A Tribute to Brother Michael Scott Scudder
Posted: July 4, 2017 in Other News
Michael Scott Scudder – From The Heart!
By: Norm Cates, Founder and Publisher of Club Insider
This Tribute to club consultant, former club operator and fitness industry veteran, Brother Michael Scott Scudder, age 75, was completed on the 4th of July, the day Brother Scudder was buried at a small, Jewish and non-sectarian cemetery affiliated with the Taos Jewish Center. Brother Scudder had suddenly died at his home in Taos, New Mexico on Friday, June 30th from complications related to his June 7th hip surgery. Michael’s wife of many years, Phyllis Landis, wrote that doctors believed her husband had died from a pulmonary embolism. An autopsy was being done.
Club Insider’s January, 2004 Cover Story featured Brother Michael Scott Scudder, and I began that story with a reference to one of the world’s most beautiful songs ever: “RETURN to INNOCENCE” by Enigma.
I referenced “RETURN to INNOCENCE” because it’s a mesmerizing Indian song that I thought was appropriate because Michael Scott Scudder, and yours truly, many years ago had shared with each other the fact that we were both part Cherokee Indian.
If you Google the beautiful song and play it while you follow these words, you will more clearly understand my lead-in comments published in Brother Scudder’s January, 2004 Cover Story, that I’m now quoting directly from at the beginning of this Tribute to Brother Michael Scott Scudder.
First, the amazing verses of the song: “RETURN to INNOCENCE” – “Love… Devotion… Feeling… Emotion… Don’t be afraid to be weak. Don’t be too proud to be strong. Just look into your heart, my friend. That will be the return to yourself. The RETURN to INNOCENCE. If you want, then start to laugh. If you must, then start to cry. Be yourself, don’t hide. Just believe in destiny. Don’t care what people say. Follow your own way. Don’t give up, don’t give up. To return, to RETURN to INNOCENCE. If you want, then laugh. If you must, then cry. Be yourself, don’t hide. Just believe in destiny.”
I then followed the verses of this amazing song with my lead-in comments to Brother Scudder’s January, 2004 Cover Story, which now follow:
“Let me state now that this Cover Story truly was written “From the Heart!” as the title of his Cover Story on the cover indicates: Michael Scott Scudder – “From The Heart!” (See the January, 2004 CLUB INSIDER cover image on This Page). The words above from the beautiful Indian song “RETURN to INNOCENCE”, summarizes the wonderful career and contribution one Michael Scott Scudder has made to the health club industry during his 30-year career. This man has followed his heart, and he has believed in destiny.”
My lead-in comments continued:
The Michael Scott Scudder Cover Story that I wrote does come ‘From the Heart,’ and because of that, he, as a teacher, brings the most important ingredients there are to his club business clients: LOVE… DEVOTION… FEELING… EMOTION. Michael followed his heart at all times.
The “Story of Elizabeth”
Take, for example, over 20 years ago when Michael was working in a club on a Saturday night and was just about to close for the evening. A large, significantly overweight woman entered his club, obviously, to him, hesitantly. She said to Michael, “It looks like I may be here too late.” His response, “Why no, how may I help you?” She said, “I am way overweight. I am tired all the time. I am embarrassed to go out in public. I don’t feel good anymore. I don’t have any confidence in myself, and I want to try to do something about my condition.” Her name was Elizabeth.
Michael invited Elizabeth into his office, and for the next hour, he heard her life story. It had been a sad life, and she truly poured her heart out to him. But, at the end, Michael enrolled her as a member in the club, and the next day, she began her comeback. She became devoted to her daily exercise and began to show results as the weeks went by. She persisted and lost a significant amount of weight and was getting a feeling of success as she was evolving into that different person she wanted to become. One day, months later, Michael saw Elizabeth at the door to his office. She came in and said to him, “Michael, I just want you to know how much I appreciate what you have done for me and how much my exercise has done for me. I have lost 35 pounds and three dress sizes, and I feel SO, SO much better! People I know everywhere are remarking about how good I look now! I met a man here at the club, and he and I are seeing each other regularly. Michael, you truly changed my life, and I just wanted to thank you.”
The “Story of Elizabeth” is one that Michael told one day at the World Gym University he conducted at Wally Boyko’s National Fitness Trade Journal Conference. It was such a moving story that it stuck with this writer as if it was yesterday.
The truth is, The “Story of Elizabeth” is one that should be repeated in our industry all over the world as people who have succumbed to the despair, depression and sadness of being obese and out of condition need to find their Michael Scott Scudder. Those that do “Make the Break” are the winners.
And, YOU out there are the winners, too, because there is no amount of money, no material thing on this earth that is more valuable, more of a treasure… than saving and changing a life! You ALL are helping people change their lives to include happiness, joy, renewed energy, productivity and accomplishment. You ALL are helping their families and their employers as well. No other person in any business in the world receives the honor and the satisfaction that all of you working in the health club industry receive. And, don’t forget this. This article was entitled “From the Heart” in honor of Michael Scott Scudder’s deep dedication to help people succeed.
And, we entitled “From the Heart” in YOUR HONOR, TOO. We selected this title in YOUR HONOR for it is “From Your Heart” that you get out of bed every day and go to work at your club. If you ever have a tough day in your club, and the Good Lord knows we all do, just remember this: You ALL are BLESSED to be doing what you are doing for people, and they are BLESSED to have you and your club in their lives! Go forward everyday with that joy… that confidence… that reward in life because you are the member of a very small segment of the world’s population. You are GOD’s messengers because you are a member of a fraternity that brings joy, happiness, confidence and renewed energy to millions of people around the globe. And, you should always have a deep sense of pride and satisfaction in what you do because no one can ever take this deep sense of satisfaction of what you do for your people away from you. Never. Ever. Ever.
It is with a great sense of “Love… Devotion… Feeling… Emotion…” that I bring you this in-depth interview with a man who has “Listened to his heart. A man who believes in destiny. The one and only Michael Scott Scudder.”
Okay folks, you’ve just read my introduction to Brother Scudder’s Cover Story interview published in January, 2004. If you are a Paid Club Insider Subscriber, you may access the entire Cover Story in our Club Insider Archive Library.
If you are NOT a Paid Subscriber, and you really want to read his entire Cover Story Q&A Interview, then send an email to me at: Norm@clubinsideronline.com, and I will send the PDF with his Cover Story to you at no charge with Brother Scudder’s compliments. I know he will want you to have it.
Now… comments from some of our industry’s special people, all folks who are long-time friends of Brother Scudder:
Rick Caro, President of Management Vision, Inc. in New York City: I have known Michael for over 30 years, maybe over 35. He committed himself early to the club industry and stayed with it all of those years. He first got involved as a club staff member (in sales and then fitness). This led to a role as a GM. But, after many years of working in the fitness industry, he was given the opportunity to be a speaker at Club Industry. This led to many years of sharing his insights, teaching the industry fundamentals in such areas as sales and marketing, developing management sessions aimed at club General Managers and Owners and thinking ‘big picture’ with his trends and predictions. He went on the road and taught clubs in a variety of road shows. He presented to diverse audiences. He consulted to clubs and took a special interest in small, independent ones.
Later, Michael became interested in industry research and did his own surveys. He fell in love with technology and made efforts to bring it to the club industry. He enjoyed challenging industry norms, taking contrary points of view and offering new ways to succeed in an industry he loved.
His passing is extremely sudden and much too soon. All expected his voice to continue, and hopefully, make us all smarter and more successful. He left a mark, and many are thankful of his contribution to them.
I wish his wife, Phyllis, and family, my deepest sympathies.
John McCarthy, IHRSA Executive Director for the first 25 years, IHRSA Executive Director, Emeritus and leader with Augie and Lynne, of Augie’s Quest: Norm, That’s terrible… What a shock… Such a very good guy… Always supported Augie’s Quest… and always sided with the ‘little guys’ in our business. I met him almost 40 years ago when he had a small tennis club in Connecticut. He was one of the first guys in our business to adopt all the new technologies… I remember him showing me how to operate a strange new thing called a ‘computer.’ And like you, Norm, he had a great and natural gift for journalism. Whatever he wrote was interesting and engaging… What a good guy… very sad and totally unexpected… Like you, I say ‘May Brother Scudder Rest in Peace.’
Paul Schaller, CEO and President of ABC Financial Services: I met Michael in 1993. He and I were heading to the same club, Jack Wadsworth Gold’s Gym in The Seattle area. As soon as we met, there was an immediate respect for him, and as the years went by, he became sort of a surrogate uncle for me. While we had a professional relationship, it was often the private and personal discussions Michael and I had regarding family and he and Ms. Phyllis’ various adventures they would embark on that I will most fondly remember. Michael Scott Scudder was a legend in the fitness industry, but he always continued his efforts to be innovative and attempting to bring education and support to hundreds of club operators using modern technologies and his unique charm and wit to assist in moving the industry ahead! He was always an enthusiast for the independent gym owner and impacted so many lives over five decades. The best thing I can say about Michael Scott Scudder is that he was a good friend and someone who I always considered family for ABC and me personally! He will be greatly missed, and I know Ms. Phyllis has lost her best friend and soulmate. Rest In Peace, Michael.
Daron Allen, CEO of Visual Fitness Planner: Michael was a man of deep character qualities that have become rare. He passionately loved and cherished his wife and life-long best friend, Phyllis, in visible and tangible ways. He was fiercely loyal to those friends who were fortunate enough to be called such by him. If Michael Scott Scudder was your friend, you knew he was committed, and you were blessed. He was a futuristic maverick to the health and fitness industry to which he is considered a pioneer, leader, visionary and protector. Michael was truly one of kind. He will be greatly missed. And, like an incredibly rare and precious coin, his void will not easily find replacement.
Pamela Kufahl, Director of Content and Engagement for Club Industry: Michael was a passionate advocate for the fitness industry. That often meant praising the good things that people in the industry did, but it also meant pointing out where the industry fell short. His presentations for the past 30 years at the Club Industry Show were some of our most popular, partly due to his enthusiasm and partly due to how provocative many of the topics were. He was a big advocate for small- to medium-sized club operators. As a person, Michael was also very passionate. You never had a short conversation with Michael. His curiosity about the industry, business and life were evident in all interactions with him. I feel lucky to have known him and learned from him. He will be missed greatly by all those who knew him.
Norm Cates: To say that Brother Michael Scott Scudder was a very special guy whom all of us who knew, have worked with him and held in high esteem, would be a real understatement. Brother Scudder was a walking, talking book of knowledge in our club industry, and from that depth of knowledge, and a lot of very hard-earned experience, he helped many people in their chosen endeavors in the health, racquet and sportsclub industry.
The Nickname “Brother”
The nickname “Brother” came up when Michael, who was part Irish and part Cherokee Indian, found out that I also was part Irish and part Cherokee. I’m not sure which one of us started the “Brother” nickname for the other, but I know Brother Scudder has gone to his grave with that nickname because, even as late as June 29th, the day before he died, I wrote an email to him about his hip surgery and how fortunate we all are to have the medical help our world provides now. I began that email with “Goodday Brother Scudder. First, CONGRATULATIONS on still being among us Geezers who’re still Kickin’!” and I went on to encourage him to hang in there and get well soon. Little did I know when I wrote that email to Brother Scudder on June 29th that it would be my last communication to him. When he didn’t reply I wondered why. Now, I know. He had gone to the Happy Hunting Ground, a comment I know he will approve of because of our history.
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Brother Michael Scott Scudder, from all of us in the health, racquet and sports club industry worldwide, let me say, “Rest In Peace.”
(Norm Cates, Jr. is a 40+ year veteran of the health, racquet and sportsclub industry. Cates is the Founder and Publisher of Club Insider, now in its 24th year of publication. Cates was IHRSA’s First President, and a Co-Founder with Rick Caro and five others, in 1981. In 2001, IHRSA honored Cates with its DALE DIBBLE Distinguished Service Award, one of its highest honors. Cates can be reached by phone at 770-635-7578 or email at Norm@clubinsideronline.com)
