The Observation Deck

Observers, Nadhal Eadeh, Mike Zanoni, and Ken Warren

Mike Zanoni age 52 died of pancreatic cancer which he has been battling for the last 17 months.

I met Mike through Betsy Voinovich, they had been very close friends since her early days at Case Western Reserve University. They instantly bonded and became life long friends, they were actually seen together so often, many thought he was Betsy's husband. But he was her best friend, and movie producer, uncle, assistant, and partner, in every thing from working on a full length feature film together, to her many travels around the world and the country.

Mike is know for his love of philosophy, poetry, and deep thinking, an great sense of humor.

Mike, I loved you brother and you are already missed.

Giant Hawk Eats Giant Gull at Giant Eagle
http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/v ... le#p173520



We both thought was pretty wild watching the world of social media trashing him, that it wasn't a giant hawk, or even a giant gull, and that he was full of it.
At that point Mike had outlived many people fighting pancreatic cancer, and was just glad he was still getting around.


Mike Zanoni in the center, with the Voinovich clan, Jeff Drager and others.

Mike you are already missed.

peace/love

One of the good ones, indeed.

May his soul know eternal peace ... because I know for sure his mind will keep searching for answers.

Mike seemed like a really nice guy. Very sorry for everyone's loss.

I only knew of Mike indirectly. People like that are hard to find. My condolences.

Mike was the funniest person I ever met. Not that he had the funniest joke at the party, but he would listen to you describing a situation you were in, like a difficult time with a job, or your family, or your School Board, and have the perfect summation, and suggestion with a twist to it, that would make you laugh, feel understood, and inspired to go on. On Friday Meg reminded me of the snow sculpture contest in the midst of all the talk of funeral arrangements, etc, and it made me laugh and I thought I would share it, and thank everybody here for making this a real community, where you can develop a voice and use it. Mike loved the Deck and the paper, he loved the ambition, fun, freedom and the fulfillment of the American Dream of it all.

Snow sculpture thread: http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/v ... ffman+Park

I'm remembering him handing out papers in the parade saying, "Get your Lakewood Observer here. Would you like an Observer? Tolerate an Observer?" Some years we have the kids make costumes out of the paper to wear. Jim posted a photo above. Mike wanted to make himself a newspaper Yeti costume. That was for this summer.

Betsy Voinovich wrote:Mike loved the Deck and the paper, he loved the ambition, fun, freedom and the fulfillment of the American Dream of it all.

Here's a timeless sentiment from Mike in 2012.

Mike Zanonni wrote:Most of what I read on the deck is evidence that people actively care about where they live and how they live, and don't see questioning what’s happening and wanting things to be done right as an "election time" activity. They don't need to agree, and obviously they don't. A member of a community can and should do more than "voting" people in and out of office, like a civic tithe. Most people here feel discussion and questioning to be part of civic activity, and I agree, and am all for it.

There is always the horrible tendency of people to "get out the pitchforks", and we should be on the watch for it. That is bad. But people wanting honest, accountable, mature, non-coercive government, and forcefully questioning when something seems very wrong? That is good. It's very good.

Meg Ostrowski wrote:

Betsy Voinovich wrote:Mike loved the Deck and the paper, he loved the ambition, fun, freedom and the fulfillment of the American Dream of it all.

Here's a timeless sentiment from Mike in 2012.

Mike Zanonni wrote:Most of what I read on the deck is evidence that people actively care about where they live and how they live, and don't see questioning what’s happening and wanting things to be done right as an "election time" activity. They don't need to agree, and obviously they don't. A member of a community can and should do more than "voting" people in and out of office, like a civic tithe. Most people here feel discussion and questioning to be part of civic activity, and I agree, and am all for it.

There is always the horrible tendency of people to "get out the pitchforks", and we should be on the watch for it. That is bad. But people wanting honest, accountable, mature, non-coercive government, and forcefully questioning when something seems very wrong? That is good. It's very good.

I wish I had known him.