Michael Robert Corbin

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Michael Robert Corbin, a devoted husband, father, educator, writer, and advocate on June 24, 2024, at home with his son and wife.

Born on July 12, 1964, Michael was a dedicated and passionate educator who spent 14 years teaching English at Baltimore City public high schools. He also made a significant impact as a GED educator at the Maryland Penitentiary, helping countless individuals achieve their educational goals.

Beyond his teaching career, Michael was a prolific writer and blogger. His well-researched, insightful, and award-winning writings published in the now defunct City Paper and Urbanite, as well as online in Medium and The Baltimore Sun, demonstrated an unwavering commitment to social justice and education. He received a grant from the George Soros Open Society Foundation to blog about the high school to prison pipeline and high school and prison reform. His work resonated internationally and served as a voice for change. Michael also advocated for better choices, access, care, and support for Home Hemodialysis patients, championing with fervor and compassion for true patient-centered care.

Michael was thoughtful, kind, funny, a great listener, a romantic, and very active, but he did not suffer fools lightly. He loved to read and to discourse, habits sealed in his undergraduate and graduate American Studies and Education programs at the University of Maryland, College Park, the University of Minnesota, and the Johns Hopkins University.

Later in his career, Michael turned his hand successfully to consulting and contracting and ended his career as a proposal and media writer for New Wave Telecom & Technologies, Inc.

Michael is survived by his wife of 24 years, Ashley Durham Corbin; his son, Elias Corbin a Community School Coordinator in Philadelphia; his father, Robert Corbin of Bowie, MD; Stepmother Donna Rodney; brother Craig Corbin; sister Carrie Hibler; seven beautiful nieces and a steadfast nephew; his companionable Labrador Darwin; and so very many dear friends, colleagues, and extended family. Michael's legacy of kindness, dedication, and advocacy will live on through the countless lives he touched.

Michael was not one for pomp and circumstance, and preferred intimate conversations and small gatherings. There will be a celebration of his life and legacy out in nature later this year. Michael loved his garden and we always had flowers and plants in our home. Additionally, Michael supported many causes including, Amnesty International https://www.amnesty.org/en/donate, Clean Water Action https://cleanwater.org, Planned Parenthood https://www.weareplannedparenthood.org, and Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle https://lbsbaltimore.com/invest/donate/.

Michael will be deeply missed, but his memory will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.