Michael Evan Jurist
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Michael's Timeline: June 22, 1985 – July 30, 2007

Michael was born to Vesna Nowell-Jurist and Paul Jurist on June 22, 1985. He was stubborn and a fighter from day one – overdue and breech – and almost didn’t make it. We should have known then, instantly, that we had a very special son. We became a tight-knit three person unit, respectful and loving of one another, with a lot of give and take.

Because, he was our only child, every decision was taken with Michael in mind, in the hope of improving his life and enabling him to reach his full potential. He was given many opportunities in his short but full life, but never took anything for granted. Quiet and understated, Michael was able to somehow always be true to himself, to be objective and focused and exude an energy and leadership that touched many. He was comfortable in his own skin. He could be serious and very fun loving. He was inquisitive, adventurous, optimistic – a planner and a doer.

From an early age, Michael exhibited a love of life and a thirst for knowledge. He was hungry; he had a mission, benefitted from every exposure. One could not deny him the best schools – Bishop Strachan, a private girl’s school that then accepted 10 boys annually for Junior Kindergarten through Grade 2; Upper Canada College; and then the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. Michael loved and was totally committed to Georgetown, despite being accepted to numerous US colleges including Tufts, Duke and Harvard. As Michael grew, we reveled in his successes, encouraged his exposure to other cultures and new experiences – always knowing that no opportunity would be wasted. Michael always lived up to his side of the bargain and was always appreciative and grateful.

Michael also thrived on travel and loved languages so Summer Exchange trips to Nice, France, and Study Abroad semesters in Paris in Grade 8 and in Lyon, France during his Junior Year at Georgetown University – were considered the norm; Michael loved and excelled at athletics so water skiing, winter skiing, tennis, soccer, basketball were all favorites and got full support. His passion for tennis led to his becoming Captain of the Upper Canada College Tennis Team, and later a strong player on Georgetown’s Club Tennis Team. Michael was also an accredited Tennis Coach teaching at various US and Canadian tennis resorts and colleges such as Grey Rocks in Quebec and Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania.

History, politics, literature also played a strong role in his life, so it was only natural he joined Georgetown University’s Lecture Fund in his Freshman Year and became Chair, four years later in his Senior Year. Through Lecture Fund, Michael got to hear, meet and learn from many high profile politicians, financiers, dignitaries, and media. While studying International Relations, he decided to develop an understanding of finance and banking by working two summers in the Credit Risk Management Group at Deutsche Bank in New York and was hired upon graduation to start a two-year training program which was to kick off with a four-month assignment in London. Ultimately, Michael wanted to be a lawyer having whetted his appetite working one summer as an Intern at Blake Cassels after his Freshman Year of University. Michael was disciplined in preparing for and scored high on his LSAT, hoping to eventually apply to an Ivy-League Law School.

As stated earlier, Michael always had a plan, a mission. Michael was always going places.

We never imagined how many people Michael touched and were impacted by his loss – friends, students, professors, business colleagues, doormen, taxi drivers, athletic competitors…. The list goes on and on. And, they all mention his infectious smile, his integrity, honesty and kindness. They relate the respect with which they were treated, Michael’s gentle leadership style, his ability to perform under pressure and his dry sense of humor.

We and they mourn and pay tribute to Michael because of who he was and mourn his being denied the opportunity to reach his full potential, knowing he could have made a difference.

Please enjoy If I Could Be Where You Are by Enya as we share Michael's timeline with you.

Michael's Timeline Michael's Timeline
Michael's Timeline Michael's Timeline
Michael's Timeline Michael's Timeline
Michael's Timeline Michael's Timeline
Michael's Timeline Michael's Timeline
Michael's Timeline Michael's Timeline
Michael's Timeline Michael's Timeline