Today would have been Mike’s 46th birthday and nearly two years since he left this earth. We in the Dawson Neighborhood were honored to know him and still miss him, and, if one reads Honoring Mike Densley on Facebook, it’s obvious that many, many others still feel the hole left by his death. It’s also the annual Mikey D Day/Night at Crow Bar where Mike was co-owner, so stop by and lift a glass to remember Mike!
Below is a piece written by Steve Gee and Sheila Fox and printed in the Dawson Neighborhood News in 2013.
Born 3-6-69 – Died 4-18-13
Mike was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and spent his youth growing up in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, and New Hampshire. He died peacefully in his sleep on the morning of April 18, 2013. Mike was preceded in death by his father, Richard L. Densley, Jr. and his brother, Richard L. Densley, III. He is survived by his mother and stepfather, Peter W. Martin, both of Rhode Island and New Hampshire; his sisters, Elizabeth Anne Axelrod of Colorado and Joellen Densley of Rhode Island; nephew, Oakley Tuck Cote of Rhode Island and Colorado; niece, Savannah Elizabeth Densley of Rhode Island; numerous Densley/DiOrio/Martin aunts, uncles, and cousins, and many, many friends.
Mike was a kind, caring soul who always offered up a smile, a collection of kind words or a compliment, a handshake, or a hug to friends, acquaintances, or people he had just met. If you were lucky you received some combination or all of them. Mike lived life on his own terms, first pursuing a music career in New Orleans, playing his guitar under the name Jera Storm, and then his dream in Austin of becoming co-owner of the Crow Bar with Steve Gee and the business person he dreamed of after many years of bartending. Mike was active in the community. He served on the planning board with the Dawson Neighborhood Association and organized a neighborhood children’s art event in which children of all ages in Dawson painted birds on a mural (pictured below) that can be seen facing north on the Crow Bar fence line between the bar and Amy’s Ice Cream.
Mike left a nice impression on most everyone he came in contact with and was sincere in doing so, and that is what will be missed along with his smile, laughter, and good heart. We have lost a good soul, but he will live on in the wealth of memories left behind among all that were lucky enough to know him.
RIP Mike…you will be missed.
by Steve Gee and Sheila Fox
Artist Dada working on Mural at Crow Bar
