MICHAEL LOUIS LANZA: Sept. 29, 1955 to Aug. 16, 2014
Michael Lanza of 102 Shore Lane, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee passed away Saturday, August 16 after a long illness.
Michael leaves behind his two children: Daughter, Jaqueline Lanza, Bel Air, MD, and son, Brain Lanza, Baltimore, MD. His mother: Patricia Lanza, Fairfield Glade, TN, and father: Richard J. Lanza of Melbourne, FL
In addition his sisters: Debbie Lanza Donathan, Hampton, GA, Martha Lanza, Westbrookville, NY, Melissa Lanza, Wurtsboro, NY, Elizabeth Lanza Copeland, Hopewell, NJ and brother: Richard A. Lanza, Stratford, CT
Preceding Michael was his sister Judith Lanza Bakunas, Westfield, NJ, in 2001, his grandmother, Mamie Webb Hair, Orange Park, FL, grandfather, George Neal, Springfield, IL and paternal grandparents Richard and Suzanne Lanza, Eatontown, NJ.
Born in Jacksonville, FL, Michael was the forth child in a family of seven children. His father, a career Navy man, moved the family to New Jersey in 1973 where Michael began his college years. Michael worked his way through Brookdale Community College, earning an Associate Degree in Art. He then entered Kean College (now University) in 1980. Michael graduated Kean University, in Edison, NJ, a with a BA in Fine Arts.
After graduation he served two years in The Peace Corp, in Tunisa, Africa. During this time he also visited many other countries semi-satisfying his hunger for travel. When he returned from Tunisa he worked in the family business, Lanza’s Country Inn, Livingston Manor, NY and a local printing company in Liberty, NY.
After he married, Pam Heller, he worked in sales in a container company in Edison, NJ and later created his own business, Convergence LLC, in Bel Air, MD. Convergence was a very successful commercial printing company that allowed Michael to retire in 2005 and move to Fairfield Glade, TN.
Michael loved fishing the lakes of the Glade and cars: Jeeps, Fords, Dodges, Mercedes, Lincolns, and Mustangs. He also loved the Florida Keys and Caribbean Islands where he fished and enjoyed deep sea diving.
Michael leaves behind his two children, a large loving family including several aunts, uncles, brother and sister in laws, cousins, nieces, nephews and a great niece and great nephew. He will be greatly missed.
In lieu of other services there will be an open house visitation at 102 Shore Lane from 5 to 9 on Wednesday for family, friends and neighbors.
It’s Dec. 8 and I just found out that Michael passed away in August.
I’m very sad because I never really got to say goodbye to Michael.
I was just the guy who fixed his computer but I got to know Michael quite well over the years.
Michael was a very nice and honest person and I will miss him very much. We had some good conversations and he was so “down to earth”. He talked a lot about his kids and his adventures to the Florida Keys, and many other things.
I will miss you Michael. Goodbye my friend.