Lawrence Michael Pavuk

Mike married the love of his life Barbara Kutzel after high school.

Mike was “truly one of kind”, as described by so many who knew him.  He always amazed me with his sense of humor, and his knowledge of so many subjects. He graduated from Connelley Vocational High School, and Point Park University and was a member of  Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity . He enlisted in the United States Air Force during the Viet Nam era.  He was an aircraft mechanic on B52s, and carried on a love affair with them for the rest of his life. And later joined the American Legion to continue to support other Veterans.

If you were in need, Mike was there for you, no matter what.  He was always extremely generous and thinking of ways to help people and animals. Mike was an advocate for abused and homeless animals.  We adopted many Himalayan female cats from shelters throughout the years, and without fail, they were all Daddy's Girls.  He loved them just as much.  Mike initiated and developed a program at the animal shelter in Pittsburgh, called Prisoners and Puppies.  He took puppies into the prison and they were given to an inmate for exclusive care for six months.  It was a hugely successful program.  The inmates truly loved it, and it changed them forever. In our younger days, we travelled extensively throughout the world.  London was Mike's favorite city outside of the US. Mike was a self-taught musician of the harmonica, wooden flute, and recorder.  He also loved woodworking, traveling, being the fixit guy, target shooting, writing in calligraphy, and photography.  Mike was also an avid student of history, reading and researching consistently.  His favorite thing was to take on a new project and challenge.  He never stopped learning.

Mike took his “bucket trip” of a lifetime.  In 2021, he rode Route 66 to the end in Long Beach, California, with his motorcycle buddies.  He had a fantastic time.  He was the oldest at 74.  He was very proud of himself for that, as well he should have been.

Mike managed his own very successful manufacturers' representative business for over 40 years.  He absolutely loved it, and always said he never worked a day in his life once he started the business.  We met so many great people who then became great friends.  One of these friends recently texted to me, “Mike was an institution in our industry.  And, more importantly, a really great guy”.

Mike was a proud member of St. Lucie Church.