OBITUARY…Owen G. “Mike” Lanzit
Owen G. “Mike” Lanzit, 83, a
respected veteran of the PVF/plumbing industry, died April 13 after a long
battle with heart disease.
Ed Scott of The Scott Group
wrote the following memorial tribute:
“Mr.
Lanzit’s career in the PVF/plumbing industry spanned seven decades, during most
of which he was a top marketing executive for leading valve companies. He
founded and for several years operated two marketing organizations, Trans
Global Metals and Sea Force. Under the
TGM label he successfully introduced various imported valve lines, including
products from the UK, Italy and Asia, into U.S. industrial and plumbing
markets. Using the Sea Force name he marketed a broad line of teak accessories
for the recreational marine market as well as game boards and related products.
At different times later in his career Lanzit served as vice
president-marketing for two leading U.S. marketers of foreign-made valves,
Red-White and Kitz.
“In
his personal as well as business interests, Lanzit was a true Renaissance man.
He was a serious student and avidaficionadoof American jazz. When entertaining groups of customers at industry
conventions, he regularly included jazz ensembles as a key part of the
festivities. At one New Orleans ASA convention, Lanzit’s lineup of jazzmen
attracted the attention of clarinetist and jazz icon Pete Fountain, who on the
spur of the moment, sat in for several sets with the other players. It was a session
few in the audience will ever forget.
“Lanzit
was also a dedicated hunter and served as past-president of his regional German
Shorthair Pointer Association. He was an experienced boatman and sailor and was
an active member of the Corinthian Yacht Club in Tiburon, CA. On the domestic
side, he was an expert and meticulous gourmet cook capable of creating meals at
least the equal of many five-star restaurants.
“In
the mid-1980s Lanzit co-founded the “Cabo Cowboys,” a group of leading
manufacturer and wholesaler executives (including five ASA past
presidents) who travel every fall to Cabo San Lucas for a week of deep-sea
fishing and golf. For a decade or more,
Lanzit was the informal executive secretary of the Cowboys, handling all of the
details attendant on making each annual outing better than the last.
“Some
years ago at the memorial service for his close friend, publisher’s
representative Al Iftiger, Lanzit ended his eulogy by quoting his father: “Any
man who can boast of even a single really true friend can consider himself a
success.” By that standard, as by many others, Mike Lanzit could claim success
dozens, and perhaps even hundreds, of times over.”
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