Warning: This post has nothing to do with triathlon or training & covers what may be one of the worst things imaginable.
If you’ve spent much time in Seattle, especially at the Seattle Center or any sporting event you most likely know of the “Tuba Man”. He’s a Seattle fixture just like Starbucks or the Space Needle for some. Rain or shine, win or loss the Tuba Man was outside events playing the tuba. He was easy to spot with his thick rimmed glasses, bushy beard, deep DEEP voice but most of all his crazy hats. The hats ranged from my favorite the Nemo fish, Uncle Sam, hard hats painted in team colors or just a big colorful wig.
Ed “Tuba Man” McMichael passed away November 3rd, 2008.
Ed "Tuba Man" McMichael
I honestly don’t know the details of his death, I’ve avoided reading the news reports because the more I learned the worse it got. What I do know is the Tuba Man was attacked by a group of teenagers & beat for the grand total of five dollars. He survived the initial attack but died later from the injuries. This happened in a week span that was full of senseless violence in Seattle.
Growing up I went to quite a few Seahawk games, I couldn’t tell you a single score, who played or other details of the game but I always remember Ed outside the King Dome, playing the tuba & yelling “go hawks” in his deep voice. Years later when I lived by the Seattle Center I would always see him when I was walking the dogs, when the Sonics left town Tuba Man was the first person I thought of & how disappointed he must have been.
I recently learned his musical talent went far beyond playing Ironman or Flight of the Valkyrie outside events. He was know for having perfect pitch & played with some impressive symphony’s earlier in his life.
Tonight I went to his memorial & it was really one of the saddest things I’ve been part of. Many people spoke of their experiences with Ed, his family was present, there were musical tributes & pictures of Ed. In every on of the pictures I could hear his voice & feel how much joy he got out of making people happy.
Its hard to believe he’s gone but even harder to believe the circumstances of his death. I’d like to thank Ed for all the happiness he brought to people myself included. Ed, your already missed…
I can think of a million I would have rather written about & I know I didn’t do him justice but I had to get it off my chest.
(Bank of America & The Seattle Youth Symphony both have memorial funds setup in his name)
Thank you very much for the nice tribute. It is senseless loss indeed.
I used to see him at the bus stop when I was getting off work. I never realised it was him till I heard of Tuba Man’s death, then realised I hadnt seen the man I remembered for a while. Did a google search, found a pic, and bam, I realised I had known him in a slight way…
Crap.