OBITUARY

Michael Stephen Slizewski, 70, passed away near his home on December 3rd, 2022, while out jogging (or “slogging,” as he called it). His loved ones have found solace in knowing he was doing one of the things he loved most in life when his beautiful heart finally gave out on him.

People collect all sorts of things. Mike collected people. He was very fond of what he referred to as his “people collection.” If you had the fortune of getting to know him, you were most definitely in it. Larger than life, luminous, and warm, his brilliant sense of humor and charisma drew people in, allowing him to brighten peoples' day - one of his greatest pleasures. He had a true gift for making others feel important, loved and respected.

He started his people collection in his hometown of Hyde Park, NY, where he was born on November 11, 1952, attended local schools, and resided at the family home on Rogers Place. At around 5 years old, his parents, Theresa and Stephen “Slim” Slizewski, hatched a plan that would become a family tradition that endures today. Each summer, they would herd Mike and his younger siblings, Steve, Cathy and Trese, into the family station wagon and wind their way up to camp at Raquette Lake in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains. Many decades later, Mike could still be found there at Golden Beach State Campground, doing what he truly loved most in life - visiting with family and lifelong friends, playing music around a campfire, and chasing the next good laugh.

A natural born entertainer, gifted songwriter and extraordinary instrumentalist (mainly guitar and mandolin), Mike’s love of music started very early. Whether he was serving eel in the middle of a song with one of his wildly creative early bands, The Electric Eels or The Motherfathers, traveling in an old Dodge Dart with one of his lifelong best friends, Art Chambers, writing and performing in places like Mexico, Texas and Yosemite, or riding a fake crocodile during rare appearances by his unforgettable musical alter ego, Rondo Filet, Mike was exactly where he wanted to be. If music was the driving force, however, it was family that would bind the beautiful story of his life together.

After serving as the musical director for a camp in Colorado, Mike’s path would forever be altered after a fateful stop in Southern Utah when he was 27 years old. Eight months after meeting at the Bryce Canyon Lodge and falling madly in love, Mike married the woman he would spend the next 42 years of his life with, his best friend, Tari Slizewski. Together, they would raise two extremely lucky ducklings, Katie and Rudy, and would eventually settle in Yreka, CA by way of Cedar City, UT and Ada, OK.

Mike was an encouraging, devoted father and loved more than anything to spend time with his kids. Endlessly active in their athletic, artistic and academic pursuits, he loved gathering them and other family up for challenging outdoor adventures like climbing Mt. Shasta (14,179 ft), swimming across Raquette Lake (3.2 miles), marathons, half Ironman races, and heroic hikes like Half Dome in Yosemite or Buckskin Gulch in Utah, the world’s longest slot canyon. Despite his strong work ethic and propensity for fun hogging, Mike would always take the time to lend an ear and offer his support. In response to his kids’ anxious statements about not knowing what they wanted to do when they grew up, Mike would always respond with a wry smile and state, “me neither.”

Indeed, he demonstrated that you can always find new ways to challenge yourself. Armed with a Bachelors in English from Southern Utah State University, Mike weaved his way through an illustrious career as a writer, photographer and editorial cartoonist while serving as a reporter, managing editor and publisher for 4 different newspapers spanning over three decades. He worked in radio, human services, taught for the UC Davis Extension, served as the Tribal Administrator for the Quartz Valley Indian Reservation and, most recently, ran his own business as a book editor and writer, working on over 50 books for different authors and publishers throughout the country. He always managed to balance out his dynamic work life with his passion for music though, whether as a recording artist, songwriter or performer.

Some of Mike’s favorite musical collaborators in the family included his wife, Tari, son Rudy, his nephew Steve and brother-in-law, Will. When their kids were very young, Mike and Tari loaded them up and hit the road full time with their band The Millionaires, touring throughout the Western states in a converted milk truck before upgrading to a school bus. While in Yreka, they performed together for years and found their second family in the Lucky Duck Blues Band. Most recently, Mike could be found offering his services to the community with his group The Meanderthals (formerly The Bar Chords).

Mike loved music, family and so much more. He loved cooking, hiking, sports and swimming in cold mountain lakes and excelled at games like horseshoes, darts, pool and Scrabble. He was an avid reader and connoisseur of fine literature. A true extrovert, Mike loved more than anything to gather and surround himself with love and laughter. One of his greatest joys in life were his five grandkids, Nylah, Tabor, Ayo, Maisy and Dami, and he loved making frequent trips up to Portland, OR to be with them. He always made every effort to let his friends and family know how much he loved them.

Michael Stephen Slizewski was a truly delightful man and will be sorely missed and remembered fondly. He was a wonderful husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, brother and friend. He was always up for anything, exceptionally intelligent, witty, and generous with his time, skills and knowledge. He was absolutely hilarious, genuine and compassionate. He was many things and more but one of his most magnetic qualities was his perpetually positive outlook on life. His brother, Steve, summed it up pretty well when he would say “Mike could fall into a bucket of sh*t and come out smelling like a rose.”

Mike is survived by his wife Tari Slizewski, his daughter Katie Slizewski (Luke Dean), his son Rudy Slizewski (Oluyinka Akinjiola), his sister Cathy Welling (Will), his brother Steve Slizewski (Karen), his five grandkids Nylah, Tabor and Maisy Dean, Ayo and Dami Slizewski, his father-in-law Dennis Johnson and many other beloved in-laws, nieces, nephews and great friends that admired and adored him and mourn his passing.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Stephen and Theresa Slizewski, his sister Theresa “Trese” Slizewski, his mother-in-law, Lynn Johnson, his niece Carolyn Slizewski, a lovely batch of Polish aunts and uncles and some of his closest friends, including Art Chambers, William “Bear” Scheniman and Bob Combs. Mike was careful to never rule out the possibility of a long awaited after party with some of the most prized members in his people collection. It was yet another way he found he could “put a nickel in every slot.”

Mike's ashes will be scattered in the water at Raquette Lake, on top of Mt. Shasta, and in the Pacific Ocean. There will be a memorial at the Yreka Preservation Hall in Yreka, CA on January 21st at 4:30pm, as well as one in Hyde Park, NY in July of 2023.