Rest in Peace, Dear Warrior

I think it goes without saying that I was in shock when I logged on and found the post below as the first thing I saw.

LC Mike, KotE, the Imperial Tobacconist no longer among us?

I don’t know that many of those still around these parts need much of an introduction to Mike. A long time supporter of and contributor to the Rott, it would have been next to impossible to not have at least some interaction with him over the years and not know his warm wit

, strong beliefs and dedication to this nation of ours.

I, personally, was fortunate enough to meet him in person on numerous occasions and found him to be just as warm and generous in person, if not more, as he was online.

He and is lovely wife, Miss Deb as we fondly know her, graciously and generously hosted the RottFest on numerous occasions, opening their home to hordes of us nuts, keeping the festivities going for days and long into the nights. It is also where I met a large number, if not most, of the Rotties I had the privilege to meet in real life.

He was also my boss at Radio CIA for quite a while, an online radio venture that he founded and ran and, for some reason unbeknownst to His Imperial Majesty, decided to invite me to join. Me, a complete radio newbie.

But thanks to his tireless and persistent efforts to teach me, many of them over the phone ’till long into the wee hours of the night, himself undoubtedly exasperated with yours truly (even though Mike would never have admitted it), I finally managed to at least not flub up my cross-fades, hand-offs and so on to the point of embarrassment.

Most of all, though, we had a lot of fun. Not only through the broadcasting bit, but even more so through the live interaction via the chat with you listeners.

Those were truly some of the best times of my life.

And now all of that is in the past, but it will never be forgotten.

Rest well, my dear friend, for you have truly earned it, and if there were such a thing as Valhalla, you would most assuredly be there right now.

Instead, rest in the light of the Grace of Almighty G-d, as a reward for a life well lived.

You will be missed and never forgotten.

My prayers go out to Miss Deb and Mike’s family in these undoubtedly hard times. May G-d bring you strength and comfort, and let us know if there is something we can do.

Ave Atque Vale.

Misha