in April, 2009 at NAB our community lost a dear friend and colleague Michael Vitti.

Below are just some of the posts to the MediaMotion Email lists from people that knew Michael both professionally and as a friend...

Michael was absolutely full of life and very excited to be here at NAB. He's been such a driving force in this community, and a selfless volunteer for the IMUG and many other user groups and trade organizations, from the Supermeet, to Mopictiv, and much more. Tonight we will be toasting to celebrate his life at the Media Motion Café, and tomorrow night's Supermeet will also be dedicated to him. Mike would want us to remember all the good times and camaraderie we shared!

Carey Dissmore

A great character. What a loss. Sad, sad day.
Raise a glass to his memory!

Chris Davies

It is a very sad news. I have never met Michael in person but he was always kind of sharing his knowledge with many lists in our business.

David Baud

Truly sad news...
Michael was one of those incredibly selfless guys on this list... always
eager to help, always generous with his knowledge.  A real beacon... I will
miss his light.

Here's to Mik...

Robert Griffiths

Words just don't come to expressing my sadness and shock regarding this horrifying news. I'll raise a glass tonight to the loss of a dear friend...

Dan Spiess

Mike was one of my favorite people met I've through IMUG and always enjoyed his company at NAB, especially after hours. As others have noted, he was selfless and caring, here and on the AE list, and he will be deeply missed.

Mike will always be remembered fondly.

Paul Izbicki

My heart lays heavy and my mind grows numb with this loss. Mik was a mentor, a dear friend and a business maven. For many years, we bounced things off each other from documentaries to new business ventures. Mike's spirit was always upbeat and he had a calming way about him I always admired. He was very smart too; book smart but street smart as well. He had an uncanny ability to bring people together no matter what the differences were. I will miss my friend and my hope is that the impact and selfless resolve he showed will be continued in his memory through all the lives he touched. My life is enriched because of Michael Vitti. God bless us all with the strength to stand tall in his memories.

Sincerely,

Dean Eric Forss

Mike was a very close friend who always was there for me when those inevitable periods of self doubt would in. We spent hours talking on the phone and in person, both about personal matters, technical issues and creative concepts. When I mentioned how much I missed spending time in NY, he made sure to book me to speak at various events in the city. He was funny, smart, and incredibly hard working.

I was actually trying to find him this afternoon when I heard of his passing.  Like many others in the IMUG and the Mopic. Collective in NY, I will miss him deeply.

Rob Birnholz

Mik, wherever you are, you made a positive difference all around the world.

Piers Goodhew

I didn't know him in person, yet he was always so generous to us all and to me personally with his time and knowledge.
This is for me a new, yet - as it turns out - no less real experience: The loss of a cyber-friend.

Diego Schaaf

Very sad day for the IMUG.  God bless his family and may he RIP.

Mike Gorga

Talk about a time-stopping piece of news ... I think of his family, suffering, excruciating, and wish I could send my woefully inadequate condolences.

Robert Walker

I'm at a real loss.  It's hard to believe.  Mik so often showed us his noble soul.  He always seemed to impart selflessness with a zest for so many things, and you couldn't help but be lifted by his bright light of a creative spirit.  I know I'll miss him on the list and off.

Eric Darling

This is by far the saddest thing I have heard.
The last time I was at NAB, which has been all too long, Michael and I had a lot of conversations about where the industry was going.  I found his incites to be on the money at that time and has always valued his input on this list as well as others that he contributed to.
May God bless his family at time of sorrow.
We have lost one of the good ones.

Richard Mills

I'm stunned. My condolences to Mik's family.

Steve Zaransky

I'm shocked and angry. Mik, you set us all such a fine example in so many ways, it was always a joy and a pleasure be in contact with you. Thanks for all the good times, and they were all good times.

Ben Daube

Truly shocking and sad news.  Michael was always so giving of his time and expertise on this list. I'll miss his insights and opinions.  

Rod Wellman

All my condolences to Michael's family and friends.  A tragic loss for all of us...

Douglas Blush

I am truly stunned. I consider Mik, and all of the regulars here, as
friends, some quite close and Mik's definitely been in the latter group.

I'll always remember his quick smile, his generosity, and our "dueling cameras" at the Sahara a couple of years ago. I'm glad I got to know him on the list and in person.

Rest in Peace my Friend,

Ronnie Day

I just don't know what to say. Shocked, saddened...stunned. I feel horrible, selfishly for me, and for his family and friends.

Dave Bittner

I had the pleasure of getting to know Michael over the last few years...  we roomed together and helped each other (mostly Michael helping me) and I've always enjoyed his zest for life - so sorry to hear the news... I will always remember him.

Robert Broussard

Speechless.
My sympathies to those that knew him and his family.

Gary Berendsen

This is so sad
Michael was a good human being and I was so glad that he touched my life

Steve Kahn

I was shocked and saddened to hear that about Michael. While I never met him, he was very helpful to me both on and off list.  I'll miss him.

Pete Matulavich

So sad, almost unbelieveable.

It is absolutely shocking when such things happen.
I hope his family will accept my deepest sympathies.

Although I newer met him personally, or any other from this group, for that matter, I will deeply miss his invaluable contributions to our
discussions.

Jens Bager

Can't believe this. I just spoke with Mike only a week ago to talk about a job coming up for him to work. Damn. Mike will be sorely missed. I considered him a friend and will greatly miss our conversations, his jubilant laugh and his infectious smile.
Jeff Handy

My condolences to Mike's family and all of you who were close to him.

Timothy O'Brien

What a terrible shock. Michael was one-of-a-kind, filled with incredible enthusiasm and community spirit. He was dedicated to the Motion Pictures Collective in New York and worked hard at creating a community based on the art of storytelling. He'll be greatly missed. What a sad day for the IMUG community.

Stuart Math

While I rarely say much, I have benefitted greatly from Mik Vitti's
knowledge and insights and, though I don't know him personally, feel that I have lost a valued and knowledgeable colleague.

Andy Bobrow

Very sad and shocking news. What a loss!  MIke and I had just been discussing an upcoming job at Thursdays Mopictiv meeting and he was looking forward to NAB. 

Daniel Epstein

I am shocked.  How terribly sad.  What a great loss to his family, his friends and the community.

Though we never met face to face, I always knew I could count on Mik.  The breadth of his knowledge and his willingness to share it so freely made him a friend and mentor to the entire IMUG community. Whenever I posted a question, no matter how basic, I was always pleased--and never surprised--to see that the first (and, sometimes, the only) response came from Michael.

That's the mark of a true gentleman.  
His presence in this forum will be missed.

My condolences to his family.

Mike Raff

The last time I was at NAB, I had a chance to talk with Michael for quite a while at the MMB.  Smart, knowledgeable and witty.  One of the best of a great group.

A sad loss to us all.

Eric Fitzgerald

I wish that I had a chance to thank him for his help and advice
through the years.
He's one of those guys who is always there, and you never realize
how invaluable and irreplaceable he is.

JH

Mik wouldn't care about the thanks. He'd prefer to see us all give of
ourselves as he did. Continuing his legacy of hard work, friendship
and freely giving to help others (including complete strangers) is how we can keep his spirit alive and his presence with us.

Jim Kanter

Sad to hear that. I will keep him and his family in my thoughts and prayers.

David Torno

This is almost incomprehensible. Truly sad news.
Not only a tragic loss for Michael's family, but for the AE & IMUG communities as well.

Jon Diener

I've only known Michael from his posts here and Michael was a Good Guy! His answers were good and even his questions were an insightful read. A very sad day indeed. Thoughts and prayers for him and his family.

Broadcast Gems

I am so saddened to hear of Michael's passing. He was a great and generous member of our community and will be sadly missed by all of us.

All my thoughts and best wishes to all who knew him, particularly to his family.

Angie Taylor

As a lurker here I felt I had started to know him through his posts and am saddened by his passing. I can't begin to imagine the sorrow of others that knew him well. My prayers are with you and with his family.

Many of his posts are still in my email folders.

John McClary

My condolences  to his family and friends, it's a sad day for all of us...

Geoffroy Lauzon

Add our prayers and condolences for Michael's family. He seemed to be a truly good guy. We'll miss him on the list(s).

Benny Christensen

As an occasional poster/ primary lurker, I have never met Michael. However, I have read many of his posts and was always entertained and interested in what he had to add to the conversation. While I didn't know him personally, I am still saddened by the loss in our community.  My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and the people here who knew him.

Seth Hancock

I only knew him through the list here as well, and he'd been helpful on many of my issues, and extremely cordial.

Not only did I appreciate him, I appreciate all of you who are there for us on a daily or regular basis.

Jim Curtis

My condolences to his family and friends.

Frank Wylie

I am also so shocked and saddened about Michael. He was a very kind person and talented photographer. I will miss him and I'm so sad about his passing.

Michele Yamazaki

Since so many of us just new and appreciated Michael from here, is there some gesture as a group we could offer to his family to let them know how many people he touched in positive way?

Stephen van Vuuren

I knew Michael for many years, starting from when I installed his first non-linear editing system back in the mid-90s. He was a wonderful, friendly, down-to-earth guy, highly supportive of both the digital media community and me personally. I'll miss him.

Richard Lainhart

Wow, I can't believe it.  He was the leader of the mopictive group here in NY, and very often attended other user group meetings.  He always contributed greatly.

I remember when NYC tried to clamp down on photography he went and met with the NYC Mayors Office of Film board and talked sense to them.  They wound up coming to a mopictive meeting and explaining the situation after they basically backed down from their position.

Michael was always full of energy and a great help to the community.
He will indeed be missed.

John Celia

My condolences to Michaels family and the many friends he had across all the communities he was so active in. While I only knew him through this list I have a number of his posts for reference and he will be greatly missed.

Tony Hayes

When I saw Michael's name repeated many times on this list, my heart sank.
He was a true friend when I first arrived in NYC, and never failed to help out with advice.
He is going to be irreplaceable as head of the FCP user group.
Michael, dude, you are missed.

Joe Hill

Mik would light up the room when he arrived with his easy smile and bright outlook on life. He had a way of creating a buzz in the people around him. Always passionate about the things he was doing. His wisdom will be sorely missed.

Steve Griffiths