Today's Hero: Tim Formigan

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} Good Morning to All! It is Thursday, November 13th and we are celebrating Tim Formigan as our Hero today. Tim was an instructor of martial arts - and it seems clear that he had the gift of teaching, passing on a love of the art to his students and friends. The article below was written in 2006, Tim recently passed away from ALS. Thank you, Will for your words of encouragement and for bringing your friend to our attention. We are honored to be able to share his story. Wishing you a wonderful day ahead, *Team 2175 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was originally published in The Journal Group online in Aug. 2006. To access, please click here.  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} August 10, 2006 Martial artist’s fight inspires family, friends Jeff Novak | Staff Writer Tim Formigan, a man of many talents instructs several of his students in Tai Chi before being struck with ALS last spring. Every now and then there comes a person unto the world that embeds themselves into the lives others. They teach, they inspire, they listen, they advise and—most of all—they change lives. They are strong in the face of adversity—not just in their own lives but others’, too. They are courageous, not just when they need to be but when others need them to be, also. For the people of Westland and beyond that person came in the form of Tim Formigan, a martial arts instructor, mentor and friend. Formigan has a vast knowledge and long history in the martial arts. He started out boxing in the Marine Corp from 1969 to 1972. That led to professional full-contact Karate from 1976 to 1978. Since then he has trained in everything from Shotokan, Kempo and Tae Kwan Do to Judo and Aikido. He has been a personal trainer since 1975 and was the founder of the American Arts Health Academy in 1976. He managed the Karate and Judo Schools of America and was the co-founder of Jukido Kenpo Jiu-Jitsu. He was then certified to teach Tai Chi Chuan in 1980. He also worked as a personal trainer for the Olympic team in Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan training centers. He then founded The Mind, Body, and Spirit Institute in 1990. Formigan has had ongoing teachings of Kickboxing and Tai Chi and stress management at the Henry Ford Community College since 1993. He’s taught Kickboxing and Tai Chi through the Plymouth-Canton School system since 1997 and the Westland Bailey Recreation Center since 1998 and Kickboxing and fitness training at Schoolcraft Community College since 2000. Furthermore, Formigan taught Tai Chi at the Michigan Ford Truck Plant, the Sheldon Visteon Plant, and at the Wayne Friendship Center. Beyond his classes, he is a holistic healer and hypnotherapist. A little more than a year ago Formigan was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS), a devastating illness that rapidly depletes the physical body and fells heroes. Formigan is at the point where he needs constant care, ventilators and cough-assist machines to breathe and survive. However, his spirit remains impervious and his lessons are evermore alive. This is the story of Tim Formigan told through the eyes of his family and friends. I have had the honor of knowing Tim since 2002. In the time I’ve known him, he has touched more lives in an angelic way than anyone I know. One of his students/friends stated Tim could convert the Devil to good! I don’t think there are enough words to express how remarkable this man is. He truly is an inspiration to me. He has been a best friend, a father figure, and soul-healer for me. He is an honorable man who is very humble and grateful for life. He always told me to love myself – and in turn, the world will love you back. Watching this man crumble at the fate of ALS has been utterly devastating. He taught his classes up until he could no longer drive – and even then, was brought in by his son, Andres, to his continued classes (by myself and Cody (Watkins)) to help instruct while he was in his wheel chair! He is so determined to help everyone. He is the reason I have changed my life around and have dedicated my life to martial arts. —Debbie Sheppard Tim is a leader not only as a master martial artist and kick boxer but he is a leader of people in a high sense of morale. He bonds on a level with people of all ages and all races. Everyone in the classes loves his spunk and fire. His passion for the arts makes you want to push harder to achieve a higher level of accomplishment. Tim is a very patient man with a lot of wisdom to offer and never turns anyone away (even long after class has been over). —Tom Furbacher Formigan’s Kickboxing and Tai Chi classes continue to this day. Sheppard has continued teaching Kickboxing and Tai Chi at the Ford Sheldon Truck Plant, Westland Bailey Recreation Center and have brought the knowledge passed to me to other local establishments such as the Ford Livonia Transmission Plant and All-Star Karate in Livonia. Cody Watkins continues to teach his Kickboxing classes at the Bailey Center, too. His presence, however, is always there.  Tim is a very special person. He is now at home in Westland with his family, and seems to still have his sense of humor. Many of his students held a fundraiser for him at Joey’s Comedy Club a few months back, and the number of people there on Tim’s behalf was almost overwhelming. Tim was there and it was great to see him.  Tim has spent most of his adult life as a martial arts instructor. Students have always enjoyed his ability to teach large numbers while providing one-to-one attention during those classes to each student. Tim continued to teach through the early part of the summer of 2005, slowly turning the reins over to two of his assistant teachers who instruct with the same level of passion and thoroughness that he does. —Margaret Martin I have known Tim for just under a year now. I met him when I called an unknown phone number to inquire about a cardio kickboxing class for my 10-year-old daughter and myself. That first 45-minute phone call turned into a lifelong friendship. Everyone who knows Tim remembers the first time they met him. Although those stories may differ, the end results are all the same— Tim Formigan changed all of our lives. He is a truly gently soul with an incredible spirit and a faith that is unwavering even during the toughest of times. He is our Sensei, our mentor, our inspiration and above all our dear, dear friend. Tim never gave up on us and we cannot give up on him. He shows us through his commitment and dedication what living is all about. Tim is a wonderful man and everyone should know about him. — Rene’ Eastin Eastin’s daughter, Taylor, had a strong connection with Tim from the very beginning. She said Taylor was heartbroken when Formigan started cutting back on the amount of classes in December. That didn’t matter. The mother-daughter duo made weekly visits, if not more, to the Formigans’ home so that Taylor could read to Tim and listen to his stories of wisdom, according to Eastin. Although it is too difficult for Tim to speak now, Taylor still continues with the visits. Formigan’s respiratory status continues to decline. He needs suction throughout the day and night to keep his airways clear enough to breath, according to his wife, Connie Formigan. He uses a non-invasive ventilator to expand his lungs. He cannot cough himself, so he needs to use a cough-assist machine that expands his lungs and “vacuums” out secretions. The disease hasn’t been easy financially either. At the time of this article the Formigans will have lost their medical benefits because they don’t currently have an income. Tim still has not received his Social Security disability payments despite receiving an award letter from Social Security dated back in May. His Veterans Benefits have been refused, too, even though he served our country during the Vietnam War. Tim is unable to communicate verbally right now, but sometimes we can figure out what he’s trying to say by using a chart of letters. This disease is literally taking something away from him daily. We never know what we will awaken to in the morning. ALS is such a devastating disease. I have worked with ALS patients as a hospice nurse but could never possibly understand the true impact on patients and families until I experienced it firsthand. It toppled our entire world upside down and the stress of caring for someone who is totally dependent for everything is overwhelming. Our family financial situation has been greatly affected by all of this. I have now been forced to take an unpaid leave of absence from my work to care for him because of the skilled nursing necessary to keep him breathing. Amongst all of this, however Tim, demonstrates a remarkable attitude and spirit. He remains positive and has kept his sense of humor. As his wife, I am in awe of his sense of peace and acceptance of this horrible trial. —Connie Formigan  Tim is my hero. —Taylor Eastin For more information about Tim Formigan or about fundraisers to help him and his family visit www.senseitim.com. For more information about the devastating disease visit www.asla.org.  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please consider giving $1 to 2175 for ALS. Less than 2 weeks left 'till Springer Mt., Georgia!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------