Regular posts will resume when I return from vacation, but I have some heartbreaking news that needs to be posted on its own, rather than lost amidst a flurry of updates.
Long-time fan and beloved F.U.K.U. member Mike Kozlowski (known to most of us as Mike Ko) passed away this month after a battle with cancer. I always enjoyed interacting with Mike online, as I know many of you did. I’m grateful that I got to hang out with him in person, as well. Whenever I did a signing in New Jersey, I could usually count on Mike showing up to get books signed — often with his fiancee, Dawn, occasionally by himself, and once with his son. He was enthusiastic, kind, witty, thoughtful, and talking to him was always the best part of those appearances.
The last two times Mike and I spoke (at the Asbury Park Zombie Walk and Horrorfind), we talked about my idea for a vampire novel — With Teeth (which will be written later this year). When other long-time fans Dan “UK” Thomas and Bruce “Boo” Smith passed away, I dedicated Castaways to them. I’ll be dedicating With Teeth to Mike. I think he’d have dug that.
Mike’s impact and influence on the writers he supported and the fan community he was a part of can best be summed up in his own words: “What the fuck – I just go from one day to the next trying to help others in need.” Rest in peace, Mike. We will miss you…
Here are some pics of Mike.
Mike and Dawn photo-bomb us on the red carpet at The Ties That Bind premiere (this pic hangs in my office and makes me laugh every time I see it)
Mike Lombardo, Dawn, and Mike (at The Ties That Bind premiere)
Dawn, Director Jeff Heimbuch, and Mike (at The Ties That Bind premiere)
Mike, Dawn, and Matt Blazi (at The Ties That Bind premiere)
Nice guy. I had the pleasure of meeting him and his son in Asbury Park at the zombie walk a few years back. RIP buddy.
Really cool of you to dedicate With Teeth to him.
RIP Mike. My condolences to his family and friends.
So sorry to hear this. He seemed like such a great guy, and how awesome of you to dedicate your new book to him! My thoughts are with his family and friends.
Mike Kozlowski was my going-to-be step father, i am dawn’s son. i found this page through mike’s son “Kyle’s” facebook.
Brian, Typing this page up has picked up my step brothers, you were always mikes favorite author, all of us appreciates this very much! Especially my step father “Mike”
I will be looking forward to “With Teeth”!
Man, that really blows. It seems like Cancer is taking out a lot of awesome people lately.
Also, super excited about you tackling Vampires. That’s something I’ve been hoping for for a while now.
RIP Mike Ko. Mike was on of the guys that made the old Keenedom Message Board a special place with his enthusiasim of the genre.
RIP Mike. Miss you already brother!
Shane: I’m really sorry for your loss. But I’m also heartened that you knew how good of a man your step-dad was and would have been. Please give my condolences to your Mom and to your step-brothers, as well. And keep in touch!
Man, I didn’t know this. This is a real fucking bummer. Mike was a great fuckin guy. Really liked him. Like Tod said, he was one of the dudes on the old Keenedom that I got along with well.
I was also lucky enough to have met him and Dawn at Horrorfind.
What I liked was even though I knew him mostly online when I did finally meet him he was just as cool in real life. (Even if he wasn’t a Red Sox fan
)
He’ll definitely be missed and my thoughts are with Dawn and his family.
We’ll miss ya Mike. We’ll see you on the other side, brother..
RIP Mike. The pic of him and Dawn with me at the Ties premiere is one of my favorite photos. He was always a blast to hang out with and he will be very missed.
Cancer blows.
This is terrible news. Mike, along with Jdar and Wolfnoma, was one of the first people to really reach out to me and make me feel a part of the Keenedom. The forum could be kinda clickish, especially if you weren’t a “made guy”, and I had just about given up on posting there. After about a month away, I posted something and Mike responded with a “Great to see you’re back!” So, I stayed. And I made a few friends, and met some cool folks I never would’ve met without his kindness. But, sadly, I never met Mike.
Dude sure loved his hamster emoticon.
Rest in peace.
Oh no, he was such a nice man. I never met him but I encountered him online and I always thought very well of him. May he rest in peace and may those who love him have peace as well.