Michael Mustacchi, a member of our club since 2011, passed away last month after a long battle with leukemia. Here are some memories of Michael:
For several years, Michael devoted countless hours to recording the events that transpired during the RYLA camp. From the moment he arrived, he was busy capturing all aspects of the three-day leadership experience – from the newly arrived campers as they stepped off the bus to the final day, when he took all the group pictures. In his spare moments he would sift through all the photos to select and edit them on site. His keen eye would spot those photos that best displayed the excitement of the campers as they engaged in personal development, leadership, and teamwork exercises. By the afternoon the final day, he had assembled a slideshow of the camp highlights that was shown during the closing ceremony.
—David Dye
When I first started attending Club events, I noticed that Michael was always present, always warm, and always smiling. He made you feel welcomed.
—Dora Dye
Mike was a sweet, genuine person who was always willing to take the time to talk.
—Harold Hoogasian
Michael Mustacchi was in my networking group called the San Francisco Executives Association. Of course, he was in the photographer category. One very nice thing he did for me and Bob was at our second marriage, this one in the context of Gavin Newsom's City Hall when gay marriage was legal for a month...or two. He volunteered that he would like to photograph our wedding and provided us with his services at no cost. He recorded all of the wedding at City Hall in beautiful photographs that we cherish to this day. What a wonderful guy. Always smiling, never frowning.
—Dan Joraanstad
One of the speakers at one of our meetings was a specialist in networking and asked the audience to write down the names of all the “organizations” where they were members. Going around the room, Michael was at the top with over 20 clubs and groups he was a part of. This one incident was a testament to the person we all knew through various groups, because for Michael it was more than networking. It was who he was: connected all across our great city, high and low, with a smile and a warm quip. Michael was known for his generosity, his love of fun and friends, his loyalty to people and “organizations”.
In the last months of his life, Michael did what he loved: connecting with friends and bringing them closer; his incredible marriage to one incredible woman, Honey Mannix; visiting at home with old friends; showing up at a breakfast meetings; laughing and joking. This was vintage Michael Mustacchi. All of which we, his friends, will sadly miss.
—John Mathers
Michael was special to Stephanie and me. He was one of 6 people at our wedding. And while the concept of a surprise wedding was new to him, he must have liked it because he did the same thing!
I’ll remember his enthusiasm to help in the kitchen. He helped cooking at the Salvation Army for a few years - both at Harbor Light and the central kitchen - to bring lunches over to The Arc. He had so much fun being with the Rotarians and the kitchen staff of the Salvation Army that he would forget why he was there. He would wander off or get sidetracked... that was just Michael. He has the biggest heart of anyone I knew and was willing to share his skill of the perfectly-captured moment with everyone.
—Eric Schmautz