Comments on: A Lot To Say Today - My Friend Michael Larizza

By: nicole

nicole — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 01:47:39 +0000

carley - im michaels niece, thank you for saying such wonderful things about him, it means alot to me and my family. today would have been his 49th birthday. i was thinking of him and googled his name and your site popped up, so i just wanted to say thank you for the tribute to him.

By: Vicki

Vicki — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 12:46:29 +0000

I was a friend of Mikes and although very close (he was Godfather to my first child, Allison) we lost touch. I have just found out today that he died. It must have been fate, since it is his birthday. I had moved out to Ohio from NY and with 2 small children and a bad case of Lymes disease, my visits to NY became less frequent and our calls less often. I am in NY now and had planned to surprise Mike the way I use to, by just showing up at the kennel where I knew I would always find him. I feel such a loss and such guilt for the time passed without talking to him. I loved him very much and I know he loved me. It is truly a great loss to all of us that he is gone.
I am so glad Alex is stepping in. When I heard the news one of the first things I said was what happened to his dogs… for he loved them so. We use to joke that when his beardie ‘Copper’ died that we would have him stuffed and keep him at the kennel so he would always be there with us.
Even though I didn’t see him as often, I will miss him and still never stop remebering my friend.

By: Gina

Gina — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 04:04:12 +0000

Hi again to all Michael’s friends. My sister and I are now driving his 1989 black Mercedes. We had special plates made in his honor. They are NY plates that say TKTHLEAD. If you see us driving, please honk your in memory of my dear wonderful brother!

By: Gina

Gina — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 03:47:48 +0000

Today, August 21, would have been my brother Michael’s 48th birthday. Our hearts are still heavy and our minds are still in disbelief. It is comforting to know that he was very much loved by so many. He will always be in our heart and in our memories. My brother is finally at rest. He is still with us. Look for the signs. Peter Framptons song “Baby, Show me the Way” is a way that Michael lets me know he is watching over me. I hear that song at least once a day!

By: Karen

Karen — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 04:52:17 +0000

Carley - you dear woman! I know how you feel - unfortunately. I love a dear friend also very recently. Still feeling the shock, the grief, the whole gamet of emotions.

Thank you for your loving tribute to a loving friend. There is a special place in Heaven for animal lovers.

Take care, Girlfriend!

By: Carly

Carly — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 22:50:12 +0000

Alex asked me to post his thoughts and his thanks to everyone:

“After 22 years working in the same room, you get to know a person well. When the news of Mike’s death hit me, all of my focus was on the future of his dogs because I knew that is what Mike would worry most about. I knew he would want loving permanent homes for the dogs he considered his family. There are many different types of homes: houses, apartments, trailers etc. Mike’s home was the kennel. Because of Mike’s unique home, his dogs had very special needs. So many people offered to give Mike’s family homes. I know all these offers were made from the heart but I had to choose homes that were a perfect fit for each animal and his or her personality and needs. As of today, I have found homes for almost all of Mike’s dogs. Almost every dog placed went to someone who already had a dog from Mike, so I know the home and family already had his approval. It is a great honor to have one of Mike’s dogs. But there is no shame or embarrassment if I turned down an offer to give one of Mike’s pets a home.

Now that the future of Mike’s dogs are well on the way to being secured, I can start to think of mine. Luckily I have no deadline. Mike and his family and the landlord want me to continue Stonybrook Kennels. I want you to know that your dogs will always be cared for the way Mike wanted. The same level of safety, comfort and happiness will always be maintained. No one can come close to Mike’s skill and talent as a groomer but your dogs will be well loved and taken care of in the way Mike would want.”

Alex

By: Mary Jane

Mary Jane — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 05:32:08 +0000

Thank you for your kind words. It’s so comforting to know Michael touched so many lives and for me to be able to read how. It is really weird that you commented on George Clooney’s pet Max passing away. Did you know that our family thinks Michael looked like George and was often mistaken for him by the public? Even once by Tom Cruise on a Manhattan street. Maybe Max is Mike’s new pet. What a wonderful thought!.

By: Claudia

Claudia — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 02:59:08 +0000

I’m sorry for your loss Carly. Reading this post has helped me feel not so alone in dealing with the loss of a couple of pets. A little over a month ago I had to put to sleep my 14 yr. old cat. He only had 3 legs and was a diabetic and he was my baby. I miss him so much. Last Wednesday, exactly a month later, my 17 yr. old cat died. I was getting ready for work and I walked in my room to check on him and he was laying on my bed hardly moving. I immediately started trying to get in touch with my vet but before I could get him on the phone, my cat had died. I am having an easier time dealing with his death than my 14 yr. olds. I guess it is because I had to make the hard decision to put him to sleep.

I don’t think it matters if its a person or a pet that dies. It still hurts and you miss them a lot.

By: niki alvey

niki alvey — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 02:07:51 +0000

Hi Carly. My husband Brian posted that photo you linked too. What a nice tribute you posted about him.

We have been really close to Michael for the past 8 years. He was such a wonderful guy. We got our first Cavalier from him 4.5 years ago and he gave us her litter mate Tara’s puppy two years ago. In fact we are adopting Tara since she is family .

I can’t believe he is gone, we drive by the kennel every day and every time my 3 year old points out “Michael’s house.” It just seems like a very bad dream.

By: Sam Hunter

Sam Hunter — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 02:04:15 +0000

Coming in late, but what a moving tribute — not a downer at all, Carly — really wonderful to know there was a person like that in the world. It feels sad now, but I’ll bet you have lots of happy stories to remember. My mom would say that God needed a little help taking care of the animals upstairs, and he wanted the best. (hugs)

Sam