On September 24, the volunteer firefighters of the Cherry Grove Fire Department (CGFD) and family, friends, and neighbors, en masse, to celebrate the life of Michael G. Guerette (April 26, 1960 to August 12, 2011), beloved fireman, singer, gardener, landscaper, and proprietor of flower, plant and gift shop Garden Grove, who died while hiking in Maine. As Diane Romano, firefighter and President of the Cherry Grove Community Association, quipped, while eulogizing Michael on the beach, “He was probably the only person in Cherry Grove that everybody liked.”

While early reports were that Michael had fallen and hit his head during a hike in what the Maine Warden Service called a "rugged mountainous region" of the Appalachian Trail, in Carrying Place Township in northern Franklin County, later word, as relayed by Diane in her address, was that other hikers had found him and administered CPR, but were unable to revive him. An email from Mark Belserene, Administrator in the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, in Augusta, Maine, to this writer on August 22, said that “Mr. Guerette did not suffer any trauma,” and a further email, on September 20, explained, “unfortunately we have not yet received the toxicology results needed to make a final determination in this case … It could take a few weeks to a couple of months for me to provide you with details.”

In front of the Fire House, an honor guard kept watch over Michael’s ashes from the time of their arrival in Cherry Grove, on the morning of the 24th. CGFD Chaplain Kurt Gahan conducted an interfaith service. Officer Howard, of the Suffolk County Emerald Society Pipe Band, played “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes. Fire Chief Jill A. Navarra remembered Michael’s dedication as a firefighter. Fourth Assistant Chief Kay Davis sang “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” a cappella. Jill called for a moment of silence, in Michael’s memory.

photo by CJ Mngolelli & Marco Herrera
Michael Guerette at Garden Grove
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Proceeding to the beach, we paused first before Garden Grove for reflection, to the accompaniment of the bagpipes. At the beach for a ceremony off Ivy Wall, all arranged by Brett Roper, with the assistance of Todd Erickson, Diane delivered the eulogy, surrounded by a rainbow of flags, and all mourners dropped flowers beside the ashes.

“People think that Michael was a dreamer. I think that he was an idealist,” Diane said. “We’re here today to celebrate Michael’s life … he is here with us always … every time I look at a beautiful flower, I think of Michael,” she added. Patricia Goff, Bobbie Green, and Mark Guerette, Michael’s brother, also spoke. Mark sang “Corner of the Sky,” the song from Stephen Schwartz’s show “Pippin,” which Michael also sang, and Mark sounded eerily like Michael.

The assembled then repaired to Heaven ’n’ Earth for a reception and to admire the gardens that Michael created, now given the name “Michael’s Garden.”