Boy, 12, moved many

With stories, songs and prayers, Michael Belitz was remembered Friday as a smart sixth-grade boy who cared deeply for others.

Family, classmates and teachers lit red and white candles and spoke about the little, blonde 12-year-old who was found dead Sunday inside his home at 28th and Ida Streets.

Belitz's mother, Angela Manns, 46, is charged with first-degree murder in his death.

School librarian Bonnie Stillwagon spoke to the crowd of about 150 people gathered outside Minne Lusa Elementary's east side. She said she would always remember how mature and well-spoken Michael was.

He prepared for one reading competition and had all of the books read by Christmas. In a close match, his team lost by two points. Instead of getting upset, Michael asked the judge what page number the right answer was on so he could look it up.

“He went about it in such a nice and polite way,” Stillwagon said.

Michael was full of energy, talked a lot and loved to be around adults.

“He was one of those kids who as soon as you knew him, you loved him,” said his fifth-grade teacher, Dana Barker.

She would read a book aloud to the class, and within a month, Michael would have the whole series read, she said.

If she was having a bad day, she remembered, he would notice and ask what was wrong.

“He was so selfless,” Barker said. “I couldn't wait to see where he would be in 10 years.”

Also at the vigil was a feeling that something should have been done to help Michael.

Sarah Crawford, who taught Michael as a substitute teacher, said she wished Michael could have been saved.

Michael's mother had left two messages for a state caseworker wanting to know how to place Michael in foster care. The caseworker returned the calls and told Manns to call a hot line to provide more information. Manns never called, and the caseworker never called Manns back.

“It breaks my heart,” Crawford said Friday.

Amid questions about life and death, the Rev. Darrell Anderson said those gathered at the memorial should let Michael's memory live through stories.

Michael loved the Boy Scouts and school, said his half sister, Carrie. He was the captain of the school's safety patrol and helped children cross the street. He also read to kindergartners.

“Helping people,” she said. “That was him. He was always helping somebody. He was good at everything. So smart. He would read anything he could get his hands on.”

He ate huge breakfasts at a friend's house. He loved peanut butter pancakes. He also loved Husker football.

He joined a baseball team and at first had trouble catching. He worked hard and became a good hitter and the team's most improved player.

His father, Leonard Belitz, said Michael was intuitive and generous.

“He would give you his shirt,” Belitz said. “He would absolutely do anything anybody asked of him.

“If everybody cared as much as he did, this would be a better world.”

As the vigil ended, three girls played the flute. Mothers in the crowd stood behind their children and cried as candles flickered and the melody of “Amazing Grace” filled the air.

Classmates wrote notes to Michael in colored markers on a poster stuck to the school's door.

His half sister and her daughter inscribed a simple message:

“We love you, Michael.”

Contact the writer:

444-1022, katie.fretland@owh.com

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