My memories of Mike:

I met Mike in 1987, after he moved into his apartment on Fleet Street in Marina del Rey, California. A friend of mine lived in the apartment next door to Mike and introduced us.

At this time, in ’87, Mike was working at Christie's Restaurant in Beverly Hills. He and I, and a few other guys who all lived near each other in the Marina hung around together. We did a lot of fun things together, mostly bar hopping, jogging on the beach (although Mike wasn’t much of a jogger), and bike riding along the bike path from the Marina south down to Manhattan beach or north up to Pacific Palisades.

Mike was a happy-go-lucky, fun loving guy who was often the life of the party. It seemed like he made new friends every day. He had, literally, scores of friends in the greater LA area, who all thought the world of him. Most of my memories of Mike from that time were of biking and going out to dinner and bar-hopping together. We generally frequented the Baja Cantina and Cheesecake Factory, both in the Marina. Mike seemed to be dating a different girl every week at that time. The ladies all loved him because he was so personable and fun loving.

Mike had a great sense of humor and was always quick with a joke or funny line. The last time I saw him, in the hospital in Stuart, I brought him a paperback. When I showed it to him he said, "now I suppose I'll have to learn to read."

In both 1993 and ‘94 Mike and I went, along with a bunch of other people from the Marina, to Rosarito Beach in Mexico, for the Rosarito to Ensenada Bike Race, held every spring. We had a wonderful time and Mike seemed to really enjoy himself. He was in his glory - traveling with his friends!

I think around 1996 Mike moved back to Colorado and started working at Copper Mountain. Another friend and I flew out in, I believe 1998, and stayed in one of his Dillon condos, spending the days skiing at Copper and Keystone. Also in '98 Mike and I went to Green Turtle Cay in the Bahamas, where he introduced me to his friends Alan and Debbie, who owned a home there. We spent hours riding around in a golf cart looking at beach houses. Mike always talked about wanting to buy a house on Green Turtle with a sailboat tied up out back.

By early 2002 I moved from the Marina to Port St Lucie with Laurie Harpin, the woman who would later become my wife. I think Mike moved to West Palm Beach around 2006 with his then-wife Stephanie. We would see him from time to time, although our varied schedules didn't permit a lot of time together. After Mike and Stephanie separated he moved to Port St Lucie, so we saw more of him, although he was single and I was married so again our schedules didn't often match. He talked a lot about enjoying Second Street Bistro in Fort Pierce, owned by his friend Jeff.

Mike was a wonderful friend. He was very loyal, even remaining friends with the ex-girlfriends of his male friends. And God help you if he heard you talking trash about your ex. He would do anything for his friends. Many times he would loan me his pickup, or help me move furniture. Or lend a hand no matter what. He was always the first to volunteer to help, no matter what was needed – he was always there for his friends.

He was a kind person with a good soul, and was loved by everyone who knew him. May God rest his soul. 

I had the privilege of meeting Stas in Denver in the mid 80's through Stan & Susie Kozlowski our mutual friends. Throughout the years we were able to continue to spend time with groups of friends in Albuquerque, Denver and most recently Traverse City, MI.  His recent position at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City for several years allowed for many great times. What a special guy! He had a kind heart, never met a stranger and readily helped others when needed. He was such a great cook & party planner, loved beach get togethers and his humor and stories were windows into his life experiences and adventures. 

 Know that I feel so fortunate the Kozlowskis and I along with other friends saw Stas this October. As the evening came to a close I hugged him and said, "You know you're loved." He gave that big smile of his. So, as I think of Stas I can't help but smile. I feel so lucky to have had him for a friend. Know that he will be greatly missed but always remembered with great fondness.

Patty Bernard