Mike Garcia died suddenly of heart failure on 1/15/2001. He was 55 years old. Mike is survived by his 85-year-old father, Melvin, a host of friends and admirers, and lots of those little girls (honeybees) he loved so much.
The evening Mike passed on I made calls to several people in the bee clubs Mike and I were involved with. I wanted to inform them of the loss of a good friend and ardent 20-year supporter/teacher of beekeeping in the Bay Area. Mike had been one of the Mount Diablo Beekeeper Association's earliest members. He had been serving as point man for the club's participation in community events for many years. Two things became quite apparent while talking to beekeepers who knew Mike.
One, he was really loved, admired, and appreciated by those who knew him best. And
two, beekeepers are warm, caring, gracious, and down-to-earth folks.
It's no wonder Mike was so fond of them.
Mike suffered from juvenile onset diabetes (also known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, or Type I diabetes) for 38 years. The condition had been particularly cruel to him. Despite careful attention to his diet, blood glucose and insulin levels, Mike experienced many of its horrific side effects. One of these side effects was the coronary heart disease that eventually took his life.
Mike had suffered a mild heart attack eight months earlier. After a week in the hospital for extensive medical tests it was determined that heart surgery was not an option for him. He was informed that his days were numbered. Even with this hanging over his head and all the difficulties he endured on a daily basis, his attitude remained upbeat.
I could write all night of the things Mike did for me. We met 20 years ago when he first started attending the Mount Diablo Beekeepers Association meetings. The two of us began working our 44 colonies bees together in 1981. We had lots of adventures involving the bees, bee clubs, fairs, presentations and countless other projects.
This one man has been my best friend throughout our years together. He is sorely missed.

  
Copyright © 2001 by Stan Umlauft. All rights reserved.  Revised 01/21/2001