Mike Gilroy was my best friend during high school. I met him in our very first class in high school, Miss Ames' Latin class. Through him I met Roy Overbeck who introduced us to Chris Koloskus. As time went on we became a tight knit group of friends. Mike was quiet but with a wry sense of humor and an insight into some of the events around us that had truly comical tones. We played on the football team together all four years. By our senior year Mike had worked himself into being an every down player, essentially only leaving the field at halftime. When the varsity finally starting to win in our senior year Mike distinguished himself enough that Coach Joe Sikorski anointed him with a new nick name, Crash, which was how we referred to him from then on. For his efforts Mike was named as honorable mention to the All County team our senior year when the team was voted Class M state champs. When we were juniors we both had cars but we spent most of our time in Mike's car, a '58 Chevy Belair, because it had a radio. As big as he was Mike had a natural athletic ability. He performed in the shot put for the track and field team. Among things we did together outside of school was play pick up basketball with a floating bunch of guys at Bob Cooper's, or shoot pool in the basement at Tim Empkie's, or watch pro hockey and wrestling at Roy's house or college and pro football at the Koloshus home. Sometimes we would spend evenings hanging out on the Empkie family boat moored in the Norwalk marina. These were easy times with a comfortable group and a lot of laughter. There was also admittedly a lot of eating, with John's Best pizza at the top of the menu. Mike did well in math at school and after graduation attended technical school and enlisted in the US Air Force where he was an air conditioning and refrigeration specialist. He was posted to Guam and then to Montana to as he put it "cool missile silos". Then in the early '70's Mike and Roy went with Chris to Denver where Chris had attended the university. A few years later all three were in my wedding but it was the last time we were all together. Mike did get married in Colorado but we lost touch. Last year Chris told me he had seen Mike's obituary. It was a shock to us and it hurt. Mike was a gentle person and a true friend. I still miss him.
Suffie- Because Mike G was such a kind and nice guy, I believe Coach Sikorski (could have been Coach Parry or Kelly,though) also anointed him "Cuddles", if I'm not mistaken.
I was hoping one (or more) of you guys would make some comments here. Mike lived 3 doors down from me during High School, and between he and his brother Bob, ( also Tommy...but he was younger) there was some SERIOUS "eye candy" for me, right on my street!!! They were both nice guys also and their mother and mine became good friends. My mom had taught Tommy in 2nd grade at West School, because they had lived in that district earlier, and Tom was her absolute, hands-down, favorite that year. A whole family of nice, nice guys. They were SO good to their mother as well, and I always respected them for that. Great to have "the other Mike's" comments here, to memorialize their friendship. Now that I think about it, the "two Mikes" always DID look like they were having a heck of a lot of fun together.
Mike Suffredini
Mike Gilroy was my best friend during high school. I met him in our very first class in high school, Miss Ames' Latin class. Through him I met Roy Overbeck who introduced us to Chris Koloskus. As time went on we became a tight knit group of friends. Mike was quiet but with a wry sense of humor and an insight into some of the events around us that had truly comical tones. We played on the football team together all four years. By our senior year Mike had worked himself into being an every down player, essentially only leaving the field at halftime. When the varsity finally starting to win in our senior year Mike distinguished himself enough that Coach Joe Sikorski anointed him with a new nick name, Crash, which was how we referred to him from then on. For his efforts Mike was named as honorable mention to the All County team our senior year when the team was voted Class M state champs. When we were juniors we both had cars but we spent most of our time in Mike's car, a '58 Chevy Belair, because it had a radio. As big as he was Mike had a natural athletic ability. He performed in the shot put for the track and field team. Among things we did together outside of school was play pick up basketball with a floating bunch of guys at Bob Cooper's, or shoot pool in the basement at Tim Empkie's, or watch pro hockey and wrestling at Roy's house or college and pro football at the Koloshus home. Sometimes we would spend evenings hanging out on the Empkie family boat moored in the Norwalk marina. These were easy times with a comfortable group and a lot of laughter. There was also admittedly a lot of eating, with John's Best pizza at the top of the menu. Mike did well in math at school and after graduation attended technical school and enlisted in the US Air Force where he was an air conditioning and refrigeration specialist. He was posted to Guam and then to Montana to as he put it "cool missile silos". Then in the early '70's Mike and Roy went with Chris to Denver where Chris had attended the university. A few years later all three were in my wedding but it was the last time we were all together. Mike did get married in Colorado but we lost touch. Last year Chris told me he had seen Mike's obituary. It was a shock to us and it hurt. Mike was a gentle person and a true friend. I still miss him.
Mark Rearick
Suffie- Because Mike G was such a kind and nice guy, I believe Coach Sikorski (could have been Coach Parry or Kelly,though) also anointed him "Cuddles", if I'm not mistaken.
Harry Day
Mike and Mark, thank you for these very nice reflections on Mike G. I remember him as being a really good guy.
Lauren Holt
I was hoping one (or more) of you guys would make some comments here. Mike lived 3 doors down from me during High School, and between he and his brother Bob, ( also Tommy...but he was younger) there was some SERIOUS "eye candy" for me, right on my street!!! They were both nice guys also and their mother and mine became good friends. My mom had taught Tommy in 2nd grade at West School, because they had lived in that district earlier, and Tom was her absolute, hands-down, favorite that year. A whole family of nice, nice guys. They were SO good to their mother as well, and I always respected them for that. Great to have "the other Mike's" comments here, to memorialize their friendship. Now that I think about it, the "two Mikes" always DID look like they were having a heck of a lot of fun together.