With the passing of Tom Lay, I started thinking back about my flying buddies from the 70's. Tom Warden, Lucky Pyatt, Jim Armour, and now Tom Lay.  All passed on now.

I came across one other name that I haven't heard from for some time. Mike Belitz. We drove to several Nat's together. We practiced together in Torrance and were good friends. Then I moved to Seattle and we didn't see each other much. He went on to compete with his accordion and won several world championships.

Out of the blue, I heard from him about 5 years ago. We talked, and he had bought a "Score" and was flying in the Oxnard/Ventura area. He was going to attend a GSSC but never showed. Just like that he disappeared. My calls would not connect and the emails bounced back.

Does anyone know of his whereabouts? I sure would like to connect with him again!

Paul... sadly I think this is your man... there is a picture of him in the gallery (2nd to the last of 35) of him holding his Score. Doing research for my book taught me that I can almost find almost anyone. 

As I play solo gigs on Harmonicas from time to time and fully expect to come back in the next life as an accordion player.. I would have loved to sit down any play with him...

http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Michael-Belitz&lc=4612&pid=151264678&mid=4682178&Affiliate=pvnews&PersonID=151264678&FHID=11089

http://obituaries.pvnews.com/obituaries/pvnews/obituary.aspx?n=michael-james-belitz&pid=151168857&fhid=11089


"At this year's Accordion Festival Al announced that our good friend, Mike Belitz, had passed away. Mike was one of the finest persons I have ever met. He held the title of World Champion Old-time Accordionist for several years. We worked together at American Technology Labs, Inc in Stevi."

We are all sorry to lose Mike.

The name Mike Belitz rings a bell.  It was a long time ago (1976, to be exact).  He and I were the only two entries in Beginner Stunt at the old Datsun field in Gardena, CA.  As luck would have it, I won the ribbon that day.  (Judges were Bob Whitely & Bart Klapinski.)

If this is the same Mike Belitz, I recall him being very gracious about that.

Haven't seen him since that day.

. . . Wow, another early flying buddy gone . . . Makes me feel old. 

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Nice sentiment, indeed....from (in my opinion) the best CLPA flyer ever to pick up a handle. 

    Paul, 
   As they say " time flies"  my oldest is close to the age I was when I met you at the Boeing flying site. He's 33 soon I was 38 ,  I am drawing my SSI as of this month...    At one of my first Nats I think it was Dave Cook told me that I shouldn't do anything I don't want to do,,, because if I do I'm wasting my life.  I keep as busy as I can here as of the break of dawn I'm driving to the coast for some Salmon fishing.. today was spent flying.
     John

Dan I can't say.   He did make and sell control handles for a while.  I might still have a very old photo of a pair of beautiful Skylarks he had from the 70s.  Need to see if sis has contact info for him.  'Sonny' is the only one still living from that generation on Moms side of the fam.

Dave

Thanks again Jim for finding this. Now that we are home, I was able to look at it on the laptop. Yes, this is absolutely the Mike I knew years ago. I am sad that I was unable to see him before he left us.