Obituary of Michael J Lanza

Michael John Lanza was unexpectedly called home on November 8, 2021 at the age of 58. His warm presence will be forever remembered by his sons, David, Matthew, and Bryan, his mother Shirley, his brother Paul, and his sister Sandy. He will be equally missed by countless other friends and family members whose lives he touched with kindness and faith. Mike’s family was always his highest priority; he was the rock that everyone turned to when they needed help or comfort, no matter the subject. Mike was born and grew up in Bedford, Ohio where he learned the value of hard work and perseverance. As a young boy he delivered newspapers throughout his neighborhood and participated in the Church as an altar server. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and proudly served as a logistics officer for more than a decade. During his time in service, he was stationed at Norton AFB in California, Incirlik AFB in Turkey, and Patrick AFB in Florida. Mike loved to travel and had a lifelong love of experiencing new places and things. After his time with the U.S. Air Force, Mike transitioned to civilian life and held multiple positions with several private organizations, including Sysco Food Services and Bank of America. Eventually he returned to military service and settled into a role with the U.S. Navy as a contract specialist in Orlando, Florida. Mike gave his life to his family; he took great pride in his role as a father and had a passion for being heavily involved in his boys’ sports teams. He coached multiple baseball, football, and basketball teams in addition to starting a chess club at St. Mary’s Catholic School. Always a proponent of continuous improvement, Mike earned his Master of Business Administration degree from Rollins College while balancing his family life and career. Mike retired in 2006 and consistently found new ways to impact the lives of everyone he met. He was never afraid to step outside of his comfort zone to help others. He was a devout Christian who expressed his faith through love, example and prayer. He helped troubled families while volunteering for the Guardian ad Litem program; he sponsored many children and assisted them in education, social activities and much more. He provided guidance and support to other individuals by volunteering for Big Brother, Big Sister programs and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Mike regularly attended mass throughout his life and for years he proudly served as a member of the Ministry to the Sick, bringing Holy Communion to those who were unable to attend church services on their own. In recent years, Mike enjoyed preparing meals, treats and gifts for the many people he cared about and interacted with, especially friends that he knew from his local gym and church. He touched innumerable lives with his kindness, generosity, and outgoing nature. Above all, Mike felt called to touch as many lives as he could and did everything in his power to spread joy and comfort to all he knew. A Funeral Mass for Mike will be held Friday, November 19, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at St Mary’s Catholic Church, located at 1152 Seminole Dr, Rockledge FL 32955. The service will be streamed on Zoom for those who are unable to attend in person. In lieu of flowers, family would like donations be made to St. Mary's Catholic School, 1152 Seminole Dr, Rockledge, FL 32955