Well it hasn’t been easy, of course when a un-timely death such as Michaels happens you think about all the things you should have or could have said or done. You look for signs that may happen the same time you were thinking of him. Yesterday I went Turkey hunting, didn’t see one, so my thoughts of him consumed my morning even more. Its was a beautiful morning, I left the woods early and heading back to my truck, I stopped and looked back only to see a huge rainbow in the sky (remember it was a beautiful morning). It gave me peace to know Michael was near. I love you and really miss you Mike.
Love Dad

From the day we Christianed Mike he was special to us. We helped celebrate all his young Birthdays. In his adult years we always enjoyed a visit from him. He kept us up on all of his work projects and his latest vacations. We will always keep him and his family in our hearts.

What a genuine thrill it was to see my daughter, Allyson, dressed beautifully in a green gown for Junior Prom and an even greater thrill that Mike was her date. He was so handsome and so incredibly polite, obviously brought up in a loving home.
He looked so different that evening than he did on the Saturday morning ski trips to Bristol. He always had a gentle smile but was a “hot dogger” along with Brian Beh. A wonderful young man and a credit to his family and friends. Walk with God, Mike.

It’s not often you meet someone who is genuinely nice – someone who will literally drop everything for someone to help, even if it’s not for a “best friend.” Mike was one of those people. In fact, he might be the only person I really have gotten to know that is just an all around good person.

In a moment of brilliance, I left my car keys on Nantucket which was a big problem when I got to Hyannis at 9:30pm. I didn’t know what to do. I found Mike’s number in my phone book from when I had first met him the summer before. I didn’t know him very well, but I took a chance and called him. He was ready to drive me, someone who he didn’t really know all that well, back to Boston so I could get my spare keys then drive all the way back to the Cape … in one night.

I can’t recall another time when someone has shown such generosity and compassion for me … even though it was my own stupidity that got me into the situation in the first place. I’m fairly sure that my best friends would not have offered to do that for me. It’s something that I will always remember, and I hope some day I can take a page out of Mike’s book and show that same generosity and compassion to someone in need.

My heart goes out to Mike’s family.

Bailey Gril, Happy Brithday Gril, scaroma, brian perfusion, rip pain…Denise (from work) had us in stitches with her ‘i’ ‘r’ mix-ups and other interesting miss-spellings…how we laughed and laughed!

We, however, did not laugh at Harold and Kumar’s Xmas movie..we were mortified at how horrible it was..

I remember the day first day we met so clearly, I don’t think people thought we’d hit it off like we did – fast friends! I will hold your gift of friendship dear to my heart forever.

Til we meet again..xxoo

I am so sorry I couldn’t make it to the services on Friday. My thoughts and prayers continue to be with your family. I have so many great childhood memories of Mike (and the whole Giunta family) thank you for giving me the opportunity to make those memories with you!

My daughter Cassidy recently decided to cut her hair and donate it to Locks of Love. Locks of Love provides wigs to children who, because of illness, have lost their hair. I also was able to raise a small amount of money in the process. Because my fondest memories of Mike are from childhood, I (after getting the OK from Cassidy) have decided to make the donation in Mike’s honor.

For me Mike was the most genuine, caring and thoughtful person. Mike had a certain way about him where his level of sincerity was unbelievable. Unfortunately, our friendship was short lived, but there where very few dull moments. On some occasions I’d stop by his place and we’ed have a great talk usually about me if it were about one of us. He would bring out the best in me, and see things that I didn’t. He definitively was a trustworthy person that was full of optimism. Mike and I had a lot in common. When we went up to Vermont to celebrate my birthday we went on and on about the dynamics of growing up in our families with lots of great memories. In the end though it was how our mother’s were are best friends and greatest fans.

Mike you will always be and inspiration and you will never be forgotten

I was lucky enough to call Mike one of my best friends. We had lots of great times together over the years but some of our best times were on my boat ( calling it a boat might be a stretch- more like a glorified canoe). At the time I acquired my boat, I knew absolutely nothing about boats other than that they were supposed to float. Mike was the resident boat expert since his dad had a boat so he quickly was dubbed Captain. So off we went one sunny Cape summer day to the busy town pier to take our boat on its maiden voyage, after waiting for what seemed like forever it was finally our turn to put the boat in the water. Mike as the captain was in the boat as I reversed the boat trailer into the water with a lot of “left” and “right” from Mike. I was so proud that I had actually reversed the boat into the water and Mike quickly unhooked the boat from the trailer. As I started to pull up the ramp, full of pride about my latest accomplishment, I heard Mike shouting as well as soon bystanders at the pier, “the boat is sinking!!!” Like a true captain, Mike stayed on the sinking boat as I comically tried to reverse the trailer back down the ramp. Fortunately a bystander, who was finally able to stop laughing, was able to reverse my truck and save Mike and the boat. As it turns out, we had failed to close the two drainage plugs in the boat… You would think this would have been enough to end our boating careers immediately, not so, we drained the water out of our boat and started out on the first of many boating trips together. I have never taken the boat out without my captain and I dare say my boat will ever see the water again. My heart goes out to you all. Mike was a wonderful friend and I will miss him always.
With Sympathy,
Willy

To the Giunta family–words cannot begin to express how sorry I am for your loss. As Mike’s 3rd and 5th grade teacher at Ontario Elementary, I remember his sweet face and disposition as if it were yesterday. Please know he will never be forgotten.

I was lucky enough to count Mike as one of my best friends for the past eleven years, We met in Boston when I moved there after college and quickly became inseparable and had the most fun together doing everything and nothing. Throughout the years Mike and I have enjoyed adventures in Boston, Cape Cod, Nantucket and beyond. When my husband and I had our first child he became the most wonderful “Uncle Mike” they could have, being there right after each child was born and being a part of every birthday and celebration. My whole family was enriched by Mike’s presence in our lives, and he was a part of so many celebrations and family events that we counted him as a true member of our family. Every event was enriched by Mike’s presence, and nothing will ever be as good without him. My heart is broken, and I know that there is not a day that will pass when I will not miss my wonderful friend. I know that my children will forever hear stories about their “Uncle Mike” and he will live in our memories.

My love and deepest, most sincere condolences go out to Tom, Kathy, Ryan and all of Mike’s family. You are in my thoughts constantly and I thank you for bringing such a wonderful person into the world and making him the caring, funny, loving person he was.

Sarah