Michael Cvijanovich

Sheryl, Dan and family,
So sorry to hear of your loss. Mike was always a joy to visit with when I met up with him walking the dogs by the school where Camille attended. He always had a smile on his face. Both of you were like a second set of parents to Jason. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Judy

I am sure that the first time I ever met Mike was at a barracks poker game in his and Ron Brandt’s quarters in Augsburg, Germany in 1972. I remember the year, because it was cause for one of our , “now famous” bets, of which there were three.
Being terribly disillusioned with Nixon and his claim of “peace with honor” in Vietnam, I was a staunch Mc Govern supporter. Mike declared that McGovern wouldn’t win 2 states in the Electoral College. I was more than willing to challenge his prediction and to bet $20 that he was mistaken. This is a bet that Mike gladly accepted. Image my dismay as I am paying Mike 8% of my monthly paycheck in November after the election. McGovern only won Massachusetts and Washington DC. I am still amazed that he performed so poorly.
From our almost nightly poker games, Mike and I became friends. Michael was a consummate story teller and I set spellbound as he would recount previous experiences in his own inimitable style. He would get so excited when unveiling his stories that he started gong “oo, oo” like Joe E. Ross in Car 54 Where Are You. Mike had a passion for family, gambling and western movies. He was a fountain of knowledge when it came to Westerns. He could name all of the magnificent seven… including Brad Dexter. Mike was also an excellent bowler.
Before joining the Army, he carried a 200 average. This was quite impressive at the time. I was just a 150 bowler and pretty consistent, but no Michel Edward Cvijanovich. We went together to the base bowling alley. After finishing our first game, Michael bowled a 206, and I managed a respectable 156. I proposed a $20 bet. I would bowl left handed if he would spot me 50 pins. Having seen that I was an average bowler right handed, it seemed like a good bet to make. What Mike didn’t know was that I was ambidextrous. I bowled another 156 with my left hand and Mike had a 203. Thus I had evened the score on our side bets.
Michael finished his military service about 8 months before I did. When I returned, I moved to Charlotte, NC to share an apartment with a mutual friend from the Army, Sam Cook. During our studies at the University of NC, in Charlotte, Michel traveled down from Chicago for a visit. Although he stayed only a week or so, we had a great time. He invited me to come see him in Chicago. After returning to Bellevue, Washington for a time to be with my family, Michael came and visited me in Bellevue. I took him for a tour of Vancouver, BC, Snoqualmie Falls and downtown Seattle. I know Mick enjoyed his stay, as later I was privileged to hear him recount several stories about his trip. We enjoyed each other’s company so much, that I moved to Chicago to share an apartment .
It was there that I was introduced to his family. Chick, Linda, and Chuck, his brother in law, sister and nephew. They owned the three flat where Mike and I shared the bottom floor. Mike’s parents became a part of my life. I really fell in love with Mikes family. Emil, his dad, treated me like his own son. He also taught me how to read a racing form. This was a necessary skill to learn for our frequent trips to the local race tracks. Maudy, his wife was always thrilled to see me. She really knew how to make you feel special. It is not difficult to see why Mike turned out the way he did.
While working at the Railroad Retirement Board in Chicago, Mike met someone very special, Sheryl Pazdro. I had the honor to be the best man at their wedding. It wasn’t long before we saw Danny and Matt come along. These two guys were amazing. Sheryl spent most of her time nurturing and teaching them. It is no wonder that they turned out brilliant.
Over the years we have visited and telephoned to continue our relationship. During the 45 years that I knew Mike, I never learned as much from anyone, as from him. Not from words, but by actions. There is no such thing as inconvenience when a friend is involved. Loyalty and honor are much more than slogans. True friendship is forever. Honestly, I cannot think of a single thing that I didn’t admire about Mick. He was integrity incarnate. So, what about the third bet?
I was perusing a new “1990” Farmer’s Almanac and happened upon the top 10 cities, by population, in America. I was somewhat surprised by the number 10 entry. San Antonio, Texas. the very same place I have been living for the past 12 years. How could they be number 10? With 925000 people, that’s how. While driving with Mike in my car I stated the fact that San Antonio was the 10th largest city in America. Surely this couldn’t be true. Michael couldn’t believe what I just said. He started recounting all of the major US cities, not knowing that several were in decline. He quickly proposed another $20 bet. I accepted his wager and detoured to the nearest library. I located a new Almanac, thumbed through until it until I found the necessary information and claimed my $20. That was the sweetest $20 I ever had and it came from the dearest friend I ever had.