Michael Muchioki was born on May 5th 1982 and was a native of Jersey City, NJ. Mike one of three siblings was born to parents of Irish and Kenyan descent. He was a good son who loved his family and his heritage. Growing up as a biracial child, he never believed in the lines that divided race. Mike always said that he embraced the love his parents had for each other and translated it into his ability to befriend all. His parents were his heroes and he loved his family first and foremost in his life. Those who knew him envied the way his family loved each other and the way they took the time to enjoy each other. Mike looked toward his mom and dad as friends that he would talk to about anything. He appreciated how close he was to them and his sisters Amanda and Patricia. His sisters were his rock stars and growing up they entertained him and they shared many memorable moments of joy being with each other. Michael would take all the love and support he would gain at home and use it to become in my opinion “the greatest person you’ve ever met”. His temperament, humility, honesty, humor and outgoing personality would lead him to be the center of social circles throughout his life.
Mike attended Marist High School where he would play football and meet many long time friends including his best friend Joel Nealy. Joel and Michael shared a love of hip hop which translated into Joel pursuing an interest in music. Mike was always his biggest fan and would always encourage anyone he met to listen to his friend’s music. That was just the type of person Mike was, if he was your friend he believed in you. While at Marist Mike would forge life long friendship with Rashon Greene, Raul, Garrett and others who have been in his circle and life to date.
Mike would graduate from Marist High School and attend New Jersey Institute of Technology in the fall of 2000. His intellect and love of science and math landed him in the prestigious Albert Dorman Honor’s college where he was one of two minority freshman students in the program at the time. His love of Computers and technology found him majoring in Computer Science. As a freshman Michael and many other students formed a group who hung out and helped each other get through the pressures of NJIT. As a school with a low success rate for minorities, he saw this as an opportunity to keep his friends focused and together while making time to experience college life. These bonds of friendship and brotherhood among his friends began to spark Mike’s interest in fraternities. With many Greek cousins who he grew up admiring as brothers of Iota Phi Theta and having a sister who the semester prior became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Mike took it upon himself to do research and see if Greek life was for him.
It was toward the middle of the fall 2000 semester when I first met Michael in the cafeteria of the student center. He introduced himself through a mutual friend and asked me if I would make time available to talk to him about fraternities. I gave Mike my dorm room number and he told me he looked forward to us talking. The next day out of the blue I would get a knock on my door, it was Michael stopping by to talk to me. We sat down for what I initially thought would be a 15 minute talk which turned into 2 hours. We never actually talked about Greek life but got to know each other. For the rest of the semester I would speak to or see Michael and we would exchange books we thought were relevant to the struggle of African-Americans. Toward the end of the year Mike would finally ask me how he would know how to pick the right fraternity. After a long talk I let Michael know that it’s not the letters but the people you form personal relationships with that makes the difference. We would talk about Alpha a few more times until he finally asked me what he needed to do to become a member. I was proud that day to be honored with him wanting to be my brother. He would later meet long time friend and chapter brother Kenneth Simpson during the following spring as he was applying for membership. Mike truly believed in Alpha, so much so that he would express his interest to all in his social circle and let everyone know how great he thought it was. He would bring others with him to meet the Alphas because everyone respected his opinion and if Mike thought something was interesting it must really be worth checking out. Mike would keep in contact with the brothers throughout the summer and attend events with us a friend.
In the fall of 2001 Michael would become a brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. His journey to becoming a brother and his strength would gain him the admiration and respect of brothers around the tri-state area. On the day Mike became a brother he let me know it was one of the proudest days of his life. Mike would carry this love for Alpha throughout the rest of his college career. He was the catalyst that re-sparked the chapter and Alpha Phi Alpha in NJ. His ability to speak, organize and throw amazing events would grow the chapter membership and make the chapter the pinnacle of Greek life in NJ. Mike would become chapter president and eventually Assistant District Director for the state of NJ.
Along with Kenneth, Mike would use his skills to carry on supporting the fraternity after college. His ability to throw amazing events, lead the chapter to throwing sell out step shows, parties and banquets. Mike understood people and how to get people together and he would start one of the largest college entertainment companies in NJ which Kenneth, Jamar Davis also an Alpha and himself ran for the next couple of years. He loved life and enjoyed seeing people have a good time. Mike, Kenny, Jamar and our other friends would travel the world and find time to appreciate friendship and brotherhood. Mike was the type of person who would meet someone, buy them a drink and exchange greetings and conversation. He believed the least you could do in life is get to know someone and he touched the lives of everyone he came in contact with. Mike would also continue to be active with the Fraternity via Alpha Alpha Lambda Alumni Chapter – Newark and Delta Mu Lambda Chapter while residing in Paterson NJ.
Michael would start his professional career working with technology at Cingular wireless. While there he worked hard and took the initiative to learn everything possible about mobile devices and the technology involved. He would be promoted multiple times before leaving and moving on to better opportunities. At Antenna Software in Jersey City, Mike would use his skill sets and personality to drive his success and elevate his career. Mike would be involved in the development and support of ground breaking mobile device software which he had a strong sense of pride in. He would also be promoted at Antenna multiple times and forge strong bonds with his superiors and colleagues. Mike truly loved his job and all growth he was getting by working there.
It was by faith that Mike would meet Nia Haqq in the fall semester of 2003 while still at NJIT. From the moment of seeing her he had a curiosity to get to know her of which he could not let go of. Michael would be introduced to Nia through his sorority sisters of AKA at the college of New Jersey where she attended. Post meeting her for the first time they would talk to each other throughout the day and night and he would always be excited to get the opportunity to see her. When they became a couple Mike would let us know that he was in love and looked forward to being with Nia for as long as she would tolerate him. They would get to know each other’s families and friends and they would support each other through all the difficult times life threw at them. After years of being together they would begin to start their lives together living in Jersey City. Although Nia was not a fan of the area being a native of South Jersey she wanted to be anywhere Mike was. They would later buy a house in Newark which sparked Mike to want to take their relationship to the next level. Mike would later take Nia to Mexico where he would ask for her hand in marriage. The day she said yes was the happiest day in his life and they began to plan out their lives together. They truly loved each other and their last day together was a momentous and joyous occassion.
Michael was the smartest, kindest and most humble person I have ever met. He always wanted to make sure that those in his life were doing well and that they were happy. His love for people would always lead him to put everyone before himself. He truly loved his neighbor the way he wanted to be loved and remembered. Mike would bring people together and his sense of humor and wit would allow him to cheer anyone up during a rough time. Mike’s ability to live the poem “IF” allowed him to be successful and to always take 10 steps forward whenever he was pushed 2 steps backward. We are saddened and heart broken by his life being taken from us. We will remember him, we will honor him and we will always love him.
Love Always.. your brother, thank you for allowing me to know you..
Darvin D. Darling