During his Junior High days, Michael was forced to attend charm school, because his Southern mother wanted him to have good manners and social graces. Everyone who knew Michael, from a social, sporting or business environment can attest to the fact that he was a perfect gentleman under any circumstance. Despite the charm school, Michael was still an All-American youth. He was captain of the high school basketball team and MVP in his senior year; he went to Boy's State; and he was a great tennis player. He learned a love for nature as a young boy from the many days he spent bird hunting with his father or fishing with his mother. Always a great orator, Michael was selected to speak at his high school graduation. This ability led him to make many other speeches, at DeMolay during his years there, and in other service organizations. Perhaps his best speech ever, though, was the one in which he reflected on the role of a father and son at his own father's memorial service six years ago.

Michael got married at a young age and, although the marriage didn't last, he was blessed with a daughter, Tamara. Michael met Deborah Ann Smith 29 years ago, and they became Mr. and Mrs. J. Michael Brinkman on October 26, 1975. The very first time Deborah saw Michael, she turned to her friend and said, "I'm going to marry that guy!" Tamara was 5 1/2 at that time. Their marriage was also blessed with the birth of a daughter, Michanne and a son, Andrew.

When asked to share some thoughts, Tamara said: "My father was everything to me; he had so much knowledge of everything I could need to know about life from the big to the small things. I don't even know how to begin to put down my memories. I spent most of my youth with him when we lived in San Diego. I spent many weekends with him and Deborah and my sister at the zoo, it was one of our favorite things to go. My dad used to work on cars and I would help him by handing him the tools that he needed, of course he had to teach me what those were. He taught me how to run basic football plays with him and we would play in the front yard. When I was even younger I remember him taking me to get a surprise and we drove to Toys R US, I must have been maybe 5/6 years old and he bought me a big wheel and I loved that soooo much, it was a thrill for me to have it and ride it. I've always remembered it and think of him when I do. It ended up being passed on to my sister too. My father had the best smile, gave great big bear hugs, and had a great gift of recounting stories or life experiences."

An avid outdoorsman, Michael never had enough time to do all the things he loved. As dedicated as he was to his work, anyone who knew him well knew that at any given moment, he would have rather chosen to be sitting in a little boat on Lake Mary or hiking through Devil's Post Pile or deep sea fishing, fly fishing, or hunting pheasant in Nebraska with his son Andrew. He loved fishing and quail, pheasant and dove hunting.

Before working at Panasonic, he taught kids about television and film production - everything from how to shoot a camera to editing, to directing. Before joining Panasonic, Michael was an award-winning producer/director working in documentary and education production. Michael was a 16 year Panasonic employee and most recently was responsible for Panasonic Broadcast's business-development initiatives. He directed the company's Technology Partnering Program, where he worked with more than 30 of the industry's leading manufacturers, including Apple Computer and Avid Technology, to incorporate Panasonic's digital compression technologies into their products and systems.

An active member of Hollywood's technology societies and professional organizations, a longtime member of the Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers and a founding member of the Hollywood Post Alliance, his deep commitment, insights and amazing capacity to give of himself touched so many in the entertainment industry. "His exuberant optimism and his tireless devotion to creating understanding in times of industry challenge and opportunity will serve as one of his many legacies," said Hollywood Post Alliance president, Leon Silverman.

Michael sat on the board of directors of such groups as USC'S Entertainment Technology Center, the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival and the Advanced Authoring Format Association. "He was a serious and meaningful fellow who loved this business and knew a lot about it. He had a real facility for being able to put people and ideas together and he had interesting ideas of how to apply new technology," said Fred Rheinstein, chairman of the Post Group and a founding member of the HPA.

The Brinkman family enjoyed entertaining and many friends and family members will remember their parties. He was known for a few of his signature dishes - big pots of delicious clam chowder and chili. He loved beef stroganoff. It was one of his favorite dishes and the other was chocolate pie.

Michael was a voracious reader with an amazing capacity to remember all he read. Ask any of Michanne or Andrew's friends - they'll recall Michael regaling them with all the detailed (and lengthy) stories on many subjects...like how Tabasco sauce came to be or the history of Coors beer, for example. He was so knowledgeable about a myriad of subjects. Michael was always a very busy person, but if he could possibly squeeze in a little time to help anyone, he would. One time, his sister, Nona, needed a person to judge a science fair that she was in charge of. She recruited Michael, and he stayed through the whole fair, helping to judge over 100 projects fairly. He was able to make several suggestions on how things could be improved for the next year. Michael was the consumate volunteer, giving of himself and his time to so many people and organizations. His reward was the satisfaction and joy of helping others.

Through his work, Michael traveled alot and had colleagues and friends worldwide. The past 7 1/2 years, Deborah was able to join him in traveling the world. Deborah fondly remembers the many times they took long drives together just to talk.

Our father loved us all so much and tried to be the best dad he could. We will all miss him beyond any words we can say. Our family dogs, Sophie and Jac, will miss him too. They used to hope that when he got in his truck that they were going with him. Sometimes they got lucky, but not always. We are who we are because of how he affected our lives and we will continue to hear all his words of wisdom and jokes for as long as we live. Our dad was famous for when any of us kids would say "Dad I'm hungry", his reply would be "Hi, I'm Michael, nice to meet you."

J. Michael Brinkman, a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother, a leading figure in Hollywood's broadcast and postproduction communities and vice president of strategic business development at Panasonic Broadcast & Television systems, died suddenly on Sunday, March 16, 2003, at the age of 54, in Santa Clarita, California. Left to mourn his passing and celebrate his life are his cherished wife of 27 1/2 years, Deborah; his adoring children, Tamara, Michanne and Andrew; his precious grandson, Ethan Dempsey; and his beloved sisters, Nona Reimer and Cindy Hill. At Michael's request, he will be cremated and a private family interment will take place at a later date. Family and friends will gather on Thursday, March 20, 2003, at 2:00 PM in the Chapel of the Oaks, located on the grounds of Eternal Valley Memorial Park, 23287 N. Sierra Highway, Newhall, California to celebrate his life.

The family wishes to extend their grateful acknowledgment of the support and love that have been offered to them and invite their friends to join them for a time of fellowship and refreshment at their home following the ceremony.

"When I come to the end of my journey
And I travel my last weary mile,
Just forget if you can, that I ever frowned
And only remember the smile.
Forget unkind words I have spoken;
Remember some good I have done.
Forget that I ever had heartache
And remember I've had loads of fun.
Forget that I've stumbled and blundered
And sometimes fell by the way.
Remember I have fought some hard battles
And won, ere the close of the day.
Then forget to grieve for my going,
I would not have you sad for a day,
But in summer just gather some flowers
And remember the place where I lay,
And come in the shade of evening
When the sun paints the sky in the west.
Stand for a few moments beside me
And remember only my best.

Author Unknown

Tribute to Michael Brinkman:

Michael was a wonderful friend, an amazing colleague, a consummate mentor, and no doubt about it ? A class act!

This man found me stumbling my way along as a documentary filmmaker and said, ?Hey are you interested in some advice?? Thank God a little voice in my head said ? say yes! I did say yes ? what happened after that was pure magic. The information and support started flowing and never stopped. In fact, things he put in motion right before he died, insured that even death would not stop the flow of support. The only words that come to mind are unselfish and giving. The man was the kind of mentor that I will count myself very lucky to have had the privilege to share a few years. He was the kind of mentor that you are very lucky, if in the course of a whole lifetime, you only know one. The example he set for me of sharing information with others is one that I will never forget and will endeavor to follow.

What will I remember most about Michael is the twinkle in his eye that resembled the star in a really good sapphire when the light strikes it just right. That twinkle was always there when Michael was enjoying himself. Michael never demanded respect? he didn?t have to - because his very presence commanded it.

Michael, your lessons will live on until the last one of us who knew you is gone and then if we are wise, we will have passed at least some of these on to others for them to carry on into the infinite future.

Good Bye for now Michael. I miss you deeply.

John Brooks
April 2, 2003
brooksjohnd@hotmail.com