1959 – 2014
Eastford – On February 14, 2014, Mike was unexpectedly taken from his family and friends. Mike was just one of those great guys with a true gift for making everyone laugh, always willing to lend a helping hand to a friend or neighbor in need. A natural story-teller, he truly must have kissed the Blarney Stone. Mike enjoyed hunting, fishing and other outdoor pursuits. As a carpenter and builder with HeritageBuilding and Design, Mike had a true affinity for restoring historic buildings to their former glory. His driving force, love of his life and side-kick these past 12 years was his son Riley.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a memorial service on Saturday, February 22, 2014, at 2:00 pm, in the Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to be made to First Niagara Bank c/o Riley Roberts, P.O Box 71, Eastford, CT06242 for an education fund for Michael’s son Riley. For memorial guestbook visit www.GilmanAndValade.com.
Tracey MacDonald
My heart goes out to you and your family during this difficult loss. Please let me know if there is anything that I can do for you in this trying time.
Godspeed Mikey…unitl we meet again Old Friend!
Andy Sujdak
Ah Mike,
Who will entertain us now?
I will think of you and your tales and smile
Godspeed and peace to you and your family
Joan Muller
Dear Sharon and Riley, Mike shared good advice with me more than once about one or another aspect of carpentry when I’d bump into him at the Post Office or at school. Like a good country doctor, he shared his expertise freely and never made me feel as if I was trying to get help without an office appointment. I see many of his gifts in Riley and know that their presence speaks to how father and son were close. It’s unimaginable loss for both of you. I hope that you may find support from friends, family and the many people who associated with Mike professionally or through the Eastford town and school community. Deepest sympathy, Joan Muller EES
Steve & Susan Adams
We are so hurt from the loss of Mike. He made us laugh for so many years. He will always be remembered. He was always there when you needed him!!!Riley please know how much he loved you and how proud he was of you.Stay Strong for he will always be with you!!
Sincerely,Steve,Sue &Snoopy
Leslie Holda
I am so sorry to hear about Mike’s passing he was without a doubt one of a kind, the best kind.
My heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to your family.
Remember all the laughs !!
Carol Davidge
Mike was a unique person, enormously gifted, wonderfully helpful, an expert, a great story teller, a devoted father and husband, tough and gentle. One story that I loved was that growing up, his home town had a police officer, but the guys would find out where the policeman was and then go to the other end of town to do their mischief. Another was that he and the guys were out one snowy night and couldn’t get their car up a hill, so they backed back down to get better traction, but backed right into a car coming up the hill; the driver of the car behind was so inebriated that he got out and said, “Oh! I’m so sorry to bump into you, please don’t call the police – I’ll give you $100 not to call the cops,” so Mike and friends took the money and nobody got ticketed. As a neighbor he was also helpful in trying to fix up our old house, and he really could fix just about anything. Mike fixed a windy basement corner that had resulted in frozen pipes for 20 years, and the entire basement is much warmer now – who knew. We’ll miss you, Mike. We’ll never forget you. Our loves goes out to Sharon and Riley.
Effie Vinal
Sharon and Riley, Please know how sorry I am to hear of Mike’s passing. He and you have been wonderful neighbors these many years. Mike was so willing to help me with mowing and the pool after Wayne’s passing and I appreciated his concern for my family.He will be missed. With love, Effie Prov 3:5&6
Chace Building Supply
Our deepest sympathy to Mike’s family and work family. We will miss Mike’s visits here at the store. All your friends at Chace Building Supply.
Kinsella School, Hartford, CT
Sharon, our thoughts, love and deepest prayers are with you and Riley during this difficult time.
Love,
The Kinsella School Family
Peter and Nancy Whitham
One of the friendliest people I ever ran into. He could light up a room without even opening his mouth. Open his mouth, and the room was on fire! Once he got going, it was hard to shut him off. Sharon calling, still had to finish the story. Almost always late for dinner, just because.
We’ll miss you dude!
John Fanelli & Alice Moon-Fanelli
Sharon & Riley;
Words cannot express the sadness that Alice and I feel for your loss. We thought the world of Mike and enjoyed the time we were fortunate enough to spend with him. He was by far one of the most favorite and unique people in our lives. He could never say enough about how much he enjoyed being a dad and the time he got to spend with Riley.
He leaves behind an incredible void in our lives and the people that knew him well. Rest in peace our good friend, we will miss you very much.
Lisa Finkelman
Sharon and Riley,
We are sorry for your loss. Mike was a wonderful person. I know he was so proud of Riley. We are thinking of you and sending our love.
Michael & Rose Greaney
Riley & Sharron, when we heard of Mile’s passing our hearts sank. There will never be anyone to replace him. Mike could make anyone laugh until the tears rolled down your face & your belly hurt. To everyone who knew him, will there ever be anyone that can replace him? Riley, you were his true pride & joy! Sincere condolences, Rose & Mike Greaney
Barbara & Jim Richardson
Dear Sharon and Riley,
We are so sad for you and all of those who will miss Mike. Mike was a great friend to us. We live in Royalston (the town he grew up in) and haven’t seen Mike for many years, almost every year around Christmas time we could count on hearing from him. His news would be filled with joy about his family, please know how much he loved you guys.
Reading the other things people have shared tells me he is the same guy we knew! What a character, the stories we could tell.
Karen Bowen
Sharon and Riley, I am sorry to hear about Mike’s passing. I work at Bowen’s Garage and always enjoyed Mike’s stories when he would come in for gas. I just waited on him the day before his passing and he was saying he could not wait for spring. I will miss his smiling face that he always had no matter what. As you can see from all the stories, he was a fixture in Eastford and will be truly missed,
thoughts and prayers to you both during this difficult time.
Robin Gleason
Sharon & Riley,
I just wanted to tell you how very sorry I am to hear about Mike. Although I have not seen him for several years, we were once very close and he will always hold a special place in my heart. He was a wonderful person with a kind heart and always had this knack of being able to make you smile, no matter how you were feeling! I still can’t believe he’s gone. I hope Riley grows up always knowing what a good man his Dad was. My thoughts & prayers are with your family during this difficult time.
Robin Rousselle Gleason
Steven & Susan Adams
On May 21, 1959 you were born. The past years you would stop by and we would wish you a “Happy Birthday”.We miss you Mikey and wish you were here so we could wish you a “Happy” 55th. You were wrong when you said if anything ever happened to you no one would care. We do care and miss you dearly!!!!!! Sincerely Steve, Sue & Snoopy