Michael William Ladwig, 76, passed away on August 31, 2020 in Daytona Beach, Florida. He was born June 26, 1944 in Madison, Wisconsin. Michael lived in Madison until the beginning of his 7 ^th grade year. His family then moved to Beloit, Wisconsin where he graduated from Beloit Memorial High School in 1962.

He was a Vietnam Era Veteran , and served in the United States Army Medical Service Corp from 1962 to 1965. He served as a Clinical Psychology Specialist, and worked in both Army Mental Health and in Psychological Research while in the service. He attained the rank of Specialist E-5, and was honorably discharged in 1965.

In 1965, he returned to Wisconsin, where he matriculated at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and received his Bachelor's degree in 1969. Subsequent to his undergraduate work, he went to Athens, Greece, and served there approximately one year as a World Service Worker for the Greek YMCA, and for the International Division of the YMCA.

Upon his return to the United States, he served several years for various YMCAs as a Youth Director, Camp Director, Assistant Program Director, and Drop-In Center Director for the Janesville and Milwaukee, Wisconsin YMCAs as well as the Minneapolis, Minnesota YMCA.

After his move to Minneapolis in the early 1970s, he served as a Staff Assistant to the Administrator of the Pilot City Ambulatory Care Medical Center. In Minnesota he attended the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota where he received his Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology in 1976.

He married in 1976 but later divorced. He moved to Holly Hill, Florida, where he began Doctoral Studies in Counseling in a Combined Doctoral Program between the University of Central Florida and the University of Florida. Michael completed all academic coursework, practica, internship, written examination and oral examination requirements for his Doctoral degree, but never completed all of the requirements for his doctoral dissertation. He was noted for saying that he was "A.B.D"(all but dissertation) for his Doctorate in Counseling.

In Florida, Michael served as Director of an Outpatient Drug and Alcohol treatment program, and as a therapist treating abused children for a Children's Crisis program. From 1983, he was a private practice Counselor, and a Psychotherapist for a large group practice, and then a collaborative practice relationship with Dr. Penelope Norton, Ph.D., a local Clinical Psychologist from 1985 until 2008.

During the 1990s, Michael also studied in New York for over 10 years with Dr. Jean Houston, one of the pre-eminent teachers of Human Potential Training.

After a major heart attack, and subsequent open Heart surgery in 2008, he served as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and a Psychotherapist for a local Psychiatrist, Dr. Louis Raimondo, M.D.

Michael was elected President of the Volusia-Flagler Counseling Association, and as President of the Florida-Wide Mental Health Counselor's association. He was selected as Florida's Mental Health Counselor of the Year in 1994, and was elected to the National Registry of Distinguished Counselors in the early 1990s. he also served as Vice-Chair of the Volusia-Flagler Mental Health association for many years.

In addition to his primary profession of Counselor and Psychotherapist, Michael also developed a part-time business (MYTHICQUESTS) to lead tour groups to various international destinations. These tours focused on the mythology, legends, and folk tales of the various locations. He led tours to Greece, Norway, Iceland, Scotland, Thailand, Cambodia, and Burma. Additionally, Michael traveled on his own to the French, Swill, and Italian Alps. He also went to Nepal, Tibet. He rafted the Grand Canyon, the Chattooga River, and the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. He also backpacked several times in the Canadian Rockies.

Michael also served as one of the primary leaders and teachers of the local Tibetan-Buddhist Sangha.

He is survived by his sister Nancy Polizotto, his brother David Ladwig(Brooks), his sister Carla(Ken) Haats, his cousin Joanie Ernster(John), a niece Stacy Scherzer(Karl), a nephew Bradley Wieneke (Sheila), and by several great nephews and great nieces.

Due to Covid-19 no memorial services are being planned at this time.