PASSAGES
Michael D. Gay
Assistant Editor
January 21, 1970 – December 24, 2007
 Michael D. Gay Assistant Editor January 21, 1970 – December 24, 2007 |
Usually you’d expect an obituary in these pages to be for someone who had lived a long life and had an extended career in the film industry. This one is different: Our friend and co-worker, assistant editor Mike Gay died last Christmas Eve after a brief illness. He was 37.
Mike was just one of those solid guys. He worked at a movie theatre as a teenager, and then got into the film business after getting a film degree at Long Beach State. Working in film wasn’t just a job for him, it was the fulfillment of a life-long dream. Mike worked so many hours because he deeply loved working on movies––all movies––from huge visual effects-heavy productions to small independents. And as his career rose, he never became jaded or affected by working closely with big directors or by the pressures of deadlines or huge budgets. He took it all in stride. Instead, one can imagine him waking up each morning, looking in the mirror and saying, “Dude, you are working on a movie! Enjoy it!”
Even with the long hours, he still had time for his loving wife Cindy, his beloved dogs Luke and Naja and his friends outside the business. At his memorial service, we were struck by how many friends (most of whom had nothing to do with the film industry) jumped up to talk about him. We thought, “Mike lived for the movies. He worked harder and longer than anyone we know. When did he have time to have a life?!” It could only be because he used every spare minute outside of work to live life––to golf, to see an Angels game, to hang out with friends.
Mike battled cancer as a young boy and defeated it twice, which is probably why he lived every day as if life could go away at any moment. He understood how precious life is, and that it could end quickly.
Behind Mike’s quiet exterior was a guy with an amazing sense of humor,
a great imagination and incredible generosity. He was a rare person
in this industry and in life. He is deeply missed by all who knew him.
Jim May, Meghan Noble and Kelly Matsumoto
In Memoriam
Nicholas M. Archer
Picture Editor
(August 25, 1926 – May 18, 2008)
54 years as a member
Wayne L. Artman
Re-Recording Mixer
(November 24, 1936 – November 6, 2007)
47 years as a member
Tony Avallon
Story Analyst
(March 19, 1946 – May 7, 2008)
11 years as a member
Julius J. Nayfack, Jr.
Picture Editor
(October 1, 1920 – March 22, 2008)
53 years as a member
Edward Packer
Picture Editor
(February 29, 1920 – July 18, 2007)
52 years as a member
Gerald S. Shepard
Picture Editor
(October 14, 1925 – May 11, 2008)
52 years as a member
NOTICE
In order for Editors Guild members or retirees who have passed away
to be listed in Editors Guild Magazine’s “In Memoriam,”
the deceased’s family must notify the Guild of the death. Please
call Fred Arteaga at 323-876-4770, ext. 243 with information.
Also, if family members or friends would like to write an obituary for their loved ones in the “Passages” section of the magazine, please contact Tomm Carroll at 323-876-4770, ext. 222 for guidelines and due dates.