Michael Bruce Sobin's Obituary
Michael Bruce Sobin was born in New York on January 14, 1954 to Philip and Gertrude Sobin. He is survived by his sister, Rachel Ullman, his brother-in-law, Dan Ullman, his nieces Sandy Wolitzky and Jessie Ullman, his nephew Bobby Ullman, his aunts Delores Steinberg and Betty Sayburn, his cousins David Bahr, Marlene Zavodnick, Marsha Steinberg, Ivan Steinberg, Dennis Sobin and Judy Sobin, and his lifelong friend Nancy Rosenberg.
To say Mike lived life to its fullest was an understatement when one thinks of all he had done in the short time his health afforded him as a grown man before he was crippled by Multiple Sclerosis. When Mike was young (1960s-1970s), he and his father Phil Sobin, worked together
running Barco a large, toy, party goods and school supplies store in Woodside, Queens. Mike was proud of his work in bulk purchasing; and with a wry smile would retell the slightly off-color jokes his father got away with amusing his neighbors and friends - the Holy Sisters of St. Sebastian’s, who often shopped at Barco for school supplies (and loved Phil). One year, Phil hired extra help, a younger man, Paul, who along with Mike’s neighborhood friend, Sam, and boyhood friend, Howie, would all remain lifelong friends.
Mike was always an upbeat and gifted man. As a boy, he enjoyed operating audio-visual equipment and studying film at H. Frank Carey High School, Garden City South, NY; yet he did not graduate. However, thanks to the patience and encouragement of another dear friend, Norma, Mike earned his GED when he was in his 30s. While in his 20s, Mike moved with his high school girlfriend, Pat, to Las Vegas where at one time during their adventure in the west, Mike was a Kino Pit Boss at the old 4 Aces Casino on the downtown Strip.
Eventually, Mike moved to South Florida close to his retired parents in Hollywood near Fort Lauderdale; and for many years settled with his long-term girlfriend, Peppi. He worked for Knight-Ridder newspaper as a Distribution Supervisor, juggled at Renaissance Fairs, and did a
ton of eclectic work before “finding himself” and starting a successful gunsmithing shop in Davies, a town in Broward, FL. Mike loved customizing police equipment and told stories of being on hand to help local police direct traffic when Hurricane Andrew tore apart south-central
Florida. Although not officially associated with the police, he was proud to be part of the community and treated like one of their own (police) for several years.
Unfortunately, just when it looked like Mike had found his calling and community, and was settling into his life’s work at the age of 40, Multiple Sclerosis took away his physical strength and livelihood; but, this never took away his wonderfully positive attitude!
In 1999, Mike moved in with lifelong friend, Nancy Rosenberg, of the Tampa Bay Area and she cared for him throughout the next 22 years. While in Tampa, Mike made new, dear friends - many from the medical profession including home nurses, Sylvie and Tracey; pharmacist, Matthew; and Drs., Henderson and Amoah - all of whom played important roles keeping Mike at home and comfortable. There were so many caring, supportive friends who helped Mike through the years; and he was also grateful that Pat, Michael, Chris, Alison, and Terry could be counted on to help whenever things got tough, or Nancy and he needed help of any sort.
Everyone who knew Mike understood that underneath his somewhat outspoken attitude was a very caring person who would literally give his friends the shirt off his back. As Mike grew more frail over the years, he became increasingly interested in local wildlife and other small animals. In 2010, he and Nancy rescued a hatchling mud turtle that still lives with them in a comfortable Disneyland aquarium setting. In 2018, Nancy and Mike added two rescue kittens to the household, Waldo and Keef who are spoiled rotten boys, but have provided non-stop, at-home entertainment for Mike, and he has since trained them to open small drawers, climb shelves up walls, and do other cat tricks in search of treats.
If alive today, Mike would most certainly relay that he loved Sandy, Jessie and Bobby, and that Jessie was his connection to the “heart and soul” of his family. Mike formed a very special bond with Jessie that remained crazy-glue strong throughout their lives. Because of this attachment, without fail, Jessie, as an adult, has shown up on Mike’s doorstep in Florida every 5 years or so on a mission to take her very special Uncle Mike to their grand feast at Cracker Barrel where together, for a few miraculous hours, the years would fall away...
A graveside service will be held on August 19, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Beth David Memorial Gardens, 3201 NW 72nd Avenue, Hollywood, Florida 33024.
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