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Hello and sympathies to
both of you.
I thought I'd share this
with you and you can do
whatever you'd like with
it.
I was looking thru some
things in a file folder
very recently and found
an e-mail to me from
Mike. When we at NAVSEA
first got e-mail, no one
really e-mailed like we
do today. I was working
in PMS396L group (I
think) at the time. I
told Mike that I'd never
get e-mails from anyone;
he starting sending me
one almost every day as
kind of a joke, but it
continued for a good
period of time!
This one I have is from
8/23/96:
"Good Morning. Found
these in my cybermail
this morning. At least
the weekend is just
about here. May shoot
some golfs this evening.
If not, will go work out
and shoot golfs ina
morning. Either way, the
golfs are in for it.
Later."
Below that little e-mail
was a list of 10
sayings, such as:
Never wrestle with a
pig; you both get dirty
and the pig likes it!
Observe everything;
admire nothing
Never look back unless
you intend to go that
way!
He noted "I keep these
over my desk, but have
yet to apply them
consistently. I also
prefer the old baseball
player's version of
Number 10 (my last one
above): Don't look back,
something could be
gaining on you!"
Mike knew everyone. He
knew the then owners of
the USS SEQUOIA
(Presidential yacht),
which was docked
somewhere locally
(forgotten where - DC
maybe - or, perhaps
Alexandria), and made
arrangements for my
carpool (4 of us) to
have a tour at lunch
time. It was great fun
and educational as well
as totally free to us.
Who ELSE would know the
owners?!!
NAVSEA PMS396/Team
Submarine
Colleague and Friend
Burke, VA
On Jul
12, 2011, at 10:59 AM, Lucia
Ferguson wrote:
Gregory and I are saddened to
hear about the untimely passing
of our good friend.
Mikl
was the kindest, funniest
person and his wry sense of
humor kept me smiling through
many a tough day! He never
forgot us even though many years
passed since he lived in
Northern
Va. For that, we are ever
grateful.
We are happy to have known you.
You are a gracious lady and our
prayers are with you during this
tough time.
Of course, we will not be able
to make it to
San Diego
– but please know we are
there in spirit!
Lucia and Gregory Ferguson
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On Jul 11, 2011, at 10:52 AM, McTier, Char C CIV
SPAWAR, 82200 wrote:
Hi Sarah,
I
just heard about Mikl's passing and I am so sorry to
hear about your loss. Mikl was a wonderful person
and your perfect soulmate for the past decade. You
both looked so happy together. I was so happy you
found happiness with such a vivacious, fun-loving
person during that hardworking phase of your life
and that you also shared him with us at work-social
activities.
I
remember playing trivial pursuit that one year at
Norma's Christmas party -- Mikl was the Captain of
our team and you captained another team -- when our
team was asked who Ulysses (from the Odyssey) wife's
name was -- Mikl said it was "Penelope" and he was
right. That was a fun time! Our team ended up
winning! Yeah, Mikl!
There are many memories for you to cherish and I
hope these will sustain you through this time of
sorrow.
May your heart be lightened by the joys you and Mikl
shared.
Warm, thoughtful regards,
Char
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From:
jmwebb618@aol.com
To:
keyzmikl@lostmango.com ;
SLamade@gmail.com ;
RASilva1@comcast.net
Sent: Monday, July 11, 2011 1:00 AM
Subject: Re: Last Note from Mikl's
Email
Dear Sarah
and Annie,
I am Jim Webb. I served with Mike in
NAVSEA 924 from 1975 thru 1978. We often shared
rides from my place in Woodburn Village and his
patio home just inside the Beltway. Mike was
extremely kind to me as I was a Supply Corps
Officer in an Engineering Duty Officer
environment and the different person when
various problems were encountered.
I think the most significant thing Mike
accomplished while I was there was the SUBSAFE
modification of those SSN 594 Class submarines
that were restricted in depth after the loss of
Thresher (SSN 593). Mike worked diligently with
OPNAV, the Planning Yard (Mare Island), and
various technical codes to determine what needed
to be done, what time it would take, and what it
would cost to return these vessels to full
operational capabilities.
He sold the program and the modifications
were accomplished. The Navy got about seven
fully capable submarines for a fraction of the
cost originally thought.
On a more personal note, Mike provided my
wife Linda and me with phonograph needles when
we were stationed in Rota, Spain. I had no idea
how many phonograph needles could be used up
when you have only base FM radio, no TV, and not
much else. Actually, it was kind of nice.
We loved Mike and will miss him.
|
From:
Betty
and Bill Lehr
Date:
July 19, 2011
8:10:19 AM PDT
Subject:
Thoughts of
Michael
Dear Sarah:
Here are my thoughts of Mike.
Sorry, but I am not adept enough
to use the website.
I met my
friend Mike Szydlowski for the
first time in the summer of
1982. I had just retired from
the U.S. Coast Guard and begun a
new life as a beltway bandit
with McDonnell Douglas Space
Systems Company. They had a
contract supporting NAVSEA in
planning and developing the
integrated logistics support
system for the new OHIO Class
submarines. Mike was actively
involved in the NAVSEA program -
particularly trying to get the
Navy's many and varied computer
software programs to work
together.
Mike was
an interesting character. He was
bright, quick-witted,
opinionated, and outspoken. He
said what he thought and that
had earned him a reputation as a
"prickly" character. Once we got
to know each other we got to be
good friends. He was one of
those guys who "marched to a
different drummer,"" and as a
result, made life more
interesting and enjoyable for
the rest of us.
We
spent a lot of time together
over the years doing what we did
best - spending time at Shooter
Magees in Alexandria, the TIKI
bar in Marathon and many places
in Key West. I will miss the
times he spent with us in our
homes in Hampton and Virginia
Beach during his trips to and
from the Outer Banks of North
Carolina. Best of all were our
visits to Marathon and then
stays in Key West at the old
Navy R&R facility called the
White Street trailers. We talked
about a lot of things during
those visits. Anything was fair
game. As might be expected our
discussions could get quite
heated, but we always found our
way back to friendship. We found
out that Mike was a very good
cook. He had a very
sophisticated skill in the
kitchen and planned to write a
cook book after doing some
research in Europe. I wonder if
he ever wrote the book.
He also
had a major interest in sailing
with a passion for the America's
Cup races. At one time he had a
sail boat docked in Alexandria.
And, one of his adventures was
to take lessons on sailing a
surf board. He said he finally
got the hang of it. I would like
to have seen him sail one. I
couldn't do it. Actually I could
never even get on the board.
Mike
was consistent in his great love
and regard for Sarah. She was
the person he needed in all of
the years we knew him before he
met her. She made his life
special.
Smooth
sailing Mike. We
miss you
already.
Bill and
Betty Lehr
|
From:
David osborn
Date: July 19, 2011 3:17:01 PM PDT
To: <SLamade@gmail.com>
Cc: David osborn
Subject: Mike Remembered
Sarah,
I just
heard today of Mike's passing. I'm so
sorry.
I met
Mike (we PACNOR'WESTERS called him "Syd"
) during my travels to Crystal City to
visit PM2 and PMS 396. He expected
completed staff work and had no patience
for anything less. I respected that
quality, and, still do. After hours he
was an "old school gentleman" of the
highest order. He knew food, beer, wine
and was a master of the art of
conversation. He shared those gifts with
those of us he barely knew and was a
genteel host to those of us visiting
far, far from home. That is a rare
quality.
You and
Mike had a life together not unlike
Jamie and I. That is a true blessing as
not nearly enough people can say they
enjoy such a wonderful relationship.
As one of
our favorite people, ever, please know
you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Your
friend,
Dave
Osborn
|
From:
"Leigh
Carlson" <leigherin99@cox.net>
Date:
July 20, 2011
9:46:58 PM PDT
To:
"'Sarah
Lamade'" <slamade@gmail.com>
Subject:
message
from jc (John Carlson at
Miguels)
Sarah, here is the message
JC is trying to post on
Mikl’s remembrance site…
Hey Mike. Good to talk to
you. Miss you. -- I still
bring the sport's page, in
case you missed it at the
gym. - The ponies started
today at Del Mar. I had my
paper out, making my picks,
losing every race. The only
thing missing was you Buddy.
I miss how you would
playfully chide me that the
horses were a "fool's game."
I miss how you'd watch them
with me, watch me lose, and
then give me that "I told
you so" smile. - We had that
last "Until again"
handshake... I wish it had
been a hug. I miss you Bro.
God Bless Sarah and the
Keys, - JC
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From:
Carol Martin cmartin@csc.com
Date: July 9, 2011
9:39:22 AM PDT
To:
rasilva1@comcast.net,
ann.silva@navy.mil
Cc:
cmartin729@comcast.net
Subject: Mikl
Szydlowski
Dear Ann,
Please accept my deepest and
sincere condolences on the
loss of your
brother. He was one in a
million but then I don't
have to tell you that.
I worked and traveled with
Mike during the OCIRM days.
He was a demanding
but always supportive
sponsor to me and the world
will be a bit dimmer
without him in it. We shared
a mutual love of oysters and
he made a mean
gazpacho.
Please forward any details
regarding services,
memorials, etc. I will not
be able to make it San Diego
on the 23rd but will be
there in spirit.
Words seem so
inadequate....... I am so,
so sorry.
Attached is a reading from
John O'Donohue, Irish poet
and philosopher, a
favorite author of mine.
(Click to view attached
file:
ON THE DEATH OF THE BELOVED)
Sincerely
Carol
Carol Martin
Account Executive
|
From:
"Betty
and Bill Lehr" bblehr@cox.net
Date:
July 19, 2011 8:10:19 AM PDT
To:
SLamade@gmail.com
Subject:
Thoughts of Michael
Dear
Sarah:
Here
are my thoughts of Mike. Sorry, but
I am not adept enough to use the
website.
I met my
friend Mike Szydlowski for the first
time in the summer of 1982. I had
just retired from the U.S. Coast
Guard and begun a new life as a
beltway bandit with McDonnell
Douglas Space Systems Company. They
had a contract supporting NAVSEA in
planning and developing the
integrated logistics support system
for the new OHIO Class submarines.
Mike was actively involved in the
NAVSEA program - particularly trying
to get the Navy's many and varied
computer software programs to work
together.
Mike was an
interesting character. He was
bright, quick-witted, opinionated,
and outspoken. He said what he
thought and that had earned him a
reputation as a "prickly" character.
Once we got to know each other we
got to be good friends. He was one
of those guys who "marched to a
different drummer,"" and as a
result, made life more interesting
and enjoyable for the rest of us.
We spent a
lot of time together over the years
doing what we did best - spending
time at Shooter Magees in
Alexandria, the TIKI bar in Marathon
and many places in Key West. I will
miss the times he spent with us in
our homes in Hampton and Virginia
Beach during his trips to and from
the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Best of all were our visits to
Marathon and then stays in Key West
at the old Navy R&R facility called
the White Street trailers. We talked
about a lot of things during those
visits. Anything was fair game. As
might be expected our discussions
could get quite heated, but we
always found our way back to
friendship. We found out that Mike
was a very good cook. He had a very
sophisticated skill in the kitchen
and planned to write a cook book
after doing some research in Europe.
I wonder if he ever wrote the book.
He also had
a major interest in sailing with a
passion for the America's Cup races.
At one time he had a sail boat
docked in Alexandria. And, one of
his adventures was to take lessons
on sailing a surf board. He said he
finally got the hang of it. I would
like to have seen him sail one. I
couldn't do it. Actually I could
never even get on the board.
Mike was
consistent in his great love and
regard for Sarah. She was the person
he needed in all of the years we
knew him before he met her. She made
his life special.
Smooth
sailing Mike. We miss you already.
Bill and
Betty Lehr
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