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MICHAEL GOLENZER Obituary

Michael Golenzer, beloved husband of Haya for 46 years; cherished father of Ellie (John) Alexakos and Marty (Katie) Golenzer; proud and loving Papa of six wonderful grandchildren; dearest brother of the late Ruth Wolf and fond uncle of Danny Wolf and Walter Wolf. Michael was the proud owner of the The Bagel Restaurant for many years and will be missed by all. Chapel service Tuesday 2:30 p.m. at Shalom Memorial Funeral Home, 1700 W. Rand Rd., Arlington Heights. Interment Shalom Memorial Park. Info: (847) 255-3520.

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Published by Chicago Tribune on Aug. 1, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for MICHAEL GOLENZER

38 Entries

July 16, 2012

Coming up on a year since we lost you. I miss you as much today as ever.

Gene Shifrin

December 29, 2011

Good by Mike. We go back together as kids. I remember when your Dad opened up the Bagel resturant on Kedzie, just north of Lawrence, and you were a kid there helping out. Peace to your soul and your family. Eugene (Gene) Shifrin, Columbus Ohio

Howard & Janice Horwich

August 18, 2011

Dear Golenzer Family and friends. Our deepest condolences to you. The Horwich family dined with Michael for almost 50 years. At one point my parents, Joseph and Fannie lived above the Bagel on Devon. Thank you for sharing your famiy celebrations with my parents. Michael always made us family.

As I write this we're fondly remembering Sunday mornings on Devon, the need versus capacity problem and how Michael somehow got us all in for breakfast. And remembering decades of Michael's kindness and conversations.

Howard and Janice Horwich

Walter Wolf

August 9, 2011

I will remember, with much love and affection, my beloved uncle, Michael [Mikha'el ben Chaim] Golenzer, A*H. May he rest in peace.

Charles Pacella

August 9, 2011

Dear Haya:
Words like "condolences" seem so inadequate. What you and Michael meant and continue to mean to us cannot be put into words. We have always loved your company, your generosity, and you never failed to make us feel better. Just as you and Michael were always there for us, please know that we will continue to always be there for you.
With much Love,
Carla Century and Charlie Pacella

Nancy Graham

August 8, 2011

How I remember Michael is as a man with a smile on his face. Always friendly and welcoming. I offer all my compassion to his family while they mourn the loss of Michael.

August 5, 2011

Our condolences to the family of Michael
Golenzer.
Lee and Sol Yates

Robert Gecht

August 5, 2011

I knew Mike for 30 years and everytime I saw him, he put a smile on my face. He was a great host and a true gentleman. We will all miss him. My condolences to his entire family.

August 4, 2011

Our sincerest condolences to Haya and the entire Golenzer family. Michael was a tremendous friend to my father for many years, and showed kindness to me, my wife, and our children throughout many family functions. Michael, you will be missed.

Steven & Carolyn Gabel and family,

August 4, 2011

To the Golenzer Family,
Very sorry to hear of the loss
of your husband, father &
grandfather.
Our deepest sympathies to you all.
Annette & Jerry Stern

sandra silva

August 3, 2011

i am so sorry to hear of your loss. i offer support to you and your family.
deepest sympathies, with love, sandra silva Senior Options Consulting

lance schiller

August 3, 2011

We wish to express our deepest sympathy to the Golenzer and Wolf family. Michael will be missed by all who knew him. His word was his bond and always presented himself as a true gentlemen.
Lance and Sheila Schiller

Marvin Leavitt

August 2, 2011

The Bagel is a home away from home and Michael made us all a part of a larger family. My condolences to his loved ones.. He was a special man. My family shares in your loss.

Marvin Leavitt

Martin Levinson

August 2, 2011

My sincerest condolences to the Golenzer and Wolf family, having known Michael as his barber and friend he will be missed deeply by me. Our deepest sympathy.
Marty Levinson and family

August 2, 2011

as a patron of the bagel for many years, please accept my sincerest

condolences barbara levin

Sue Castillo

August 2, 2011

My sincerest condolences to the Wolf and Golenzer Family: Michael will be deeply missed. He was one of my favorite people to work for. I loved talking "Deadwood" with him. He was a great man and will be missed by all. Love Sue Castillo

August 2, 2011

To the other grandpa:
Michael, oneof the best times I ever had was taking you to a Cubs-Rockies game. You were the most noticable man in the park with your cheering. You were one of the most informened men I ever met. Thanks for the books and the good conversations.

Noel

August 2, 2011

We would like to express our deepest symphony for your loss. Pat & Alan Hoffman

kimmy and jim Fritkin/ schiffman

August 2, 2011

hiya you and michael have been wonderful friends to my mom ( sharlan ) since i was so young i have many happy memories of u both. michael will be missed and his memories will always be close to our hearts.

August 2, 2011

Dear Danny and family,
I am so saddened by the news of Michael passing. He was such a wonderful host at the Bagel making everyone feel as though they were family. On behalf of the SSA#8 commissioners and the Lakeview East chamber of commerce, please accept our sincere expression of sympathy. Sincerely, Ernestine Alfonsetti

Sen. Howie Carroll

August 2, 2011

Dear Haya, Danny and the rest of the wonderful Golenzer family.
The community and the world has lost a wonderful man, generous, funny, informed and informative and the true example of an Mench. Whether on Kedzie or when he came to the neighborhood on Devon or in Old Orchard and on Broadway he always sat and talked not only with me but with everyone. All who ever interacted with Mike felt him a close friend and now feel a great loss. From the time when we would do the political events on Devon, hosting Bill and Hillary Clinton, Paul Simon and on and on, all felt the warmth that emanated from Mike to everyone in the room.
I know you all have such wonderful memories of great times with Mike and now hope and pray that you will call on them in this time of sorrow to carry you through now and live by what he taught you all the days of your lives. May his memory be for a blessing
Sen. Howie Carroll and family.

Joan Bucaro-Lopez

August 2, 2011

Dear Ellie:
You have my deepest sympathy on the death of your father. May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

August 2, 2011

Dear Haya and family,

We are saddened to hear about Michael. Through the years we had some crazy and wonderful times. Have strength and cherish the memories. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

Love,

Maxine and Frank Bloom

Monica Ritzdorf

August 2, 2011

Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of sorrow.
The Ritzdorf's

Toni E Wolf

August 2, 2011

I've been having lunch with Michael almost every Thurs. for 15 years. I will miss him very much. My condolences to the entire family and extended restaurant family

August 1, 2011

Dear Haya and Danny:

From the Bagel on Kedzie (next to my Aunt, the Sokol Meat Market) to Arnie's Neighborhood
on Sacramento and Devon, to the
present Old Orchard. The Cowens have grown up with the
Bagel. Mike was a friend to all and we loved just being with him. He always sat with
us, we shared stories on every
subject you can possibly touch.
When I was Executive Director at Centre East he and Haya were
my best supporters and critics.
His wisdom and loyalty was to
be shared with everyone he
touched. He made us feel so
special, and we adored him.
Our love and condolences to all
of you.

Your friends,

Phyllis and Arnold Cowen

Alvaro and Michelle Chavez

August 1, 2011

Our deepest condolences to all of the family and friends. We will always cherish the generosity shown to our children on the occasion of them becoming Bar Mitzvah. Wow, what a spread! Michael brought the food himself, all the way to Grayslake, and even attended our son's Bar Mitzvah! To my husband he was a great boss for 25 years. Michael will be sorely missed. The Chavez Family

jack fischer

August 1, 2011

Haya and Family; I have so many great memories with Michael. Please accept our condolenses from Jack, Cindy, Blair and our entire family! May he rest in Peace!!!

August 1, 2011

Our condolence on the death of Michael
Golenzer.
Lee & Sol Yates

eddie reed

August 1, 2011

I would like to give my condolences to the family. Michael will be missed. From a friend driver of Union Fisheries. Eddie

Elaine Piltz

August 1, 2011

I remember how kind Michael was after Eddie passed away bringing us dinner for Shabot. Before Eddie passed away, I heard all the stories about the Golenzer family and the Bagel on Kedzie Ave.

Now Mike and Eddie can tell each other stories in heaven.

Elaine Piltz

reva lasaine

August 1, 2011

I remeber the afternoons that Mike, Booby and my brother Eddie kibetzed with my mom, Mike's laugh was contagious, such a friendly happy guy...When my brother passed away four years ago the three amigos became two, his kindness while we were sitting shiva, will never be forgotten. How he treated my mom when we brought her to the bagel, won't be forgotten either
We'll miss your smile and our standing joke..why isn't there a bagel near woodfield..love from the Lasaines..Jerry, Reva (Piltz), and Isaac

Hilary and Aaron Malina

August 1, 2011

Michael, you brought joy and laughter into our lives whenever we saw you. We loved your always upbeat spirit, and the world was a better place because of it. You'll truly be missed.

August 1, 2011

Dear Golenzer Family, We are so very sorry about the loss of your dear husband, father, papa and uncle. We are so happy we had the chance to spend some holidays with him. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. With sympathy, Merrick and Sheila Trossman

August 1, 2011

The Stern family, the older and the younger, has been dining at the Bagel for more than 50 years. Kedzie, then Devon, and currently Broadway. Mike, these past 10 years or so, would most often sit down with us and chat as we awaited our Sunday breakfast. He considered us friends, you could read it on his face. When he asked my daughter and I, just two weeks ago, how we were dealing with the oppresive heat, I responded, "As long as I can feast on kippers at the Bagel, all is well in the world." Mike's eyes brightened and he chuckled, telling me that he appreciated my appreciation of how kind he had been for so many years. Mike was a one-of-a-kind guy and we will miss him. It is not for no reason that my daughter and I, the second and third generation (my dad, who died at 95, was the first) of the Sterns, make the Bagel our home on Sunday mornings. We'll be back soon.

Our deepest condolences

The Sterns (Edward and Lauren)

Howard Glantz

August 1, 2011

Michael will be missed by his old customers including our group that grew up at The Bagel on Kidzie and enjoyed his company last July 16th. at breakfast in Old Orchard when he sat with us for 30 minutes and talked about old times. We are sorry for your loss and for ours.

Katie Golenzer

August 1, 2011

We love you papahouse. We'll never forget afternoons at the Cubs games, feeding Bidly too many animal crackers, movies with the kids, late night laughing out loud uncontrollably with Marty, and evenings talking about the amazing journeys you have experienced. Never did we meet a person that didn't love you, that didn't marvel at your kindness, your intelligence and your amazement of the world. Our hearts are broken but only because you filled them with so much love.

Your grandchildren

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