Michael Litwin

Michael Joseph Litwin Mike passed away November 30, 2010 at home in Piedmont surrounded by family after a valiant but losing battle with metastasized melanoma. He was 69. He is survived by his sister, Judith Iglehart, nephews Chris Caporicci and Scott Pacult, godsons Frank and Mario Palestini and their mother, his lifelong friend Bettina Balestrieri, former wife Raymie Roland, and his cousins and their families: Gail Harrison, Bonnie Rand, Margie Ann Larson, Jim Muldowney, Larry Valenzin, Ron Schopke, Greg and Randy Antone, and his many friends. By profession a locomotive engineer, Mike's passions were anthropology and the study of ancient cultures. His interests were legion: rock and roll guitarists, the history of the labor movement, the United Transportation Union, national Democratic politics, politics in the City of Alameda, tournament racquet ball, astronomy, the history of mathematics, science fiction, American Indian history, artifacts and woven baskets, the Alameda All Stars, ancient and medieval history, the Roman Empire and its wars, bonsai, cartography, and the diasporas of ancient peoples. Mike was an insatiable reader who retained every factoid his active mind encountered. He was a graduate of San Jose State University with a M.A. from Cal State Hayward. His funeral will be held next week at the Chapel of the Chimes, Oakland, CA.