Post by Admin on Oct 15, 2013 10:19:45 GMT -5
Soon after coming to S-bag, I "met" Mik via email after I visited the SLR Resident forum. I gently suggested that his Forum could be dramatically improved with graphics and offered to help.
His reception to my email was not so good. At that time, I did not know Mik at all. But, I soon became acquainted with Mik's very strong personality. He was highly intelligent, intense and magnetic--he was sometimes stubborn and gRooff--but Mik was always a loyal friend.
He and I soon formed a guarded alliance and improved the Forum, increasing the membership from 30 to 150+. One day while I was out in Utah on vacation, he skyped me and said "I want to do a newsletter". One day later, the NewsHound was born. Fortunately, I was hunkered down in Utah for a week waiting out a bad snowstorm and was able to devote many hours to producing the inaugural issue. Many skype sessions and emails later, NewsHound was launched in late May 2011.
Mik was a retired Marine and took every opportunity to remember and celebrate service to country. His service in the Marines had a profound and enduring effect on Mik's beliefs and values about loyalty and integrity.
He and his wife, Lindie, retired to Florida to live on the lake, boat and fish. He was a staunch defender of our lake and its inhabitants. He photographed wildlife, lake sunsets and the fish he caught. He butted heads with Management about protecting the lake environment and served on the short-lived Lake Committee. He researched lake hydrogeology and freshwater marine life. He knew the staff at FL Fish, Game & Wildlife on a first name basis.
Mik had strong political opinions and was an activist for freedom of speech. He would not tolerate suppression and advocated for transparency when he ran for the Board.
Mik was hysterically funny. He had a dry sense of humor and created many topical satirical cartoons for the NewsHound with his ability to photoshop actual photos and superimpose comical SLR goings-on.
Mik was a dog lover and adored his best dogs, Semper Fi and Miss Sofi. Miss Sofi was prominently featured in the NewsHound as Mik's "alter"--the softer, fluffier side of Mik.
Mik passed away suddenly February 2013. I still think of him and miss his presence in my life. This Board is dedicated to Mik.
RIP my friend.
