R.I.P. Mike Netherland
I learned today that Mike Netherland passed away yesterday. I came to know Mike through his MARC blog and then his political one. We got to the point that we exchanged emails and talked on GoogleTalk enough that we found out that we often were on the same train home in the evenings. So, we eventually wound up meeting up at Union Station waiting for the same MARC train home one night and we would occasionally catch up on that train when both our schedules matched up. Sometimes, we’d talk about it ahead of time. Other times, I’d just look for his hat on the platform or look for him in his usual seat on his usual car.
I knew he was married and had a son who went to Severna Park because he talked about going to a production of a play one weekend when we were sitting across from each other on the train ride home. I knew he was active in the Anne Arundel County GOP and Republican politics in general. I never knew any details about things like his age or other facts from the major to the mundane.
I knew he was working at a federal agency and he got to work from home more often as things progressed. I ended up not making the commute for several months. The last time I saw him was probably sometime prior to July of 2009. We kept talking online and emailed each other and ocasionally traded messages on Facebook. He was on Twitter too (@netherman79) but hadn’t updated in awhile there.
His MARC blogging inspired me to cover MARC issues on this blog when I started my original commute to DC in 2008. I had lots of good talks with Mike whether it was about politics, beer or a number of other subjects. I will miss him and I’m praying for his family and friends.
I don’t know what happened that led to his passing and I’ve scoured the local papers online and the funeral home websites looking for announcements of any arrangements but haven’t found anything yet. If you find an obituary or other announcement online somewhere, please post a link in the comments below.
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The family will receive visitors at Barranco & Sons Funeral Home, 495 Ritchie Hwy, Severna Park, MD (www.barrancofuneralhome.com) on Sunday, March 7th from 2-4 and 6-8 pm. Funeral services will be held at Severna Park United Methodist Church, 731 Benfield Rd, Severna Park, MD on Monday morning, March 8th at 10.
Comment by spatterson — March 5, 2010 @ 12:46 pm
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We commented on each other’s blog a few times. We saw the world differently, but we never argued. He was someone who despite his funny profile pictures, came out as a serious, good, and decent man. Rest in Peace.
Comment by InsaneBaltimore — March 5, 2010 @ 12:57 pm
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If you have not heard, it is with the deepest of regret that I write to inform you of the sudden death of Mike Netherland. Those who knew Mike, knew that if he was your friend, he was your friend for life. The following link is to a blogspot of Mike’s. http://mikenetherland.blogspot.com/
Neither the photo nor the blogspot do him real justice — but they do show a bit of the marvelous sense of humor and great intellect of the man, Mike Netherland.
Mike and I found each other — and I don’t remember the how or the why, but I do know that it was either through the Elephant Club or the Internet whose electronic ocean we both would flood with messages that were usually political. We both seemed to recognize in each other that at our hearts we were CONSERVATIVES who also happened to be Republicans. Mike was passionate for America. He loved the United States of America with the same passion that he loved his family. His father, Bill, Mike’s very favorite friend, was finishing the terrible task of writing the obituary for his beloved son when he took the time to speak to me this morning.
Writ LARGE IN MY HEART ABOUT MIKE was his unsolicited but very deeply appreciated defense of me when I was being attacked by Democrats (which I considered a badge of honor) and some Republicans. Perhaps you never knew, or don’t remember, but last June, I posted a message on the web site of the Republican Women of Anne Arundel County (at the time I was the RWAAC President) where I compared the LEGISLATIVE TACTICS of President Barack Hussein Obama to the blitzkrieg tactics used by Adolph Hitler during World War II. I stated then and I believe to this day that the massive spending being directed by Obama would be as destructive to the future well-being — indeed even to the very survival of the United States — as was the blitzkrieg bombing of European cities by Hitler in World War II. Thanks to the generosity and the defense provided by the United States of America, Europe survived and prospered. If we allow the United States to fall from within — who will come to our rescue?
As a few of my “friends” ran from me — MIKE NETHERLAND ran directly into the core of the battle. He defended me (I was in Denver with my then 95-year old Mother with no computer access). Mike Netherland entered the war of words with gusto — and he never flinched. Mike Netherland stepped forward and began taking the attacks himself. And I was blessed to have SO MANY OTHER TRUE FRIENDS STEP FORWARD TO STAND BY ME.
I was always comforted to know that Mike Netherland (and Bill Netherland) were always there. They are true friends.
I have to assume that God has decided to get active on the Internet — and thus He called Mike Netherland to Him to take over that part of the heavenly work. God has made a GREAT CHOICE — but I will miss MIKE NETHERLAND very much.
Should you care to send a note of condolence to Mike’s family, their address:
Mrs. Dianne Netherland, 514 Oakham Court, Severna Park, MD 21146-1727
Mr. William H. Netherland, 103 Rustic Ridge Road, Severna Park, MD 21146-4108
The family will receive visitors at Barranco & Sons Funeral Home, 495 Ritchie Hwy, Severna Park, MD (www.barrancofuneralhome.com) on Sunday, March 7th from 2-4 and 6-8 pm. Funeral services will be held at Severna Park United Methodist Church, 731 Benfield Rd, Severna Park, MD on Monday morning, March 8th at 10.
Best personal regards. Joyce
Comment by Joyce E. Thomann — March 5, 2010 @ 7:00 pm
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Jeff, this is so sad. Thanks for your post.
[The Pillage Idiot (http://pillageidiot.blogspot.com/ – http://twitter.com/pillageidiot) – just told me the news…
I will keep his family in my prayers. Kevin Dayhoff
Comment by Kevin Dayhoff — March 6, 2010 @ 8:58 pm
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I know it has been a long time since this has been posted so i dont know if you have found anything out about what happened but i thought i would let you know that he died tragically of an epileptic siezure at the young age of 48. he was a great man and, as you should know, anyone who has had the chance to meet him will always remember what a wonderful man he was. he has a son and daughter who are just like him. i am his niece and i was very close to him. thank you for writing this about him, and i am glad that you were one of the few people who had the wonderful opportunity to meet a man as great as my uncle.
Comment by katie — November 20, 2010 @ 12:35 am