From Margo:

Mike came into my life in 1955 when I married his father and he was about 11 or 12 years old. With our age difference, I could have been an older sister. Mike’s mother died when he was a baby. I was sensitive to the fact there was another stepmother and siblings. Growing up was quite typical. In the summer, my parents Grandvati and Grandmutti with brother Helmuth and sister Karin drove from N.Y.C. to Springfield, Mo, dropped them off and continued their trip out West. Mike, Helmuth and Karin enjoyed much summer fun and shared a very special relationship. As he grew, I loved seeing Mike set goals and have ambition. Mike became a very successful Insurance Executive , Entrepreneur and additional businesses. He achieved outstanding athletic accomplishments, such as 16 Ironmen, bicycling and skiing. His outstanding, fabulous children and their mothers was his most important achievement. He was a very good father. Mike did much that was good and noble. Thank you Mike for the lessons and blessings you brought into my life. Thank you for being a great brother to my daughters Sonja and Janel. Now you are healed, whole, with God and your parents… Mike, may you rest in peace.

Margo Simson Armstrong

During our periodic telephone update in late January, Mike was typically upbeat about Elyse, his five kids, his business ventures, the progress of treatment for his prostrate cancer, and his commitment to doing something about homelessness in West L. A. It was much the same as conversations we had over nearly fifty years as Ryan (AON) colleagues, as successful partners in business ventures, as hopeless partners on golf outings, as travel companions on European vacations, as mutual house guests in England and Los Angeles, and when he asked me to be his Best Man at his and Elyse’s wedding. I shall miss those conversations.

From the time we roomed together at a Ryan rooky training seminar, we began to bond with a rare and special glue stemming from mutual convictions about business values that were also reflected in the Ryan ethos. Years of tested experience hardened that glue. In fact, when together, the bond must have been obvious, for on more than one occasion we were asked if we were brothers. I mourn my brother.

Meg and I extend our deepest sympathy to Elyse, who inspired him with such a vibrant outlook, and to his children and grandchildren of whom he was so proud. 

I knew Mike for 37 years beginning with a business relationship during his days at Ryan Insurance group which led to a friendship that included being Ironman Triathlon training partners.  Most notably we competed in IM Californian twice which allowed our families to get to know each other.  

I recall the very day we coined the name for Energy First, his health foods company which steered me on a regimen of protein shakes I enjoy to this day. We ran numerous Marathons and Ironman Triathlons including IM Canada, IM Florida amongst others and Iron Mike always finished strong.  

Our family trip to South Bend for a Notre Dame football game was also memorable and I will always remember the great times our family's spent together.  God Bless you my friend, you will be missed. 

Mike Maglione

I am still so stunned by the news of Mike that I find it difficult to put it into words. This seems impossible, as Mike was truly larger than life and charged through life with intelligence, energy, determination and positivity. He always had ambitious plans, and I saw him bring many of them to fruition.

There is no way I could count all the great times we had and the times we skied together. Even after I left Denver, he graciously invited me annually to stay in his Vale home and ski with the family. He was gracious and considerate always. However, we did more than ski together; I worked for Mike in several capacities through the years and felt the thrill of seeing him bring large negotiations together many times.

We laughed so hard so many times. I cannot believe this light has been extinguished and I miss him.

If this is tough for me, and I cannot imagine how tough it is for the family, God Bless Mike and all of his geat family. Harvey, Kim and Michael Gray