Michael Todd Mizen

Michael Todd Mizen, 58, longtime resident of Columbia Station, passed away unexpectedly on August 8, 2025, at Mercy Health Hospital in Lorain surrounded by family. Todd, as he was known by all and Michael by the government, was born on December 29, 1966, in Cleveland to his late parents James "Jim" Edgar and Mary Gladys (Meyer) Mizen. In a compromise between his parents, his mother wanted to name him Todd Michael and his father said it sounded backwards and wanted his name to be Michael Todd. So, they called him Todd. In homage to his favorite TV show, "Leave it Beaver", Todd earned the life-long nickname "Lumpy" amongst his friends and classmates, as if, Michael and Todd were not confusing enough.

While residing in North Olmsted for the first 9 years of his life, the biggest event in Todd's life was the loss of his banana seat bicycle, developing his passion for fishing and learning the fine arts of thriftiness. In exchange for suburban life, his parents moved to rural Columbia Station, and he graduated with the Class of 1985 from Columbia High School and the Lorain County Joint Vocational School, where he drove his hand-painted, electric blue 1975 Ford Granada. Besides buying duplicate models of the same cars, Ford Grenada's and Chevy Cavelier's, all of which he hand painted, he eventually got his banana seat bicycle back almost 50 years later, but that's another story.

Todd, who did not care much for school, always believed in life-long learning and carried on his knowledge he learned with his hands to his sons. Mostly self-taught, he could tell you how many board feet of lumber are in a tree, the right potting mix to get the best tomatoes, what type of fishing lure to use depending on weather or water conditions. Todd also had a soft spot for animals, where it wasn't uncommon for him to stop at the local animal shelter and adopt the random dog, cat, or flock of chickens. As a self-proclaimed spend thrift, he was proud of the fact that most of his wardrobe came from second-hand stores and fully believed that there was no reason to be materialistic.

Several paragraphs cannot sum up a person's life, especially one whose reputation was known everywhere. Todd, who never met a stranger he did not like, made lifelong friends throughout the entire world, from the guy in Singapore who shared his love for antique outboard boat motors, famous Irish musicians, or some random person he met through his daily adventures. He would often go out of his way to help people during times in their lives where he was a true guardian angel. On one of those occasions, he saved two people who were fighting to stay alive after their boat capsized in Lake Erie or the countless individuals he helped through their journeys in sobriety. For some reason, Todd was always the right person, in the right place, at the right time.

Todd had a long and illustrious career spanning well over 45 years. He started mowing the greens at the golf course, losing his finger at a local machine shop, driving a cement mixer, working at a large bakery, helping the elderly pick out flowers at the garden center, developing the world's greatest deer repellant, working in a foundry, until he found his first job where he was truly happy. Todd worked in the fishing department at Bass Pro Shops, sharing a lifetime of earned knowledge to the next generation who shared his passion for fishing. Todd truly did touch many lives in many different circles, where he will be loved, missed and cherished by all.

Todd, who was the beloved patriarch of his family, is survived by his devoted bride, Trisha Linn (Monn) Mizen, with whom he celebrated nearly thirty years of marriage together. Trisha was able to finally take him out of shell and showed him there was more to life than the confines of Lorain County. On a whim, they would drive to New York City to get a slice of pizza, drive to North Carolina to see the ocean, or just go to some random city on the map just to look around. Todd, who always put family first, is survived by his four children; Michael E. Mizen and his fiancée Jadyn Crabtree of Amherst, Thomas D. Mizen and his girlfriend Lillian Hurst of Lorain, and without hesitation, became the stepfather to Benjamin and his wife Stephanie (Rowen) Novak, and Amanda Novak. He was the celebrated grandfather to his seven grandchildren: Emma, Charlie, Parker, Amora, Nicholas, Gabe, and Meredith. Todd is also survived by his brother, Aaron and his wife Cynthia (Almas) Mizen of Londonderry, NH, his two nieces, Mary and Angelina, and his nephews, Aaron Junior and Nicholas. He is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins, two brothers-in-law, two sisters-in-law and several nieces and nephews through marriage. In addition to his parents, He was preceded in death by his brother-in-law Kevin Monn.

To honor Todd's wishes, all services were privately held. Please consider a donation in Todd's memory to either the Cleveland Shriner's, P.O. Box 81184, Cleveland, Ohio 44181 or to Lifebanc, 4775 Richmond Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44128, where Todd's last act of kindness went on to save someone's life.