In Loving Memory of...Michael (Mike) William Ucci1989-2007: From Rob Burn

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.

Thursday, February 8, 2007

From Rob Burn

Mike. Why did you have to go so soon ? I have so many questions as to why this happened to you but i'm left with nothing. just blank answers. When we met, I was about to leave high school while you were just entering in the gates of adulthood. I remember looking at you smile and I would thinking to myself " how could someone ever be so happy to be here?", but then I realized you weren't just happy to be at school with all of your friends but you were happy to be young and alive. I can't remember one day that I didn't see your smile. You knew the true meaning of happiness and what life was all about. That's the only reason I can think of why you were taken away from us. You knew that one secret to life that everyone spends their whole lives trying to find out. I admit that i didn't know you as well as I wish I did. But I'm glad. Glad that when people mention your bright smile, I remember what it was like to see. Or when they mention your laugh I can hear it in my memories. Goodbye Mike. I hope you are smiling and laughing like you spent much of your time down here doing....wait...what am i saying good bye for? we will meet again. Not down here but up there.. where you are. In the presence of God and in the heavenly clouds that surround you. You will Never be Forgotten.