It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of Mike Atkins. Everyone who knew Mike shared an affection for him that was as unique and varied as the man himself; everyone who knew Mike learned something from him. Mike offered friendship to many and in return we were rewarded with his knowledge, his wisdom, his humor and his love. Mike was many things: a friend, a father, and a brother. We saw in him an ideal picture of the way life should be lived: without conditions, on terms set for yourself, and in a way that embraced the world with genuine zeal. Mike was one of the most charismatic men on the planet. He was a guy you just wanted to be around, to have as a part of your life. Always ready to share an adventure, Mike gave meaning to the term ""free spirit"". Mike enjoyed a great enthusiasm and passion for life, which was evident in everything he set his mind to do. Mike would generously take the time to listen to a friend in need, always ready to share a heartfelt thought, and never bashful about dispensing advice. Mike displayed a compassion and wisdom seldom found in today's world. He was an avid sports car and motorcycle enthusiast, a collector of antiques and art, a lover of nature, books, and of music. Mike appreciated his world in a way that was unrivaled. He loved to know how things worked and why; he loved learning and understanding everything around him. From the hummingbirds that returned to their feeders in his backyard every year, to the paintings of Andrew Wyeth, to the finer points of tuning an SU side-draft carburetor on a vintage Triumph, Mike appreciated what few paused to notice. Mike surrounded himself with the people he loved. His home was a center of activity. A rolling cast of characters (Mike called them ""goons"") would pop in to spend time with him. On any given Saturday, any number of the Goons might arrive to kick-tires, tell lies and to laugh and enjoy a drink or two. For two decades, we gathered at Mike's house on New Year's Day to celebrate the passing of time with our dear friend. He was the host and the ring leader. Mike overcame obstacles that few could. Ten years ago, when a motorcycle accident left him critically injured, Mike persevered through a lengthy recovery and, in spite of permanent disabilities, resumed a full and rewarding life. In the process, he became an inspiration and hero to us all. Mike Atkins left us too soon. But he also left us a special gift: he gave us great memories, he gave us his heart and his soul, and he showed us by example that life is what you make it. And he made his a good one. Although Mike is gone, he lives on for the people who loved him, all around us: on the open roads in the Jersey Pines, in the warmth of a crackling fireplace on a winter night, at flea markets and in a good botttle of Scotch. Mike is there when we're laughing and when we're enjoying a well-prepared meal. He's in the hum of a well-tuned engine and in the pop of an old rifle; in the chime of a grandfather clock and on the pages of a James Bond novel. Mike's there when a harmonica rings out and when days are growing short and cold fall air settles in around us. In these ways, Mike's memory will live on in all of us.

Mike's memory will be preserved and cherished by his family and his many, many close friends. Mike is survived by his son Brad, his brother and sister-in-law Bruce and Audrey, his sisters Bobbi and Karen, his Godson Jack and his nieces and nephews.

Contributions in Mike's memory may be made to the Samaritan Hospice, 5 Eves Drive Suite 300, Marlton, NJ 08053-3101. Arrangements under the direction of the Peppler Funeral Home, Bordentown.