On August 24, 2022, Michael Reith Salata passed away unexpectedly at his home in Salt Lake City. He was 67 years old.

Mike was raised in Fremont, Michigan, where he enjoyed golfing, skiing, and watching sports. His adult life was a troubled one. He suffered from untreated schizophrenia and was in and out of psychiatric facilities and jail.

He notably stalked the tennis player, Steffi Graf, and once boarded an airplane with a found ticket belonging to someone else. During periods of confusion, he would hop on a bus for California or Florida. Authorities in those states would identify that he suffered from mental health issues and put him back on a bus to become some other state’s problem.

Recently, Mike seemed to have found some peace and was living quietly in a Salt Lake City Econolodge.

Mike was preceded in death by his mother and father, Virginia and Michael. He is survived by his brother, David, his step-mother, Marjorie, step-siblings, Melissa, Rhondi, Eric, Gunnar, their spouses, and 10 nieces and nephews.

Memorial donations may be made to the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression.