Michael Catena
Michael J. Catena, 59, passed away suddenly on July 15, 2013.
He was born Nov. 18, 1953, to Michael and Delina Catena in Torrance, Calif., a suburb of Los Angeles.
His zest for life and knowledge led him to numerous jobs and opportunities. During his high school days in Torrance he had a job at the local movie theater. From time to time he was known to sneak his friends in. Sometimes they stayed so long that when they left, their butts were numb.
He also worked at a local high-end clothing store, Silverman’s, where he claimed he learned to be such a great salesman. This talent he used both in other jobs as well as talking his friends into participating in several escapades.
He worked for Continental Airlines in Los Angeles and Edwards Jet Center in Kalispell. At Edwards, he met Jack Hanna, and to Maury Povichs’ amusement when Maury flew in Mike yelled “He’s not my baby” (a popular phrase often spoken on Maury’s show).
For a time, he worked for a fish cannery in Alaska where he did every job imaginable. He has been a tour guide in Banff, Canada, and in the southwestern United States, he flew into a site via helicopter and set up stakes at potential mining spots. He was a DJ for a while and stopped when stations switched from using records to prerecorded reels which was “less fun.”
When he was working as a lumberjack he stayed on site to watch the equipment and slept in his truck. One evening a black bear climbed into the back of his pickup. Rather than leaving the next morning, he set a trap and loaded his gun. That night when the bear reappeared Mike made such a racket that the bear ran off and never returned.
He loved being outdoors, traveling the world and meeting new people. Growing up in Torrance he actively surfed, hiked, camped and played numerous sports. He was active in drama club and was voted “Biggest Smile” of his Torrance High School graduating class.
Soon after high school, he was bit by the skiing bug. He skied throughout the northwestern United States and Europe, and spoke occasionally of his heli-skiing experiences in Canada. The Big Mountain Ski Resort is what lured Mike to Montana. Once here, he fell in love with the area and lived here for over 30 years.
But that doesn’t mean he stayed in one place. He lived in Hawaii for two years before settling in Montana and then would vacation in Hawaii. Among the numerous places he visited include the following: Tonga (house sitting), Mexico (snorkeling), Guadeloupe and Puerto Rico (sightseeing), Spain (Running of the Bulls), Germany (Octoberfest), France (attending the 1992 Winter Olympics), in 2013 sightseeing in Paris, Italy, Hong Kong (business trip, antenna toppers), Egypt, Jordan, sailing in the Bahamas, Turkey, Peru (Machu Picchu) and the list goes on and on. At the time of his passing he was planning a trip to Africa.
Everywhere Mike went he made friends. At news of his passing, one wrote, “I felt like he was someone I had known all my life, my friend, my brother, I know I will miss him. He had such a big heart, a big smile and he made everyone around him smile.” Mike had that effect on most everyone he met. And he will be sorely missed.
Michael was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his spouse, Lisa Levandowski; and his sisters, Rosemary and husband Jim Trez, Sue and husband John DeLeon, and Joann and husband Alex Ordonez.
A gathering to celebrate Mike’s life will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, July 22, at Apgar Amphitheater inside Glacier National Park, with a dinner reception to follow in the picnic area just east of Apgar Amphitheater.