Mischa Stoddard Dixon

Mischa (née Michael) Stoddard Dixon, 62, was killed in battle with cancer on the morning of March 11, 2025 at his Freeville, NY home. No “straw death,” this, nor the “red death” fighting injustice he’d hoped for, but an “orange death,” at the tail end of a brutal war he had been doggedly winning.

Mischa was born to Joan and James Dixon Jr. on June 4, 1962, and grew up in Schenectady loving the theatre, D&D, and the SCA. He went to Onondaga Community College and Fredonia, earned a degree in mass communication, and worked as a stagehand and electrician, went on the road with the Broadway touring company of Singing in the Rain, working as a lighting director, movie projectionist and theatre manager at Hoyt’s before going into insurance. Starting in his teens, Mischa was very active in the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), where he was best known as the bard (Skald) “Toki Redbeard,” and where his highest honor was being made a member of the Order of the Laurel for artistic excellence – though his most treasured was the Consort’s Order of Courtesy, of which he continually strove to be worthy. Mischa was a skilled poet, a passionate performer and storyteller, a budding fiddler, and he loved history, poetry, punk rock, gaming, and Beowulf. A continual and curious learner himself, he taught others what he knew and helped many people find, refine, and believe in their own gifts. His house was a hub of gameplay, stories, love and friendship. Though he was a “secret Episcopalian,” he was a Deacon and Elder at 1st Presbyterian Church of Ithaca, where he continually built a welcoming and inclusive community, and where, having experienced the power of gaming in building human connection, he founded Community Game Night (Thurs, 6:30pm). His faith was important to him, and he believed in resisting tyranny and the transformative power of universal love.

Mischa will be buried on Sunday 3/16/25 at 1:30pm at Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve - 293 Irish Hill Rd. Newfield, NY - a natural area with uneven terrain. There will be an all-terrain golf cart to transport those with mobility issues to the burial. A Celebration of his life follows at 3:30pm at the 1st Presbyterian Church, 315 N Cayuga Street, Ithaca, NY, where family, and friends may share memories, songs, poems, and stories. Please dress as makes you feel most You. There will be a reception afterward at the church.

Mischa is survived by his brothers, Chris and Jim Dixon, and a large and loving chosen family- among them, sisters Judy Dixon and Lori Drake, children Ves and Quince Baird, Robert Buchanan, the Tuesday night game crew, the community of Community Game Night, the people of 1st Prez of Ithaca, and numerous beloved SCAdians, including apprentices, Laurels, Grandlaurels, and Great-Grandlaurels, in whom he fiercely believed, and of whom he was immensely proud.

But - This is not the time to be dismayed; This is Punk Rock Time. Love yourself. Love your neighbor. Welcome the stranger. Build community. Speak out. Protest peacefully. Call your Senator and Representatives. Spread the positive ripples of Mischa’s life in and outside of yourself. Donate to a charity in his name -- Consider organizations fighting for human rights and health, like the ACLU, HRC, NAACP, AFSP, the American Cancer Society, and Planned Parenthood - and other causes close to your heart.