Remembering 'Newspaper Guy,' Mike Etzkin

"Mike Etzkin was a 'Newspaper Guy' through and through. He could write a good story, lay out the paper, and then write the headlines. "He could do it all," said Loraine O'Connell about her former Orlando Sentinel co-worker and spouse of 26 years.

Etzkin died on Aug. 17, 2021, in Altamonte Springs, Fla., at the age of 74. After retiring from the Sentinel in 2007, he served as an award-winning editor of the Heritage Florida Jewish News until 2013. O'Connell added, "Mike will always be remembered for his willingness to help. If there was a crisis pressing down, he always did what needed to be done. He was totally unflappable both in his professional and personal life. He was an extremely happy person."

His affection for the newspaper business is showcased in the couple's Longwood home, where an extensive collection of die-cast miniature newspaper delivery trucks is on display.

Etzkin knew he wanted to be a journalist from an early age. Former Sentinel senior staffer and colleague Lisa Roberts agreed that Etzkin had a unique talent for delivering the news. "Mike was the consummate newspaperman. He lived and breathed his profession - he had 'ink in his veins,' as we say."

After graduating from Kent state with a bachelor's degree in Journalism, Etzkin pursued his other passion - travel. He backpacked throughout Europe, maintaining friendships with fellow travelers for more than 50 years.

The planning was as much fun for Etzkin as the traveling. He loved the logistics.

"His travel coverage, in particular, was lyrical, and his passion for travel came through loud and clear. His stories made people want to pack up and explore the world. His careful planning of Travel sections included something for everyone, whether it was outside adventures, dining suggestions or visiting a little-known-but-sensational museum," added Roberts.

Etzkin worked at several Ohio newspapers before moving with his first wife, Naomi Rosenfield, and their two sons to Orlando in 1979, where he took a position with the Orlando Sentinel.

"He was a crack editor and writer, no matter the beat," said Roberts. "When first arriving at the Sentinel in the 1970s, his first assignment was sports, which was one of his passions. He transitioned to the news features department later in his career, where his posts included Travel editor and the editor of TV Times magazine. Whatever the assignment, Mike threw his whole heart into it."

No matter where he worked in the Sentinel newsroom, "Mike's newspaper colleagues will always remember the cheerfulness he brought to the newsroom," Roberts said. "It was his brand, and it was genuine. No matter what the day held, he approached it with a bucketful of optimism. He was the kind of person you wanted in your circle - kind, considerate and cheerful."

Former Sentinel colleague Ken Paskman concurred.

"I had the pleasure to work with Mike in the early '80s when I was hired into the Sentinel Sports Department," Paskman said. "Mike offered his guidance and friendship to this very green kid, who was new to the business and sports department in particular ... He was always happy to explain concepts and answer questions without hesitation and always did so with his unique and infectious sense of humor. Even during stressful deadlines Mike kept his cool and always had a smile and laugh with everyone around. In between editions a Dr. Pepper and Moon Pie break were in order!"

O'Connell and Etzkin met as colleagues in the news features department, where they developed a friendship and became a couple a few years after his divorce.

"Mike made it easy to like him," O'Connell said. "Everyone at the Sentinel and in our department loved Mike. He was just one of those people who got along with everyone. His attitude at work and at home was if the work got done, and was done right, there was no reason to not have fun. He was the same way in his personal life. He loved to have fun and he wanted people around him to have fun."

Etzkin was a loving father to sons Josh and Robby, as well as a loving uncle to his nephews Dave and Brian - his twin brother Allan's sons. In fact, the two always enjoyed their advantage of being identical "mirror" twins - one was left-handed, the other right-handed. The boys remember a "prank" Mike played on them once when Allan and his wife, Bunny, were away. The boys had a party, which included beer. Mike knew about the party and crashed it - completely terrifying the partiers who thought he was Allan. Uncle Mike though, came in and sat down and asked for a beer - much to the partygoers' relief.

As long as his boys applied themselves and did well at school, he thought nothing of taking them out of school for a few days during spring training. They would travel to various baseball parks around the state of Florida to watch spring training games.

While growing up in Milwaukee, a young Mike played baseball in the Pony League alongside Allan. As an adult, he continued his athletic pursuits with the Sentinel basketball team and the JCC's softball league.

"My dad was actually MVP of the JCC league in 1988!," Robby recalled.

Mike's love for football came close to his love of baseball. The Packers were his home team, and he was a proud Packer Backer, as well as a Cleveland Browns fan. A highlight of his life was when he and his sons, nephews, and two brothers went to a game at Lambeau field, home of the Green Bay Packers.

"The Packers game was a blast for all seven of us," recalled Robby Etzkin. "Since a lot of their childhood was spent in Wisconsin, they grew up Packers' fans. My brother and I, along with our cousins, Brian and David, organized the trip for our dads, and their older brother, our Uncle Steve. We ended up going to a game in November in Wisconsin," Robby said. "It was ridiculously cold, which while miserable at times, added to the authenticity of being at historic Lambeau Field. We also stopped long the way at memorable childhood spots. It was like going back in time and reliving their childhoods with them."

After almost 30 years at the Sentinel, Etzkin retired and was looking forward to a slower-paced way of life. Jeff Gaeser, owner of the Heritage Florida Jewish News, approached him with an offer for an editorship position. Mike thought a weekly paper highlighting Orlando's Jewish community would be a good fit and accepted the job.

Etzkin had been an active member of Central Florida's Jewish community for almost 30 years.

"Being a good Jewish man was important to him," O'Connell said. "He loved his traditions. He lit Friday night candles, celebrated the high holidays, and was very proud of being Jewish. He did his mitzvahs, volunteering with Congregation Ohev Shalom's Ma'asim Tovim program, helping to feed the homeless."

In 2012, The Heritage won a third place award for general excellence in the Florida Press Association's Better Weekly newspaper contest. O'Connell said Mike was very proud to win that award under his leadership. 

Mike retired a second time, this time from the Heritage in 2013 after being diagnosed with a variant of Parkinson's disease, Multiple System Atrophy. After retirement he participated in a Parkinson's exercise class three times per week.

"He was vigilant about his exercising," O'Connell said, "which his doctors agreed helped fend off the effects of MSA longer than would have been the case otherwise."

Roberts recalls many shared dinners. "We got together many times during his long fight with MSA," she said. "He never complained about the hand he was dealt. Instead, he let his good humor and optimism light the way."

When asked about his father's legacy, Robby responded, "I think my brother and I are his legacy, and that he raised us to be humble, Jewish people."

In memory of Michael B. Etzkin, the family requests contributions to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (giftfunds@ninds.nih.gov).