With sincere sadness and a prayer of healing I am sending my regrets
for Mike Montgomery's family's loss and that I was not able to attend
last weekend's final goodbye.  He helped so many interested in
mechanical music and will continue to in several book contributions.

Mike and his son Dan were _so_ nice and generous to my dad and me
when we met at Peoria's '08 World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing
Contest.  Mike treated us like instant old friends and took us under
his wing.  We ate several meals together that weekend with the two of
them, Richard Zimmerman's wife Tracie, and Andrew Barrett.  A wonderful
time I will never forget.  My dad whispered, "Do you realize you should
feel honored that you are being treated like a member of the inner
sanctum?"  I had wished to possibly play in the competition someday and
see Mike again to thank him in person.

Actually, it was after Peoria I came home and ordered my digital piano
(5/26/08) and 1/17/09 started taking group piano lessons.  Mike helped
push me into piano again, friend Mary found the listing for classes,
and friend LN shoved me into getting my Chickering.  Words don't do
justice to how much I appreciate all three of them caring so much.
Thankfully I told Mike he had been a great influence on my piano life
and thanked him again for his kindness to dad and me when I called him
several months ago.

When we last talked I suggested he search the Internet and join MMD
as well as the Yahoo "Elite Syncopations" group, but he said he hated
computers.  I mentioned he could get rolls on eBay.  He replied he had
enough close good friends without computers and didn't need eBay.

He told me the story about the James P. Johnson roll, "Daintiness",
that Jon Milan had just sold.  He said Jon had gotten it at a local
thrift store and he (Mike) didn't want to trade three of his rolls for
it that Jon had pulled from his collection.  So Jon said, "Let's just
see what it sells for on eBay."  I watched as it sold for $781, but we
agreed that was a good thing -- it shows there is still a healthy
interest in ragtime and rolls.

Not to add more stress on Dan Montgomery at this time but I remember
the three expressive rags he wrote (posted on Elite Syncopations) to
eulogize the loss of their beloved family dogs.  When emotions have
healed a bit, I can think of no better way to remember Mike than with
a rag in his honor written by Dan.  Put me on the list to buy a copy.

Sincerely, Linda Howson and my dad, John H. Lehman

 [ Originally published at
 [ http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/EliteSyncopations/message/11570