Sunday, August 25, 2013
Forgive me but I’m not sorry I can’t be there today. Mike often told me he wanted me to write his eulogy. I always responded by telling him I really couldn’t think of anything good to say about him and he would always laugh. Mike was the most COMPETETIVE person I’ve ever met, perhaps to a fault. The first time I saw him, because he had a back problem, he was awkwardly walking around the HARRINGTON PARK softball field instructing all his girls, my daughter Michele included. He didn’t appear to be very welcoming and didn’t look athletic. I wondered who the heck is this little dictator. Right then I knew the playing field was his domain and could not be penetrated. Years later he would bore me to death with lengthy discussions of each girl and how he had positioned them. MIKE was a terrific COACH and was well liked by the youngsters. In life Karen, Betsy, Eileen and Lal (Eleanor) came first, but sports and competition was a close second. We spent many hours together after his injury and MIKE would always try to lure me into a discussion of high school football. Shrewdly he would lure me into talking about my gridiron days, which were ancient history. But I knew where he was going and I let him. He was taking me back to the GLORY DAYS, which he never left behind. You know, like in the Springsteen song. If I heard the stories once I heard them a thousand times. Memorial High School from West New York and their record undefeated 39 game winning streak. The play, LF 28 , where MIKE, old number 49, ran 95 yards to beat the tough St. Peters team. Then MIKE would proceed to take me through all the players who he loved like brothers and Coach Coviello. I listened until I told him I couldn’t take it anymore and he would laugh. But despite his size it was all true. We would be out and people would come up to him and ask ARE YOU MIKE MOLLO, WHO SCORED THAT GAME WINNING 95 YARD TOUCHDOWN TO BEAT ST PETERS? Mike also had a remarkable MEMORY. I loved when the recollections turned to remembering Barbara, my wife. I would listen intently. He would reminisce about how easily she would whip up a Sunday team brunch after our SEAL TEAM games, always the same , fresh Italian bread ,potatoes and eggs and Heineken. MIKE spoke about the many Sunday afternoons, spent at my house watching the GIANT games. HE was in a wheelchair, and Barbara hand fed him portions of homemade manicotti . He considered Barbara to be his sister. MIKE made many donations, in Barb’s honor to the SMILE FOREVER foundation, which has helped many from our community. I remember the many the trips to the Kessler REHAB FACILITY with Stu, Bob, Arny, Richy, Danny, ALLAN and others who brought him home every weekend to be with the family. I would swear at him for not spending more on a better van, one we could easily fit him in without banging his head and breaking my back . Again he would laugh at my aggravation These trips and visits by friends were acts of love. You see if you knew MIKE and he was on your team you loved him. If he was against you, he was your worst nightmare, an original b---breaker. Over these long years we’ve been through a lot; the law suit, the law suit against the lawyers. He loved to talk about the fabled NY super lawyer Grutmam, with the silly bowtie and flowered lapel, whom he solidly defeated in court. I think of the trips to California attempting to get him to walk again, a shot in the dark but we tried and MIKE never gave up. We drove to his beloved VILLANOVA, FENWAY and sightseeing in THE CITY. He liked my pointing out the site of MOB HITS. MIKE made the best effort to live. We really enjoyed each others company. When he was finally convinced to use the COMPUTER, he drove us all crazy by endlessly forwarding too many spiritual chain letters threatening us with death or blindness should we break the chain In all these years I never heard MICHAEL complain or question why he was injured. I admired him and Eleanor for dealing with the situation for these many years.. There were many tough days but the love and appreciation was there. Finally, more than anything, I admired his perserverence . Every time we spoke or said goodbye he would tell me he loved me as did I in return. I told him again last week in his final hours. MIKE, you were an original and will not be forgotten, your picture will be on my desk next to STU. Hopefully BARBARA is making them brunch and holding my seat. My condolences to all Thank you PAT
