Elizabeth….. you know I don't know how much one word or one name can mean, but yours means a lot. How you came into this world, Michael's world, which then radiated into our world is almost like a miracle. I mean, you completely transformed our relationship because you have one of the sweetest, most engaging personalities we've ever known in this family and no I'm not criticizing the family, I'm sure they'd all agree. So for me, the little picture of when Tess greeted you at the Belgium Brewery
and then the little picture of you holding Zeke at Trailside,
these are just a little nudges to help remind me of how special, kind and thoughtful you are. I remember on both those occasions that you brought little gifts, just little things that reached out and touched everyone in very heartfelt and meaningful ways. The badges for the boys, a little jar of hot jelly, some homemade granola and the book that Michael gave me that you probably picked out 🤣🤣🤣 just kidding Michael I'm sure you picked it out… but anyway Elizabeth you are a very special person and I just want to say so because this letter, your letter here, is again, one of those examples. You told me more about Michael than I ever would have known and did it in such good humor. So I'm thrilled that you are there for Michael and for Barry and Shirley and you are proof that God works in mysterious ways. I probably won't be there physically for either event but I will be there in spirit and you never know, I might figure out a way to show up in New Mexico in person one of these days. But until then, thank you for having me on your email list and as I said, you are pretty much a composition of beautiful music that I'm so glad Michael found and that you have taken such thoughtful care to include us in your chorus.
Love,
Pete 🤓 and Zeke
PS: Michael, congratulations on a pretty spectacular career and you may now begin to enjoy your well deserved retirement.
Pete
On Jan 26, 2025, at 10:49 PM, Elizabeth Harcombe <elizabeth.harcombe@gmail.com> wrote:
Dear Family & Friends,
I am thrilled to share some exciting news: Michael is hanging up his lab coat (or perhaps his keyboard?) after an impressive 33 1/3 years at Los Alamos National Laboratory! His official retirement date is this Friday, January 31st, marking the end of a career that began back in 1991 when, at the age of 25, he loaded up his trusty Toyota Corona and drove from South Carolina to New Mexico. Once there, he started a graduate research assistantship at the Lab as part of his work towards a PhD in physics at Clemson University. Michael was fortunate to join a team working on an experimental satellite project at LANL that would open the door to many future opportunities.
In those early years he had some memorable firsts:
Tasting Hatch chile at La Casa Sena (back when the waitstaff sang show tunes!),
Skiing (let's just say, attempting to ski) at Pajarito Mountain,
Brewing his first batch of beer,
Seeing Guy Clark perform live at Kachina Lodge in Taos,
Coaching sons Will and Rob in Little League, and
Witnessing a rocket launch up close at Cape Canaveral.
As he worked toward his doctorate, Michael found himself bitten by the computer bug. Upon earning his degree, he shifted from physics to a postdoc position developing software for space applications. This launched (pun intended) his decades-long journey as a "recovering physicist" at LANL. He's written data analysis and archival software, managed a large distributed computing center for the Lab's space science division, developed embedded software for satellite payloads, and led numerous technical project management efforts for space-based payloads and satellite ground systems.
Not many people can say they've written some code that is currently running on a computer 22,000 miles overhead!
I'm incredibly proud of everything Michael has accomplished, and excited for this next chapter. How can you help us celebrate this milestone? It may seem far off now, but please mark your calendar for September 20, 2025 when we will host a party to celebrate a few things: Michael's retirement, our 5th wedding anniversary, and that housewarming party we never got to have because of Covid.
For now, a big congratulations to Michael and we hope to see you in September if not before!
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