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Mike Friend, most recently the wine director at Sigel's Elite on Fitzhugh, died unexpectedly on Friday in Kansas City, where he was helping his brother open a bistro. Mike's wife Debra said he died from internal bleeding related to an old surgery.
Mike, who was 56, touched many lives through his work, from the people to whom he introduced the joys of wine to the winemakers and distributors with whom he did business. He was just a good guy who loved wine.
Adam Lee of Texas-sired Siduri Wines wrote this on Mark Squire's bulletin board at RobertParker.com: "If you've ever spent any time drinking wine in Dallas you have probably come across Mike Friend. He's been a legendary figure in the business for many years at numerous restaurants and retail stores. He's the person that stopped me from getting out of the business back in the early 1990s when I was very frustrated with the whole thing. He's the person that got Dianna into the business, and he was one of the first people to find out that we were dating (it was a big secret at the time)...." BTW, Robert Parker calls Adam and Dianna Lee's Siduri one of California's top pinot noir producers. 'Glad Mike was there to encourage.
Read more remembrances and get the details on a celebration of Mike Friend's life Friday night and a memorial service Saturday.
Ali Smith, who owns TexaCali Wine Co. wrote: "He was always a huge supporter of my portfolio, full of insight and enthusiasm about TexaCali. I will miss seeing his smile in Dallas, truly such a joy to do business with. Our last conversation was about his love of Anderson Valley and Russian River Pinot Noir producers. My heart goes out to his family, so terribly sad."
And from Shawn Mauck, his stepson: "So I'm 12 years old and Mike is showing me wine movies!! My stepfather, Mike Friend, was probably one of the biggest influences in my life. About two months ago he gave me all his wine books out of nowhere. Most the books are signed and include some R. Parker books. It's kind of funny because he was never really critical about wine. I would have my teenage strong opinion about a wine and he would say, 'It's not bad, it's just the winemakers expression.' He truly looked at wine as art, and I think that is how it should be viewed.
"I was lucky enough to work with Mike in a professional atmosphere for three years and never really heard him sell wines by score. He viewed life like this and was never overly negative about wine. He exposed me to all the good things in life like Tom Waits, Pinot Noir, and Richard Brautigan. I love Mike like a father, and it is very hard not to have him around to call with my wine questions and better yet my life questions."
Prior to working at Sigel's, Mike was a familiar face at Farpointe Cellar in Southlake. In my world, he was always a ready a source anytime I needed a quote or insight about wine.
Mike has two sons, Jason and Adam Keller, also a stepdaughter, Shannon Wolfe, and he and Debra have five grandchildren between them. They were married 25 years. "It was always Mike who remembered the dates," Debra says. "He was the romantic one." Mike had a daughter, Amy Keller, who died of cystic fibrosis at 18, and if you're thinking of a donation in his name, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation would be a good choice, she says.
Friends and family will gather at 8 p.m. Friday to celebrate Mike Friend's life at the VFW Post at 9179 Garland Road. The memorial service is at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 9643 Ferndale Road.
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Mike Friend had been my "wine guy" for many years. I shall miss his stature, knowledge and friendship.