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Jan. 10, 1963 ~ Feb. 10, 2011Michael passed away February 10, 2011 following a battle with cancer. His humor and wonderful smile will be missed. |
Michael’s memorial was held at the Powerhouse park property in Del Mar, California, on Saturday April 30th, 2011. Michael’s family and friends showed up to celebrate his life on a beautiful sunny Saturday next to the beach. Sydney Thorburn, Chris and Shawn Rogers, Brent Burton, Michael’s wife Gerri, and many others put together some wonderful food and shared stories. The video below starts with Brent Burton, a close friend of Michael’s, honoring a great human being. He is followed by Shawn Rogers, Michael’s mother Portia, Eric Russell, and others remembering Michael’s life. If you have some additional pictures to share please upload them to our photograph section.
To celebrate and remember Michael’s life a memorial has been planned for Saturday April 30th at the Powerhouse Park in Del Mar (15th street and the coast). Food, drink, and a paddle-out will take place between 10 AM and 2 PM.
Please RSVP via Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=195076783866078 or send an email to mikesmemorial@tphs1981.org
Unfortunately, I can only be there in spirit. Mike was one of my closest friends growing up and one of my best memories was during our junior year. For Homecoming that season we decided to ditch (Mike was AMAZING at coming up with the proper documents) and spent the morning surfing Tower 7… I know, not the best thing to do game day!!! Yet, it didn’t stop us. Late in the game at a critical moment against Mt. Miguel, Mike caught a deep post and all I could see when I got up was Mike trying to get into the end zone on his elbows!!! We use to spend hours working on our timing in the summer there, or at 15th street. I miss him.
Ahhh Michael what fond memories. I would give him a ride to school in the A.M. we would laugh all the way to TPHS. No need listing to the radio when Mike was in the car , He was the entertainment !
I’m up in the Pacific NW and will not be able to attend. I will be there in Spirit.
Aloha to a great friend and a great person
My memories of Mike was of us going to and from EWjr. high on bus #5 with Mr. Lane … oh we were not so nice to that really old man . He did have a wicked sense of humor and was always making us laugh . Loved seeing him at the 25th. reunion … Happy and smiling .
Where to begin??? Mike was truly a brother to me…we first met when I was just days old and he was 3 months. As we grew up we went to school together, joined 4-H together, our families camped and hung out at Tower 5 and at our houses, we shared a love of food and cooking and especially just hanging out, playing poker and talking. Mike’s booming voice, his energy and his gift of gab would fill a room and I am thankful that I was his friend so that now I have all those wonderful memories of him having fun.
When Mike was truly suffering from his therapy, experiencing a lack of hunger and his tumors were causing him so much pain, Mike and I would talk about cooking. He would love to describe the flavors of a special recipe he had made or expand on one that we had made together…the last meal we actually ate together was a clam bake where Mike had suggested we use portabello mushrooms, which was a perfect addition…now, that recipe has been rewritten to include his touch.
Mike, I am going to miss you terribly! My eyes are welling up with tears as I write this and I can’t really see the screen any more…It isn’t fair that your life ended so soon, you had many, many years left in you!
I miss you!
Sydney
So wonderful that you knew Michael for so long Sydney. What an amazing gift your friendship was to both of you.
Wow…hard to believe that he is gone. I think from the moment I met him in second grade, I knew I wanted to be his friend. On the composite picture from Mr. McPhee’s class, my mother wrote that Mike and I were”best friends.” I am sure that reflected more my desire than the actual truth. Everybody wanted Mike to be their best friend and that never changed throughout his life. In a sense, he represented the class of ’81, and thus, we have lost one of our leaders.
Like everyone, I have a million stories I could share, but I guess the best story I can tell is that everyone loved him.
Armbruster – Blue Oyster Cult – he loved them! 10th Grade Chemistry class – he was a great student, and VERY enthusiastic in life. Sh.t happens… as we all know. I wish his soul well….. Really admired his LOVE and Joy of Life…
My favorite Mike Armbruster story ends with Mike holding my hair as I vomited
Our U S History teacher had us get into groups to cover aspects of certain eras. My “colonial” group was all female, so Mike made sure he joined us. He offered to present the food people ate during colonial times. The day of the presentation, he shows up with Beer Bread and “Plantation Loaf.” The plantation loaf was tasty indeed- sorta tasted like a funky zucchini bread. I liked it so much I had four pieces. In less than half an hour, I turned as green as the bread and my world started spinning. Mike followed me outside where I crawled around on the grass hurling. Michael always knew how to spice up a recipe:)
Very funny memory Katie! Doubt it was that hilarious when it was happening though! Mike really was an “original!”
Thinking back to that story, we were all lucky to have Mr. Greenstein as our US History teacher. Can you imagine what would have happened if that had occurred today? I heard Simeon is still in the area and we need to get him to come to our reunion!
Greenstein was the best teacher I’ve EVER had. He cared very deeply for all of his students and made learning history a blast. I ran into him early last year at Ferguson’s Garage in Encinitas so I know he’s in the area. I’ll work on finding him for our happy hour.
Katie’s story is hilarious. I moved to Del Mar in 4th grade and had Mike in my classes until I left high school way too early in 10th grade. Mike was smart, exuberant and funny and I got into a lot of trouble with him in class–though I almost felt sorry for the teachers and our ability to outsmart them. Mike also let me copy off his science homework to balance out the times I fell to one of his pranks. For years after I would see him on the beach and he would give me that dazzling smile, squeeze me way too tight and start on his outrageous stories. Back then, I would have predicted such different things for Mike I am sorry he suffered. I am sorry he is gone. I hope we all take the lesson and suck the juice out of every minute of life we get, as Mike would if he were here.
Live and love each and every day to it’s fullest, for tomorrow is guaranteed to no one. Mike certainly had his priorities straight!
Michael,
I just found out this morning and was heartbroken…..you were a true friend to me. We used to take long walks along the slew from your house; just up the hill from Carmel Valley Road; all the way to tower 7. I would bake for you and visa versa. I was so happy to see you at the 10th reunion and you were so shocked I had been married for 11 years. Now married for over 20 I can still say I have very fond memories of you and you will be missed. My mom always thought of you as the ‘perfect gentleman’ when you would join our family gatherings and cookouts at tower 7…….always made sure you showed up right before the steak and baked potatoes came off the fire….
Will miss you.
Lee
As I look back on Arm as the leader and role model that he was, I am actually more struck by how down to earth he was. Sure he was friendly w/the stars and the beauties, but also with us regular folks. And we all miss him. We miss him for several reasons, but I’ll just point out here that he was Always a super fun guy to be around. Whether I was passing him the ball in the low post or passing him a joint, we were Always having a great time. A great competitor in sports, even when he wasn’t the team’s star he gave the game 100%; at one point basically ruining his knee as he gave his all to grab a rebound. In closing, I will note that Mike always had a great suntan and that was probably what killed him. To all my friends, classmates, and more importantly your kids: Please, when you are in the sun, wear a hat and tons of sunscreen. Maybe that’s Mike’s final favor to all of us: Saving some of our kids from his sad fate. Thanks for everything Arm, we all miss ya.
So many great memories of a great person…Little League together for so many years on the windy fields at Del Mar Heights Elementary – Mike was always our star shortstop and best hitter. So many years in school together (K-12), and great memories of high school basketball at TPHS. A great friend, a great teammate, a great person. I’d bump into Mike every now and then when I’d visit San Diego, and he never lost that wonderful spirit. I didn’t know him as an adult like many of you did, but I will always cherish my memories of the years we spent together when we were young.
I was very saddned to hear of Mike’s passing, not to mention, shocked. I’d known Mike since the 7th grade at Earl Warren. He and I started out mostly as competitors, as he had come from Del Mar and I from Solana Beach; he was the best hoops player in his school/area and I in mine. As the HS years progressed, we always maintained a very respectful and friendly relationship, though we never really hung out. The last time I saw him was about twenty years ago in Del Mar, as I was waiting for a train, and he was headed to work at the Del Mar Pacifica. He still had that wonderful vibrant, if not, intense energy about him. In an odd sort of way, I feel like a part of my childhood has passed with his passing; I will miss knowing that he is alive and well. As Michael Landon said shortly before his passing, and as I know our Mike would concur: “Live every day guys”.
I was very sorry to hear about Mike’s passing. We shared a lot of moments at “Tower-7.” Many Springs & Summers.
Mike and I grew up together throughout roughly the 6th grade, then through the Torrey Pines H.S. era. Then, as many people, we went our separate ways.
I was not as close to him as many of the other people who’ve posted here, but I did consider him a friend from childhood, and I am truly sorry to hear of this recent news.
Mike- Class of ’81 will never be forgotten, nor will you.
Sincerely,
Justin Irvin T.P.H.S. / Class of 1981
Mike was definately a vibrant character kind of a George Hamilton, Burt Lancaster , Charleton Heston , Woody Harrelson all rolled into one . I think he even attended a party at the Playboy Mansion . My condolences to his wife, family & friends. See you on the other side Mike .
How funny our busy little lifes can be brought to momentary halt by the news of the passing of an old friend you have not seen or even thought of since High School.
Mike was a friend at school and at our favorite surf spot so many of us shared and I now share with my own kids. Looking at the posted photos of Mike, I can hear his voice asking me some ridiculous question or making a boast of some sort.
I will not be joining the paddle out as that and reuniouns are not my thing. Though Mike I am thinking of you now and pray you were one with our maker and he is holding you close. We will all be along soon enough.
This world feels a little emptier knowing you have gone home. My condolences to your family.
Sincerly
Mel Lofftus