The memory of Michael Bates Jr. – aka “Chef Mike” — brings a smile to my face, as do recollections of his interactions with Camp Airy campers and staff. When he was near you knew it, and he always engaged you, no matter your age, role or temperament.
Chef Mike was murdered during a robbery in Southwest Baltimore on the morning of Sept. 21. He was 46.
In addition to his work as a beloved and respected culinary instructor at various schools and chef at restaurants in Baltimore, Chef Mike spent two summers as a department head at Camp Airy in Thurmont, Md.
He helped to bring a new program to camp in 2013. Called CulinAiry, the program happened to be perfect for Chef Mike as it combined his culinary skills and love of food, and he shared that love with several hundred boys between the ages 8 and 18.
The boys embraced the program and reveled in being assigned activity periods in the small kitchen at the bottom of the hill. It was well stocked with pots and pans, blenders and every utensil you could imagine.
With them, Chef Mike taught the campers to chop, marinate, baste and sauté. He described al dente, au jus and au gratin. Whether American dishes or authentic Israeli recipes brought straight from the Holy Land by shlichim (emissaries) from Israel, Chef Mike patiently explained, demonstrated and invited participation, with enthusiasm and often a story and a laugh. And after they completed the recipe, they always enjoyed the tasty fruits of their labors.
In turn, Chef Mike embraced camp and everything Airy. To the boys, he was more than the chef who taught them to cook at camp in a converted darkroom. He was their cheerleader, playmate and biggest fan. When not in the kitchen, he sprinted on the ballfield, threw a football around, tackled and roughhoused with the boys, or engaged them in conversations about lives and their dreams.
Chef Mike was not one to sit around and rest during his free time. Whenever I saw him around the mountain, he had an entourage tagging along. They were the young adults – his culinary students from Baltimore City brought to camp to work alongside him — or the dozens of campers at any given time who involved him with songs or jokes or stories.
Chef Mike was bubbly, fun, engaging and boisterous, and thinking about him being killed, despite reportedly complying with the robbers’ orders, greatly saddens me.
Although Chef Mike was not at camp the past two summers, the Facebook posts that circulated once the news of his passing spread painted the picture of his impact.
Former campers and staff commented on his energy and passion, his support and his influence. I think of Chef Mike and see him riding up and down the Airy hill on the golf cart he used to transport ingredients and equipment.
But it wasn’t just a golf cart; it epitomized Chef Mike. With a loud engine and decorated with flags, the vehicle boisterously and appropriately announced that Chef Mike approached. And he waved to all as he passed.
Last week, when the photos of Chef Mike circulated and television news reports aired, a specific image came to mind. A Torah dedication ceremony on the uphill basketball court brought everyone at camp together. The complete scroll was unrolled for all campers and staff to hold and celebrate, and there was Chef Mike, in the middle of it, participating, embracing and encouraging.
That was Mike. He was all in. He was lively. He was animated. He was encouraging. He was fun. As one former coworker put it, his smile was “as big as the mountain.”
He was Chef Mike.
Linda L. Esterson is a local freelance writer who spends her summers at Camp Airy.
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