On July 14th, 2016, the world lost a great man. He was the state rider’s education director for A.B.A.T.E. of Iowa. He taught hundreds or thousands of people how to ride a motorcycle safely. Mike stood on the shoulders of giants, working to make the rider’s education program what it is today. Mike dreamed of much more than weekends in parking lots with not much more than a barn to store their equipment. Mike was instrumental in planning and building a permanent course at Freedom Park. This gave A.B.A.T.E. of Iowa a dedicated space for the sole purpose of training riders. The rider’s education building next to the permanent course at freedom park is nearing completion as of the end of 2021. I know that Mike would have been thrilled to see this dream come true. Upon Mike’s passing we spread some of his ashes over the permanent rider’s education course, forever joining him with the program he loved.
Mike was my only sibling. We were raised by our grandparents after our mother’s death in 1975. Mike and I had a great upbringing, we never wanted for anything. We enjoyed summer vacations and even a Christmas trip to Disneyland. Mike was smart as a whip; he had an innate talent for mechanics of all types, and fixing things. He left school and went into the navy where his specialty was damage control. Mike’s job was to fix the ship when things went wrong, he also worked on the USS Saigon to get it ready to go back to sea. After Mike left the navy, we had a falling out and didn’t speak for over 20 years. Because of the work of our wives Jodi and Sara, Mike and I were working on reconciling when my middle daughter Erica died. Mike came to the visitation with me. Him attending made it possible for me to make it through that time. I was able to attend Mike’s wedding to Jodi and Mike was at our wedding when I married Sara. Even though we spent so long apart, we were able to make the best of the time we had.
On July 14, 2016, Mike took his life. He left no note. We will never know why.
Mike Right was also known as Mohawk Mike. His Mohawk was rather famous in A.B.A.T.E. circles. Mike would often dye his hair for special events and occasions. I continue this tradition with my mohawk. I often color it in honor of Mike and our friends and family. I have Mike’s memorial patch tattooed on my right shoulder as an homage to him. The mohawk for me is not just a haircut, it is a connection to my brother. I love you Mike, and I miss you terribly.
