VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!

Tom Test · DC Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 625 Location: Chicago, IL

I have very sad news to share. I sent a PM to Mike Sommer a few days back, and today, I got this message from his brother:
"To those of you who have corresponded with Mike, I would like to let you know that Mike (my brother) passed away this last Thursday.

I don’t have any more information to pass forward at this time...

Regards,

David Sommer"
I replied to his brother, expressing my admiration for Mike. Mike's brother replied "My family appreciates your help. My brother was a great man and I devastated by losing him....David" So it sounds to me that his family would appreciate if we spread the message. Mike must have been having correspondence and work with many clients, I would imagine, and having to track them all down must be very sad for his family. So I'm going to try and tactfully let the community know as best I can.

Mike Sommer was very active and incredibly generous with his expertise in this forum. If you know of anyone who was working with Mike, please pass the sad news along to them and help make the difficult work of follow-up that much easier on his family.
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Tom Test
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bobsouer · Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 7:04 pm Post subject:

Tom,

Thank you for posting this. What terribly sad news, indeed. Rest in peace, Mike.
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Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
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tokyofan · Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 7:23 pm Post subject: re:

That is incredibly sad and sudden! I met Mike at Voice 2010 qnd he's always been extremely generous with his time and knowledge. What a shocker!
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cyclometh · Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 7:40 pm Post subject:

He will be sorely missed.
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Corey "Vox Man" Snow
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georgethetech · Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 8:02 pm Post subject:

I am deeply saddened by the news of Mike's passing... He was so incredibly generous with his time and knowledge, he forever changed the way I work with voiceover studios. He and I co-presented a clinic at the Don LaFontaine Voiceover Lab every month. So ironic that I had to reschedule the event, which should have been last Wednesday... Ugh, my heart aches for his family... We miss you buddy, TWO titans of the tech industry are gone the span of a week. Give Steve Jobs a high five for me, will ya buddy?
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asnively · Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 8:09 pm Post subject:

So very sad. I loved that guy. If you never had the joy of knowing him "in real life," he was a sweet, funny, teddy bear of a man. I will miss him very much. Frown

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JTVG · Backstage Pass Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 433

This really is shocking. Mike was one of the most generous people I know with the amount of knowledge he shared. When I built my studio last fall, he was immeasurably helpful and asked for nothing in return. You could write a book out of the posts he made on here helping people out with their room treatments and mic choices. I will miss his contributions, but most of all his presence & friendship to many of us here. May we all be so willing to freely share our expertise.
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Joe Szymanski
http://www.joethevoiceguy.com

Jen Gosnell · Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 8:59 pm Post subject:

I was absolutely shocked to see this and very sad. Though our interactions were only online and not extensive, Mike had certainly earned my respect and admiration.

He was someone I had looked forward to getting to know better. I'm sad that now, that won't be possible.

My condolences to his family, and to all of you who called him friend.
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whalewtchr · Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 9:04 pm Post subject:

This news is so very sad, my heart goes out to his family, I never met Mike in person but learned so much from his participation and generosity on this board, Mike will be missed.
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jonahcummings

georgethetech · Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 9:07 pm Post subject:

Jan Anderson · Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 9:17 pm Post subject:

I'll second what Jen has already stated.
I certainly benefited from his generosity and candor. I'm saddened by his passing and I feel for those that knew him better than I.

cyclometh · Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 9:21 pm Post subject:

Dan-O · The Gates of Troy Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Posts: 1636

Eddie Eagle · M&M Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 2393

Truly bummed to hear this news. Eternal gratitude for all of Mike's generosity.

todd ellis · Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 2:05 pm Post subject:

i think the book idea is great - i have some (small) publishing connections and i'll do what i can to help - gathering - editing - layout - whatever. i am thinking, to paraphrase jeff kafer from another thread

"Your Studio Sounds Like Ass! and here's how to fix it."
In loving Memory of Mike Sommer

we could have pithy "mike quotes" to start every chapter - like this gem from august: