Michael Herrick

48, Baltimore, MD

Ann White writes:

My dear friend Michael (Bear) Herrick was a construction worker and master carpenter. His employer did not offer health insurance, and Bear was turned down from several companies because of his high blood pressure. He got a cold that went into his chest. He thought that he could beat it by taking a few days off. He went to the job site on a Friday to collect his check and collapsed. He was taken to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with double pneumonia. He died later that evening. We never had the chance to say goodbye to him. By not offering health insurance, his company lost a valuable employee and trainer. And I lost a good friend.

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