I met Mike as a trainee in the Long Beach Junior Concert Band in 1989. He passed his tryout shortly after I started coming down and he played a crucial part in my training. We shared moments of immense joy and laughed ourselves until our stomachs hurt and silently wept together at the last circle up for friends who have passed on. He had the ability to be able to observe people and could perfectly mimic their mannerisms and speech. Anyone who knew him had a funny Mike story. Learning of his passing came as a complete surprise and he will be greatly missed.
Dylan Ternes
My cousin Mike was a great man. He was and will always be my older cousin who taught me what “being cool” was.
He babysat my younger brother and me for many more summers then he probably wanted. We would watch “Gilligan’s Island” and “The Monkees” on TV. He taught me how to skateboard and how to play Kick the Can. He had police scanners and a CB radio in his room, and we would listen to random truck driver lingo that didn’t make sense to me. He was one of many neighborhood kids that showed me what it was like hanging out and just being friends with a group of suburban youth I didn’t see in the country.
His image is burned into my memory as the coolest older cousin in the world. He was a member of the Long Beach Royal Syncopated Regiment which is historic here in Long Beach. They marched in the Belmont Shore Christmas Parade every year as the final show before Santa was escorted in by the fire department. To this day I am obsessed with drum lines and didn’t realize until now that Mike is responsible for that love. I even found a clip of him on YouTube. I wish the video of the parade was of better quality. Mike is wearing a baseball cap in the second row.
I am so sad to learn of his passing but he will live forever in my heart. I love you Mike. Rest in peace.
Mary Lawton
My heart is full for Howard and his family. I wish them loving, peaceful memories.
I met Mike as a trainee in the Long Beach Junior Concert Band in 1989. He passed his tryout shortly after I started coming down and he played a crucial part in my training. We shared moments of immense joy and laughed ourselves until our stomachs hurt and silently wept together at the last circle up for friends who have passed on. He had the ability to be able to observe people and could perfectly mimic their mannerisms and speech. Anyone who knew him had a funny Mike story. Learning of his passing came as a complete surprise and he will be greatly missed.
My cousin Mike was a great man. He was and will always be my older cousin who taught me what “being cool” was.
He babysat my younger brother and me for many more summers then he probably wanted. We would watch “Gilligan’s Island” and “The Monkees” on TV. He taught me how to skateboard and how to play Kick the Can. He had police scanners and a CB radio in his room, and we would listen to random truck driver lingo that didn’t make sense to me. He was one of many neighborhood kids that showed me what it was like hanging out and just being friends with a group of suburban youth I didn’t see in the country.
His image is burned into my memory as the coolest older cousin in the world. He was a member of the Long Beach Royal Syncopated Regiment which is historic here in Long Beach. They marched in the Belmont Shore Christmas Parade every year as the final show before Santa was escorted in by the fire department. To this day I am obsessed with drum lines and didn’t realize until now that Mike is responsible for that love. I even found a clip of him on YouTube. I wish the video of the parade was of better quality. Mike is wearing a baseball cap in the second row.
I am so sad to learn of his passing but he will live forever in my heart. I love you Mike. Rest in peace.
My heart is full for Howard and his family. I wish them loving, peaceful memories.