Mike Antich passed away on December 19, 2025, at age 72, and this video is our tribute to someone many in fleet didn’t just respect… they measured themselves against. Born November 1, 1953, in San Pedro, California, Mike built his career on curiosity, credibility, and (most importantly) people. He entered publishing in 1976 with Interface Age magazine, and by 1979, he was already doing what he’d become known for: translating “new tech” into what it actually meant for real-world operations.
In 1985, Ed Bobit brought Mike to Bobit Business Media as an editor for Automotive Fleet, where he would stay through his retirement in 2023. Over nearly four decades, he helped shape what fleet journalism looks like, wrote and edited more than 5,000 articles, and played a meaningful role in launching and growing BBM fleet brands and industry events.
But this tribute isn’t only about the milestones. It’s about the man.
In this video, you’ll hear from colleagues, fleet leaders, and longtime friends sharing the moments that made Mike unforgettable, like:
How he made people feel remembered, even if it had been ten years since the last time they crossed paths.
How he could take a complicated issue and turn it into something fleets could actually use on Monday morning.
How he showed up at conferences, in breakout rooms, and in the front row with a notebook, listening closely and asking the kind of questions that pushed the industry forward.
How he mentored others quietly and thoughtfully, never needing credit or a spotlight.
And how, through it all, he put family, faith, and relationships first.
To Mike’s wife Nelly, his children, and everyone who loved him, we’re holding you close. And to everyone who learned from Mike, consider this a nudge and a challenge: pass it forward. Share what you know. Pull someone else up. Keep building the kind of community Mike helped create, one conversation at a time.
Rest well, Mike. You’re deeply missed, and your impact isn’t going anywhere.