps again.
In September of 2015 Michelle was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She lost that battle a year later in September of 2016. Michelle’s personality was one that was always giving to others. She was always more concerned with how you were doing and what was going on in your life than herself. It is with this simple character that she was loved by all who met her. Michelle had a smile that could light up a room and made people feel good.
Michelle’s love, support and kindness to others came back to her tenfold as she battled cancer. So many people from Michelle’s past reached out to her. It was a testament to the lives she touched through the years. It was also a true awakening for both of us that if you lead a good life and care for others, you will truly be remembered. Michelle’s was a life cut short but a life well lived.
Those are the words of Jeff Sacktig.
And we would like to add this from Gary Cuzzocrea: I firmly believe her contribution to the overall morale of the entire drum corps during those glorious years was monumental. Always there to talk to, to offer emotional support and leadership by example, Michelle's impact on the Crossmen in all ways was significant.
And finally this from Eric Kitchenman: Like a pebble dropped into a pond, Michelle’s influence on the Crossmen resonated for many and to this day those ripples keep pushing the personal and professional boundaries of those she inspired. That’s the spirit of Michelle. People all over our activity either in marching band, color guard or drum corps knew Michelle and were touched by her presence. They met her or crossed paths with her and they simply cannot forget... Michelle Owens.
