Michael P. McKendry

David Peake
June 1st, 2018
7 comments

7 comments
  • John J. Bagnell a/k/a Satch / June 1, 2018 at 7:12 pm

    I am very saddened by this news. Much more so than I was prepared for.

    I was not one of Michaels closest friends. But I knew Michael pretty well. and always considered Mike a friend. What I remember most about Michael was that he treated ALL people with respect and dignity.

    Having been in Michaels Company quite often, I never heard Michael say a disparaging remark about anyone. Michael always conducted himself in a manner that I envied and aspired to.

    I admired Mike McKendry.

    My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Mary. his immediate family and to all his many friends.

    John J. Bagnell a/k/a Satch

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  • Marian Staley / June 1, 2018 at 7:23 pm

    Such a warm, loving person. So many wonderful memories. So many family parties where Michael and Eddie brought their guitars and jammed the night away. All of our mini family reunions at the Bent Elbo when “the boys” were playing.
    He was so in love with “his bride”, Mary and got so much joy from his daughters and grandkids.

    A really special angel has arrived in heaven.

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  • I’m very saddened by Mike’s passing. As a member of Quiet Country in the “Avalon Summer” years, and on and off Campus as well, I still recall his smile as he would turn on stage to his left and look at me with that sparkle in his eyes as we were performing. . I even remember spending the night at his home when the band first journeyed from Loretto to Avalon. And I was always impressed by his Style and Personality. What a great guy. Rest in Peace ‘ol Buddy.

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  • Steve Klaszky - Quiet Country / June 2, 2018 at 2:32 pm

    Michael and I lived next door to each other as freshmen in the Ave Maria dormitory at St. Francis College, Fall 1968. We immediately became fast friends from the moment we realized we were both singers/musicians. I was blown away by his rendition of “Scotch & Soda”.

    Living across the hall was our friend, Dick D., who was also a singer/musician; and so the acoustic trio “Steve, Mike and Dick” was born. We rehearsed for countless hours in the dorm stairwell – annoying the hell out of others, I’m sure. But it was there that we perfected our 3-part harmonies & simultaneouly sealed our friendships for life.

    By 1970, we traded our acoustics for electric’s, added drummer Art D. (above), and became “Quiet Country”. Michael always had an amazing vocal style and huge outgoing personality, and was a natural frontman for the band. He sure could tell a story, or make a crowd laugh. He sure as hell knew how to make us laugh! And we never stopped playing Scotch & Soda.

    Mike could also pass a football better than anyone I ever knew. Perfect spirals perfectly thrown, right on target. And his huge legs enabled him to easily punt a football 50 yards in the air. Again, perfect spirals.

    To this day Mike and I have been best friends, doing gigs, attending concerts, driving into NYC to buy music gear, etc. We’ve logged countless hours in the car chatting about life, music, politics, our past, present and future. Those trips were always filled with fun, laughter and the brotherly love that he and I always had for each other.

    Seven years ago we made a pact: “Friends to the end”. Now, the end is here and I’m stunned and lost without him. Thankfully, I still have one of the finest recordings of Scotch & Soda ever made – by my friend to the end, Michael P. McKendry.

    Rest in Peace, brother. When it’s my turn, grab my hand and pull me through.

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  • jack mckendry / June 2, 2018 at 7:11 pm

    Our family is just devastated in losing our engine of enthusiasm, laughter and love, Michael Patrick. But, the most painful loss is suffered by his best friend, devoted partner and love of his entire life, Mary Kane, and their three beautiful girls, Kate, Karen and Sarah and the grandkids. He was also a neighborhood ‘happy soul’ to all, maybe a Pied Piper of his neighborhood as the kids all loved him for his love of music, baseball games and sense of humor and attention he gave to his grandkids and their friends. They called him ‘Pops’ and everyone knew his smiling face and pleasant manner to all.

    Michael had a rheumatic fever in junior year of high school and missed a class year. When he returned the next year he ran for class president of the 6000 student body of Cardinal Dougherty HS and won. His illness resulted in him having to give up baseball (Hard hitting switch hitter) and football and missing a year of school. He adapted and turned his attention to learning the guitar along with our youngest brother, Eddie, neither ever taking a single lesson but rather from a book they bought. To say Michael loved playing music with Eddie is a major understatement. He had a successful career in management with Pepsi Cola, all the while being a fun Dad to the girls and playing music at every opportunity. I knew him for 70 years and never heard him complain once about his health issues. He and Mary attacked his chemo together and supported each other up to the end.

    Michael had a wonderfully happy and positive life doing all that he wanted to do. He had a very happy marriage and had the love of his girls and all who knew him locally and along the music trail. Heaven must be laughing or singing. Michael’s positive smiling spirit has to live for eternity. Please, never forget him and, of course, his mastery of ‘Scotch & Soda’. God Bless our Michael Patrick.

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  • Linda Erbele / June 3, 2018 at 8:27 am

    I am shocked and Heartbroken to hear about Michaels passing.I was his Barber for many years and considerd him one of my favorite costumers.we always talked about family,who he loved dearly and his music. I am saddened for your family’s loss he will very much be missed.

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  • I was very saddened to hear the news of Michael’s passing. I only met Michael a few times, when the McKendry Brothers played at a friend’s Christmas party. Michael was very friendly, extremely talented, and oh so funny. When I think of Michael I will see that smile and hear that laugh. My heartfelt prayers to out to Michael’s family and friends. He was truly one of the good guys. Heaven has gained a very special Angel.

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