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By Erika Anderson, Staff Writer
MARIETTA—Michael C. Gann was a creative man who loved to work
with his hands and devoted his life to his family and friends.
Attending a conference at the World Trade Center in New York, that
life was tragically cut short on Sept. 11 in the most devastating terrorist
attack in the history of the United States.
Like the sunlight that poured down upon those entering the church,
a Mass of Resurrection celebrated Oct. 1 at the Church of St. Ann, Marietta,
where Mr. Gann, 41, was enrolled in the Order of Christian Initiation program,
offered hope and healing for those who attended.
The mourners flowed into the church, filling the pews, creating
standing room only. It was a tribute to the man the people there called
husband, father, son, brother, friend.
Father Bob Susann, MS, pastor, celebrated the Mass, which was
concelebrated by parochial vicars Father Raymond Cadran, MS, Father Leo
Cummings, MS, and Father Joseph Nolan, MS.
A large framed photograph of Mr. Gann stood in front of the altar,
while several smaller photographs of him with family and friends rested on a
table nearby. Although many who attended wore red, white and blue ribbons, the
Mass did not dwell on the tragedy, but rather began placing the first stepping
stones on the path toward healing.
Mr. Gann, a Smyrna native who was married to his wife, Robin, in
July, had three children from a previous marriage and two stepchildren from his
marriage to Robin.
At the outset of his homily, Father Susann spoke to the children.
“I know that this has been a really tough few weeks.
It’s tough because you lost your daddy,” he said. “You might be
thinking that there are an awful lot of bad people in the world, but look
around you. Look at all the people who are here to love you and they loved
Michael too.”
The pastor then spoke of the lighted Easter candle, signifying the
resurrection of Christ.
“This is a sign to all of us that when we die, we only pass
through death,” he said. “Jesus gives us a chance to rise up and to
live with him. Death is not the end.”
Bringing many in attendance to tears, Father Susann read a letter
written by the children, in which they told their father, “I miss you.
I’m sorry you were in New York that day. I wish you were here with us
right now.”
“Thank you for helping me with my problems and for giving me
advice,” they wrote. “You were always so happy and you made the good
times better.”
The children asked their father what heaven was like and told him
to ask God why he had to die.
“I wish you were here to take care of mommy. She misses
you,” they wrote. “It’s not fair. You just got married.”
Although many might question the reasons for the tragedy, it is
important to continue to believe that God is good, Father Susann said.
“We might be asking, ‘Why did this happen? Why did this
happen to Michael?’ Some might answer that it was the will of God,”
he said. “But my friends, make no mistake. God did not will this on any of
his children. Some might ask, ‘Why didn’t God prevent this?’ The
one thing God will never do is to take away our free will. We have to search
for that light in the moment of darkness. You have come to the right place for
that.”
Father Susann said that Michael Gann “lived the
Beatitudes.”
“He was a person that talked an awful lot about Jesus
Christ,” he said. “No matter what your denomination is . . . as
Christians we believe that Jesus Christ is our Lord and savior and many of us
learned that from Michael Gann.”
Mr. Gann had a special love for the Life Teen Mass at St.
Ann’s, where at the conclusion, Mass-goers say, “The Mass never ends,
it must be lived. So let us go forth to love and serve the Lord.”
“The Mass never ended for Michael,” Father Susann said.
“This is a celebration of hope—a celebration of new life. Even in
this tragic time, we find hope in a God who loves us and a God who walks with
us. Walk by faith and not by sight—Michael lived that in an outstanding
way.”
Following the homily, David, Emily and Katie Gann, who are 13, 11
and 5, and Paige and Sarah Rollison, who are 10 and 7, brought up the gifts.
They included Mr. Gann’s favorite guitar, a drill to represent his love of
building and working around the house, and a pair of shoes, symbolizing his
ongoing journey of faith.
Mr. Gann joined the OCIA program at St. Ann’s last year, said
director Mary Ann Fischer, but because of work obligations had to forgo the
remainder of the year. She said she recently spoke with him and he had planned
to go through the program this year and was excited to join the church.
“He was so anxious to get back into the community so he could
serve,” she said. “He was more than enthused. He was intense about
it.”
In the eulogy, Russell McDaniel, who had known Mr. Gann for more
than 30 years, also spoke of his friend’s deep spirituality.
“He was instrumental in leading me and many others to the
Lord,” he said. “ . . . There was a reason why Mike was where he was.
I’m sure that he gave comfort to someone and was a witness to someone
right up until the last minute.”
He spoke of Mr. Gann’s constant striving for excellence.
Earning a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Tech in industrial management and
a master’s degree in finance and marketing from Mercer University, Mr.
Gann worked in risk management sales for Algorithmics, a Toronto-based company
with an office in New York. Though he was a hard worker, McDaniel said, it was
his family that was Mr. Gann’s lifeblood.
“He wanted to be the best dad,” McDaniel told the
children. “He not only wanted to offer you guidance, but he wanted to be
your friend. And I know he was.”
He said that Mr. Gann would want those who mourn his death to pray
not only for themselves and their families, but to pray for those with evil in
their hearts, so that they may be converted to Christ. He asked those in
attendance to stand in Mr. Gann’s honor as they recited the Apostles
Creed.
“Mike believed those words. He is truly a saint,” he
said. “His spirit lives on in each of us and will continue to touch us
every single day.”
Ed Bolduc, director of music ministry for St. Ann’s Life Teen
program, along with his wife Karen, singer Bobbie Czerwinski and oboe player
Barbara Cook led the music for the Mass.
A gifted singer, guitarist and poet, Mr. Gann had expressed
interest in joining the Life Teen Band at the parish, but had not yet found the
time to commit to the ministry. He had served as the music director at Atlanta
Vineyard Christian Fellowship, where he helped to organize Atlanta’s first
March for Jesus in 1993. Bolduc recalled Mr. Gann as genuine and devout.
“He was one of the most humble and sincere guys I have ever
met in my life,” he said. “As a music minister I truly believe that
you don’t just play music, but you pray music. He was a shining example of
that. It was really inspiring.”
Like many of the over 5,000 people who are missing and presumed
dead from the World Trade Center, Michael Gann called his wife to tell her he
loved her as he tried to escape the burning north tower, where he was attending
a technology conference on the 106th floor. He had been scheduled to return
home that evening.
After a fruitless trip to New York, searching hospital beds and
lists of survivors, Mrs. Gann arrived back in Atlanta with the arduous task of
planning her husband’s memorial service. Fischer, who offered both the
first and second readings at the Mass, said that after seeing the rubble, Mrs.
Gann knew her husband was gone.
“She is a woman of very strong faith,” Fischer said of
Mrs. Gann. “They were really best friends. They had a journey of love, but
one of deep friendship.”
Fischer said that Mr. Gann also had a deep love for God, recalling
a two-hour conversation in which they discussed his faith journey. She said
that several times during the conversation, he was moved to tears, sharing his
spiritual walk with Christ.
“He was a man who definitely allowed his emotions to show how
much in love he was with the Lord,” she said.
In addition to his wife, children and stepchildren, Mr.
Gann’s survivors include his parents, Marion and Fred Gann of Atlanta; a
sister, Lori Gann Gardner of Charlotte, N.C., and a brother, Jeff Gann of
Atlanta. A fund has been established to assist in the education of the
children. Contributions may be made to the Gann Family Educational Fund, 7868-F
Rea Road, No. 330, Charlotte, NC 28227. |
