Michael Hubner

Michael K. Hubner, the wife of the Reverend Dr. David Hubner, died peacefully at home on April 6, 2018, surrounded by family and friends. She was 70. 

Having grown up in New York and Albuquerque, Michael graduated with a B.A. in French from Smith College in 1969; obtained an M.T.S. from Harvard Divinity School in 1974; and returned to Smith for an M.S.W. where she was elected class speaker in 1980. She also received a certificate in health care administration from Simmons College. 

She tried other employment, but found her calling in social work. As an oncology social worker for more than 30 years, Michael dedicated herself to providing material and psychosocial support for cancer patients and their families through diagnosis, treatment, recovery, and end of life. She worked at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center from 1982-2001, then served as director of social work at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute from 2001-2013, where an annual lecture is named in her honor. 

Michael and David met at Harvard Divinity School in the fall of 1971, and were married in June of 1972. In 1974, David was called to serve the Unitarian Church in Hudson, MA, so that became their home. In Hudson, Michael was attendance officer for the local school system. They moved to First Church and Parish in Dedham, M.A. in 1980, and their son Benjamin was born there in 1985. Michael participated in the life of the congregations David served, and particularly liked singing in the choir. Although her own work was quite demanding, she made time for rehearsals and Sunday services every week.

In the last three years of her life, Michael faced the challenges presented by A.L.S. with exceptional grace and courage. She found that the physical limits it imposed on her had given her the gift of time and mental space to meditate on the nature of existence, truth, goodness, and beauty. Most importantly, she wrote: “I have time to love and be loved.”

Michael deeply loved her “small but important family,” her friends and colleagues, gardening, art, music, travel, language, and thinking seriously about life and how to live it with purpose and meaning.

Memorial gifts may be sent to Compassionate Care ALS (www.ccals.org), P.O. Box 1052, West Falmouth, M.A. 02574.