In Loving Memory of...Michael (Mike) William Ucci1989-2007: From Chunpreet Basra

MICHAEL WILLIAM UCCI (OBITUARY)

On January 27, 2007, Michael William Ucci, age 17, died at the scene of an automobile accident in front of West High in Tracy, California. At the time of his death, he was a junior at West High and lived with his parents, Jill and Ken Ucci, and sister, Marie Ucci, in Tracy. Marie was seriously injured in the same accident and remains hospitalized.

Michael was born in Mountain View, California and during his lifetime resided in Morgan Hill and Tracy. He had attended Poet-Christian and Wanda Hirsch Elementary Schools, Williams Middle School and was a junior at Merrill F. West High School.

He was a bright young man with a promising future, held strong family values, had an exceptionally close relationship with his sister Marie, was athletic, a leader and loved by many. The outpouring community generosity and expression of what Michael meant to so many has been overwhelming and heartwarming to his family.

When he was a sophomore, Michael traveled to Holland with People to People International, where he played basketball on the USA team. Because of his academic and leadership skills, he was recently invited to be an ambassador to a National Leadership Conference in Washington DC to observe our federal government in action. He would have been most proud of this achievement and would have loved the journey. He was preparing for the SAT and very much looking forward to college and all the future might hold.

He played basketball through CYO and in high school. He was a member of FBLA, Future Business Leaders of America, and loved working out at the gym and going to Starbuck’s with his friends. He and Marie were more than siblings; they were best friends and constant companions. The affect he had on others is most evident through the many, many expressions on the internet – his SMILE was constant and contagious. He was a good friend to many. His father noted he was a “pied piper” of sorts – a happy individual who loved listening to and walking with others and led many. His mother believes he has a true gift in their lives.

Michael had a large family that was most important to him. From his grandparents to the youngest cousins, he embraced them all and loved the family traditions. One of his favorite traditions was vacationing every summer with his cousins at Sveadal. In addition to his parents, Jill and Ken Ucci and his sister, Marie, he is survived by his grandmother, Donna Manfre’ of Watsonville, numerous aunts and uncles and many, many cousins – to whom he was very close. Predeceased grandparents include Sebastian and Mary Ucci who were from San Jose and Bill Manfre’ of Watsonville. His life will be celebrated in Tracy and he will lay in rest in Watsonville.

Monday, February 5, 2007

From Chunpreet Basra

Michael William Ucci.Do you remember when we saw the Persuit of Happyness? Do you remember what we promised? We promised each other that no matter what happened, we would be happy. We would be as happy as they were in the film, as they were in real life. We would live happily forever, and no one would, or could tell us otherwise. Right now, I don`t know how happily I can live. Without you, it`s so hard. I`m afraid to be happy. I`m afraid that if I live happily, I`ll forget all about you. I`m so afraid, Michael. I was always happy, especially with you. Just seeing you, even without a hello, was just enough for my days. We used to talk so much. Our cousins both thought, just from a mere photograph, that we were a couple. It was such a scandalous moment, and we had so much fun making jokes from that. You`d always call me Moon Love, just because you loved the fact that it`s what my name meant. You were also my 1st New Years text for this year. I yelled out to you outside like an idiot when the new year came. I remember when we talked about our careers... what we wanted to be when we were older. We both wanted to be lawyers. I will keep pursuing my goal to be a lawyer for myself, but I will work even harder for you, Mike. You also used to be part of my daily routine. School days, I`d see you about 7-8 times a day, and then we`d text each other. Weekends, you were usually busy, but you still had time just to talk to me. Now I don`t see you anywhere. I search for you, only to find nothing. I`m afraid to go to basketball games because I know I won`t see you there. I`m afraid to look at your seat in human geography. I`m afraid to get into our usual group in human geography that included you, me, Jassy[chyea!] and Danielle[aka the Hippie]. I`m afraid to walk towards the spot where I always find you before heading to the parking lot to go home. I`m afraid of living happily without you, but if I don`t live happily, I know you`ll be angry with me and call me "jerkface." It`s just, I don`t want to forget you if I do live happily. That`s what`s really making me scared, but I know that I won`t forget. Your memories are my memories, and that`s why they`ll live forever. I miss you so much. I love you Michael. You`ll be in my heart forever. The boy whose smile snatched my heart. -Chunpreet Basra [aka Moon Love]