Treleven was a true gentleman and friend who will be missed

Sometimes life can he humbling beyond belief. 

On Dec. 22, 2019, the world lost a quality human being as

Michael Treleven passed away after a lengthy illness.

Treleven’s wife, Marsha Dorgan, posted on social media on

Sunday that via Michael’s request, there will be no service.

However, donations can be made to the American Cancer

Society in his memory. Michael was 64 and died as a result

of liver cancer. Treleven had been in hospice care in his final

two weeks. 

Dorgan and Treleven had been living in Napa, CA, for at least

two decades if not longer. I know very little about their immediate

and/or extended family but I got to know them in our years

working for Napa Valley Publishing, which owns four newspapers

in Napa Valley, CA. Michael worked both as business editor and

agricultural communications reporter. Marsha worked as a police

beat reporter. 

Michael graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Fresno State

(oh, he loved his Bulldogs). After his newspaper career ended

in 2011, he received a certificate in hospitality and tourism from

Napa Valley College. Michael put that certificate to use as a wine

tour guide. Whether as a reporter or tour guide, Michael had

everybody’s best interest at heart. 

Though I was a sports reporter, I worked many shifts with Michael.

Besides writing feature and game stories, one of my

responsibilities was also laying out the agate page, which

contained local and national box scores. Every time, the agate

page went through the film machine, Michael would say, “Vince

hits another home run.” Then, I would gesture swinging the bat

and admiring a home run to elicit a chuckle. Sports were normally

the last page to go to film. 

While the newspaper industry is not physically hard work, the

deadline pressure within the industry is no joke. I have seen a

few people get swallowed up in that situation. 

Deadline pressure can bring out many different personalities

from anger to calmness. Michael was a mixture of calmness and

levity. The story we talked about many times was how you find

the best stories? One time, I chimed in with, “Go down to the bus

stop and listen to what people are talking about.” That phrase

elicited laughter and took off like wildfire throughout the

newsroom. In 1999, Calistoga High football won the CIF North

Coast Section Class B title. Week after week, Michael and I

would exchange a mixture of a Wildcat (Calistoga’s mascot)

roaring and meowing. I could exchange numerous other stories

but I won’t in the interest of space. 

Since his last name, Treleven, was pronounced TREE-leven,

my nickname for him was “Tree.” Though Michael and I did not

necessarily do things together socially, I considered him a

great friend. I say quite confidently that I speak for many people,

especially those we worked with in the newsroom. 

Michael felt like everybody’s friend. That side of his personality

exuded itself so much that if you met him for the first time, he

was your friend within about 14 minutes. 

The sadness of losing Michael is immutable. People say, “You

only live once.” Not true. You only die once, you live everyday.

However, I think we can live the remainder of our own lives by

applying the same principles with how Michael lived his life.

In the angry world in which we live, I think it speaks volumes that

Michael’s kindness and unmistakable sense of humor never

wavered. Perhaps if we all took a piece of Michael’s principles

and applied it to our own lives, we can collectively make the

world a better place.

Michael and I frequently crossed paths when out shopping,

most notably at Target and a few grocery stores. No matter how

long it had been since we had crossed paths, the conversations

involved much levity, just like the newsroom. The conversation

also included, “What are they talking about at the bus stop?”

We also crossed paths on occasion because we both worked

as wine tour guides. 

Levity aside, Michael was a true gentleman. Also, any time you

needed to talk to him, he listened with empathetic ears with no

bias, which is rare. 

Michael, I’m in no hurry to get to where you are going but I

know we will meet again someday. My friend, you made

everyone’s world a better place. I’m going to do my part to pay

it forward and advise those around me to reciprocate.