Another biker down..
Thread started by
dl1245 at 10.30.08 - 9:39 am
Well, my homies told me this was one of the cooler teachers at the school..just tryin to ride his bike to work.
Another bicyclist killed in T.O.
Victim was teacher at Westlake High
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com
Students, teachers, friends and family nearly filled the 2,900seat auditorium at Calvary Community Church during a memorial celebration Tuesday to honor Michael Jon Maki of Thousand Oaks.
Maki, 42, was fatally injured at 7:30 a.m. Oct. 10 while riding his bicycle from his home to Westlake High School, where he was a math teacher for 10 years.
According to police, a car driven by Ashley Stone, 21, of Thousand Oaks veered to the right and struck Maki, who flew from his bicycle and hit a parked vehicle. Both Stone and Maki were going east on Hillcrest Drive near Eric Place.
Maki was taken to Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center, where he appeared to be getting better, according to friends who visited him at the hospital's intensive care unit. However, Maki died on Oct. 22 of blood clots from blunt force injury.
No charges are pending, and the case is still under investigation, said Sheriff's Department spokesperson Capt. Ross Bonfiglio.
"Someone can be the cause of an accident but that doesn't mean they are criminally responsible—there could be factors such as sunlight that contributed," Bonfiglio said.
"Think about the person involved in the car with compassion and love. Maki would have wanted you to," said Sam Nainoa, a friend of Maki's.
Many in attendance at the memorial service quietly wept as Nainoa described his former roommate as a great math teacher who was also a full, well-rounded person who loved the outdoors and was a gifted athlete who enjoyed competing in sports.
Nainoa said Maki was spiritual, intelligent, content and "the fittest he'd been in quite a few years."
During a hospital visit he recalled Maki saying, "Dude, I'm really messed up. I missed a whole week of school." The two talked about how much he loved his students, then they planned Nainoa's next hospital visit, but Maki died before he saw him again, Nainoa said.
"He was a quiet man who led by example. He was following his bliss," Nainoa said.
"He lived his life with great enthusiasm," Ron Lipari said.
"He emanated a sense of joy," Carmella Ettara said.
The Rev. Drew Sams, youth pastor, read messages from Maki's three surviving family members. His father, Fred Maki, said his son was a calming influence in his life and he wanted his son to "stay in peace, be with the Lord and your mother." His sister Shannon Maki called him her "sweet angel." Another sister, Melinda Maki, wrote, "Your smile was infectious."
Those at the service were asked to share their memories. Teens lined up to recall a teacher who gave his time to tutor them at lunch and after school, wouldn't give up on them, listened to their troubles, shared his breakfast muffin, went to their sports games and made them feel safe and loved.
"I was always welcome in his room," said William Smith, 18.
Twelve Westlake High School students sang "There is a Season," and more than 100 students went onstage to sing "How Do We Say Goodbye?" There was much emotion in their voices as they sang the ending lines, "Why must this be the end? One day we'll meet again, till then we say goodbye."
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