Michael L. Land

Michael L. Land, 54, of Richland, Michigan, died Sunday, July 5, 2009 of injuries sustained in a private airplane incident in which he was the pilot in command. Michael was with his son, Andrew, in the plane, who also sustained fatal injuries. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating. Michael was born in Zanesville, Ohio, on June 24, 1955 to June and Allan Land (both deceased). He was graduated from Zanesville High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Hope College in Holland, Michigan in 1977. Michael was named President and General Manager of Phadia (U.S.), a medical diagnostic company based in Sweden, in 1996 after six years with the company in a senior sales/marketing position, after an illustrious sales career with various iterations of American Hospital Supply/Baxter where he was their top international sales person seven years in a row. His success with Phadia was marked with exceptional performance recognition of the highest honor. Michael is survived by his loving wife, Nancy to whom he was married in Huntington, W.Va., May 24th, 1981, and his son Zachary, 19, a sophomore at Oberlin College in Ohio, who is studying for a double degree in Liberal Arts and the Conservatory; his study focuses neuroscience and jazz trombone. Michael's primary interest was in being involved with his family; his other passions included golf, jazz and aviation...all of which he participated with the zest, commitment and intensity to which he applied himself in business. Michael was very proud of his airplane acquiring it approximately two years ago. He had been a pilot for nearly a decade, was instrument rated and his proficiency was current. Michael was a member of the Otsego Jazz Ensemble, The Gull Lake Jazz Orchestra and Quintessential Bones. He was an accomplished musician specializing in jazz trombone, and loved performing before live audiences many of which were for charity functions. Listening to him play, one would recognize his joy of music. He also loved antique roadsters and had begun a collection of foreign sports cars. He is survived (other than by his wife and son) by his brother Eric, a former television industry executive and retired COO of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and his wife Cindy both of Tampa, Florida, and his loving sister Myra Gibson and her husband Jack an actuary and Managing Principal with Towers Perrin of Watchung, New Jersey, and 17 nieces and nephews who loved Michael with all their hearts. Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Bolin-Dierkes Funeral Home, Zanesville, Ohio. Calling hours there are from 11a.m.-12:30p.m. Thursday followed by burial at Beth Abraham Cemetery in Zanesville. In addition, a memorial service is scheduled at 2pm on Sunday in Kalamazoo, Michigan at the Kellogg Biological Station. In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America, 386 Park Avenue South, 17th Floor,New York, NY 10016, Phone: 800-932-2423 E-mail: info@ccfa.org Website: ww.ccfa.org or to Air Charity Network, National Headquarters, 4620 Haygood Road, Suite 1 Viriginia Beach, Virginia 23455, Phone: 800-549-9980, E-mail: execdir@aircharitynetwork.org, Website: www.aircharitynetwork.org or to Oberlin Jazz Studies Program, Associate Deans Office, Bibbins Hall 123, 77 W. College St. Oberlin OH 44074-1588 -30-