About the Museum
 Note found in Mike's papers: who sent it? |
ABOUT THE MUSEUM & ARTIFACTS:
Mike was a pack-rat: he kept everything. Really: nearly everything (it seems; just look for your direct connection). So when John visited Michelle in October of 2001(the visit had been scheduled between Mike and John in the month of August, just weeks prior to 9/11) with a post-9/11 offer to Michelle "to go through Mike's stuff" and to clear out his stuff as part of the process, well, John came upon the "stuff for your collection". And upon survey of all the "stuff for your collection" that this over-the-top-character that was Lundo! had saved throughout his life for one reason or another, John suggested to Michelle that many of these items were, um, "special", and can't be tossed. These items formed the core of the Lundo! museum such that it was/is. |
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On the first-year anniversary of 9/11, these items were consolidated into a "museum". The initial presentation was made in June 2002 in Chicago (in conjunction with Mike's 20th high-school class '82 reunion at Loyola Academy) and was then followed by a New York City presentation made at Smith & Wollensky's in September 2002. In the ensuing years the "stuff" was stored in varying allotments at Michelle's or John's. In 2009 another edit on the "stuff" was completed with some items sent to loved ones, some stuff tossed, and the balance redistributed amongst John and Michelle.
At that point, Michelle shared items with the official 9/11 memorials then in-progress/since-completed at Ground Zero (and some are represented within these master collections at the site!). |
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 Three of my favorite pics! |
Meanwhile, some of the "stuff" with John has been re-purposed into this "virtual" phase of the "Lundo Museum". And now in 2011 upon the 10th anniversary- and in comparison to 9 years ago upon the 1st anniversary- the tech-support is easier such that we can share this with you now (and you can share your good memories of Mike with others too- including Matthew).
To help illustrate how/why this is here, the museum is managed by John Rollins. John and Mike first met in 4th grade at St. Norbert's in Northbrook, IL after Mike and family moved to Chicago from Philadelphia and New Jersey. As life would have it, after grade school both Mike and John went to high school together at Loyola Academy and then both- with East Coast parents/roots- graduated college out east and then settled in New York City. |
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(If you'd like to learn more about why John bothers with this, look at the next section).
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Why bother?If mike hadn't saved all these items for some future use...
If mike and I hadn't known each other as close friends since 4th grade... If mike weren't a larger-than-life character in his life... If mike's departure was not within the most widely-recognized tragedy that occurred on mainland american soil... And if his life-span were not quite so short at 37... And, most importantly, if mike's passing had not occurred prior to his ability to inform his son matthew (at that time 9-month old) of who he was as a person and as a dad... Well, if none of this were true, then this tribute museum may be considered something like "why bother?"... But since it's all true, then no botheration... |