Tuesday, November 24, 2020
Our friendship began when John and Alice Hays solidified their relationship in the early seventies. John Hays became his adoptive father upon his marriage to Alice in this period. Mike and I became immediate friends at age six when he showed me how to dismantle a 45 record player to investigate the parts. This is when our curiousness of boyhood began. Mike's Grandma, Dorothy Hays, was always there for Mike. Always there for the block. From age five until his death, Mike and I had remained close, no matter of distance and time. Throughout the formative years and beyond, we had always learned and created interesting things together. He showed me opportunities that are still valuable in everday approach to life. In our youth, from elementerary school through high school, Mike was always an integral part of some good young men and woemen in the Lodi community. Phil Loducca, James Hayes, and Greg Huggins were always by his side. There were others, for sure. Karl, Sean, and Pat Felten will always remember the days at Lee Jones Park, where Mike would miraculously get into the endzone and score, in football, Kick-back, frisbee, etc.....i.e. He was always a member of the "Vine Street Heroes." I will always remember Mike as the one that helped me to play frisbee at a high level, gig-frogs, build fish tanks, and remain friends. Thank you Mike. I love you. Your brother Matt.
