- State: Tennessee
On Thursday, April 11, 2019, Michael Edward Bassow passed peacefully at his home in East Nashville, TN. Mike was a native of CA, born and raised in Santa Barbara, his family later relocated to Chico, where he attended college. He excelled in football and baseball during his high school and college years. He was a student of all things fun, gifted with a charming and outgoing personality and a quick wit, and blessed with boundless compassion and empathy. Mike came to Nashville in the late 90s to pursue his dream of being a singer and songwriter. After arriving in Music City, he worked in the restaurant industry, at Macaroni Grill, Midtown Cafe, and Sunset Grill. He was a favorite bartender of the many regulars. Eventually, Mike moved to the other side of the bar and became a top sales rep and sales manager for spirit and wine distributors in Nashville. In 2010, after the Nashville flood devastated the Jess Neely Ballpark, Mike was instrumental in getting various industries and community leaders together to commit and contribute to the rebuilding of the Little League ballfields in Shelby Park. A new organization was formed, East Nashville Athletics, and youth baseball began to thrive again in the park, bringing together families and kids of all ages and backgrounds. With his encouragement, Mike led many kids into baseball and saw it’s value and impact as something larger than the game itself. After several years of coaching teams, he took up umpiring and quickly became everyone’s favorite, and was dubbed the “Ump of East Nashville”. Mike was an avid cook and loved to feed and entertain people. He was adept at creating real community within his neighborhood, generous and giving to a fault, and welcoming to all who stepped through his doorway.
