Michael Masiello Obituary

Michael Masiello attended Pleasantville High School in Pleasantville, NY. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Michael Masiello.

Graduation Year	Class of 1976
Date of Passing	Mar 12, 2014
About	It is with great sadness that I have to report the death of Michael. He passed away after a very brave fight with brain cancer. I have known Michael for more than 50 years. I grew up with him in the same neighborhood. I played in several bands with him. In fact, he was in the very first band I was ever in, and he was in the very last band was ever in. From the time he was about 10, he always told me how much he loved my family and wished he could be a part of it. His wish came true when eight years later, he became family when he married my cousin. And our family became much richer for having him in it. He had a quick wit and brought joy to all who knew him. Everybody who knew him has a "Michael story." I have many as well. From the time when we were about 10 and he raised the thermostat up to 90 - in the middle of summer - to ensure my mother would let us go swimming. We were at the Thornwood diner, all dressed up in 1950's regalia following a gig in New Jersey. Mike ordered home fries with his eggs, but they kept sending french fries. On the third time he sent the dish back, for some inexplicable reason, it came back with onion rings. So he takes the onion rings (this is when the diner had that stucco wall with rocks in it in the back area) and spells out '' HOME FRIES'' on the wall. Someone was stealing candy bars from his lunch. So, he replaced the candy with a bar of Ex-Lax. And waited. Shortly thereafter, he found the thief. In June 2013, Jeannie went to see him in the hospital. He was very bad. We thought we were going to lose him. But he tried an experimental treatment, and kicked the brain cancer in the ass. The last time I saw him was in September 2013. I was hospitalized following surgery to remove tumors for my spinal column. He walks into my hospital room,,, and greets me as he has always greeted me; a great big smile and the tag, "Hiya, honey!" We spoke on the phone for the last time shortly before Thanksgiving. He expressed some concern because it was becoming difficult to walk again, and he had even fallen once or twice. The cancer had come back. He passed away at his new home in South Carolina, surrounded by his family, whom he loved so much. Michael was a wonderful friend, excellent musician, loving father, doting grandfather, devoted husband and son, phenomenal cousin, beloved uncle and brother. Rest in peace, old friend. I love you, and I'll see you when it's my turn to be called home. Meanwhile, I hope you and your old bandmate from Magic Opus [our band in 1975] Dan MacFall are making some wonderful music together.