Tributes to Michael

Michael was a dedicated, dependable and most competent member of the Gifted and Talented Education Council. From the outset he edited The Agate, GTEC’s research journal. This highly respected and informative journal was a testament to the fine work Michael did in the field. Michael’s love and commitment to the gifted students in this province knew no bounds. It will not be easy to fill the shoes he left behind.

 Barb Maheu - GTEC

Michael was a leader in Gifted Education. His unwavering commitment to meeting the needs of the gifted was exemplary. He provided guidance to many teachers of the gifted, touched many students' lives, and through his dedication to speaking at world-wide conferences, his influence was global. He could always be counted on to provide thoughtful insight and he will be sorely missed in so many ways.

Tracey Schaufle - GTEC

It is with tremendous sadness that we acknowledge the passing of our great friend, Michael Pyryt. Not only was Michael a very distinguished scholar in the field of gifted education, he was also a driving force in the awareness and development of gifted education in Alberta and beyond. Michael grew up in Garfield, New Jersey, USA. He attended Johns Hopkins University, where he obtained both undergraduate and graduate degrees in psychology.

Michael’s academic contributions are numerous. He has published extensively in the field of gifted education, contributing as an author, reviewer and editor to such publications as the Handbook for Gifted Education, the Roeper Review, Exceptional Education Canada, Gifted Child Quarterly and many more local, national and international publications. Michael also presented at conventions around the world and helped to organize local events such as SAGE Conferences and Dabrowski symposia. While Michael’s academic credentials were extremely impressive, I would like to say that it was his authenticity as a person that made him a truly unique and unforgettable man. Both personally and professionally, he acted from a highly developed sense of values. He was a teacher in the truest sense of the word: not only given to imparting knowledge, which he possessed in seemingly endless abundance, but also full of infectious enthusiasm that made one believe, on somany levels, that this was important work. Michael was a mentor and advisor, whose wisdom was highly sought by countless individuals and organizations because what he said was always well considered and in the best interests of the seeker. For a very, very long time, it is going to be oddly discomforting to attend events where Michael’s presence was a constant and to not see his happy, welcoming smile, his thoughtful shrugs or his inimitable fashion. For those of us on the train of gifted education, it will seem as though a powerful engine has been taken away and we are in danger of slowing to a stop. For Michael’s sake, we shall have to work just a little harder, with a greater sense of determination, to make sure that doesn’t happen. Michael leaves behind many, many friends, admirers, and colleagues. Our sympathies go to his wife, Leta Gonzales-Pyryt; his daughter, Tara, and her husband, Chris; his granddaughter, Brooke; the staff at the Centre for Gifted Education; and his good friend and long-time collaborator, Dr Sal Mendaglio.

Hal Curties - GTEC