A Eulogy for Michael (Dad) - Part 3

Over the next several years, I would move on to editing these "features" on 2 or more VHS machines and an old TV in the basement.  I eventually figured out how to overdub music, add voice over and even create simple text graphics with my trusty Commodore 64 computer.

Fast forward 21 years to April of 2007, a proud day for Mike when I opened my very own production company on Broadway in downtown New York City.  Not only incorporating the spark and the drive that his camcorder purchase provided for me creatively, but the baby sister he and my mom brought into our lives as she moved to NYC and became my right hand woman as a Production / Studio Coordinator. 

So for all that and more Mike, I thank you.  Happy Birthday and farewell.

And to all of you here today, please take a moment to recall those roles people have played in your story and make the time to thank them, as they may not even be aware.


A Eulogy for Michael (Dad) - Part 2

The “small” role, something that we often talked about around the table as we would laugh and reminisce about growing up, is much more significant to me.  It was the fall of 1986, I was about to turn 14 and we had just welcomed our new baby sister into our lives, Erika Lynn.  Tom and I were excited, Renée was VERY happy that the family finally evened out (she had someone to play with) and Mike was over the moon as he now had his own daughter. The Breglia bloodline would continue and that was very important to him.

When Mike was a kid his father had an 8mm film camera which captured little glimpses of his family growing up together, something he would view now and again with a rickety old projector flickering up on a blank wall somewhere in the house (which is hard to come by in Barbara's house, trust me).  Mike wanted to do the same with us and for us, so one afternoon Mike and I went shopping at some 80s version of a Best Buy electronics store.  We came home with a Panasonic VHS camcorder.  I seem to remember it costing somewhere around $1200 to $1500 and I'm pretty sure we couldn't afford it, but he bought it anyway. Mike did things his way whenever possible.

The purchase of that camcorder triggered something in me that would shape my career and my life as a creative person.  We started videotaping constantly, accumulating hours and hours of footage archiving family events both big and small.  Eventually that turned into home “movie” making using the entire family as the cast and crew.  My uncles Tony and Ronnie, were over constantly eager to play their role in our weekend homemade production company which I affectionately named "310 Productions" after our address at the time.

(cont'd)

A Eulogy for Michael (Dad) - Part 1

On behalf of my mother Barbara, my siblings Tom, Renée and Erika, my nephew Brandon, my grandmother Helen and our significant others Sam, Tina, Bill, Jordan and Kristen; we deeply appreciate your attendance here this evening.  To all those who reached out via phone, mail, email, text or social media; we are very grateful.  We feel the love.  Thank you.

Over the past few weeks and even more so this past week, I've spent a considerable amount of time thinking about the story that life is and the roles that each of us play in either our own story or in someone else's.  These roles are played by parents, siblings, friends, co-workers and sometimes even a complete stranger.  Some are large, obvious and super significant while others are seemingly small at the time they occur perhaps even unnoticeable, until somewhere down the line you realize just how impactful they truly were.  Once you seriously begin contemplating this you'll quickly see it's a vast subject that can draw many interesting connections and recall many memories.  With that said, I'd like to share a part of my story and the roles that Mike played in it.

Mike provided both a "big" and a "small" role for me.  Almost 35 years ago, he stepped (pun definitely intended) into a huge spotlight for my family and I.  He became our stepfather.  Side note: Mike always chuckled at a good pun or a cheesy joke.  For many years I wondered why he opted to take on such a challenge as he literally traded in his own family life to lead ours.  That's the “big” role obviously.  I'd like to take this moment now to thank all of the stepparents here with us today.  It's a huge responsibility, one that should not go unacknowledged.

(cont'd)

From the moment I met Michael, back in the early 80’s, it didn’t take long to feel he was a very special guy...his hand shake was firm, he looked you straight in the eye ... he was wholesome ... he was a real man.
The depth of his personality was strong, decisive yet kind and caring.
As time progressed, his love & devotion to my friend Barbara was more than evident.  This was a story book love and I was so happy they found each other.
He will be missed by us along with everyone else that considered him a dear friend, Love, Barbara & Larry Rocker

My dad and I have always had vastly different beliefs when it came to politics and religion. So much so that I usually ended up annoyed and exasperated, but my dad rarely took our differences to heart. He always encouraged me to stand up for what I believe in and to never let anyone push me around. Thank you, dad for raising me with such a strong sense of self and I promise to never say that I can’t without at least trying first.

Our favorite memory was our trip to Hawaii with Michael and Barbara. Sharing a villa was so much fun and sightseeing and good food. I loved the cruise dinner and seeing Michael steer the boat was the highlight. It was the last vacation Michael had but it was the best. In our hearts forever Michael

I met Mike through Barbara after we became good friends at nifty after fifty. We (Mike,Barbara,Joe and Me) went to Utah to see Henry the v it was wonderful! We stayed over night at a motel and when we got back to go to bed low and behold Mike and Barbara couldn't open the room's door! We got the manager to come but to no avail the door still remained closed! The only thing to do was to sleep in an other room for the night! I was so embarrassed wishing all the time that we were assigned to that room but we got through the night. I woke up to the sounds of the guy sent to fix the door. he needed to take it off the frame. Barbara joined me a few minutes later and was able  to retrieve there things from the room! I said to her well at least you  will have a funny story about your adventure to Utah and the Shakespeare festival. We also travel to Cedar Breaks national monument before we started back to Las Vegas! It was breath taking! It was one of the most embarrassing and most fun times and  we were looking  forward to more trips with them in the future! Mike and Barbara came to my home for party's and to have suppers ! He will be missed he's stories and jokes via computer was a joy to be sure! Rest in peace Mike I hope you are healthy, happy and waiting for your lovely wife to join you in the far distant  future. She will be well taken care of between her family and friend    

I remember the first time I saw your big brown eyes , Love at first sight  is a real thing and I was hit with a Cupid’s arrow and I was in love .
I was taken by your charm as you took care of arranments for my step dad you being the local funeral home  in East Rockaway LI NY in 1979 . My mom called you and you came and helped my family then . We became friends at first and then It grew into a love affair that was know by my friends as Romeo and Juliet .  We were married  on June 23 1984 .We had a hard time but we made a life together and  you took on the roll of step dad to my 3 children ,who grew to love you very much . In 1986 we were blessed with a little girl named Erika Lynn who just made our life complete and she  is the light of your life .You were my soul mate and I love you so much ♥️. Honey you are my Michael forever and my life will never be the same ,I know you will  never really leave me and you will be with me and guide me through this new journey I must travel alone . My heart is forever broken 💔.
I believe  In God and that we will be together again . 
MY LOVE FOREVER ,
Barbara 




There are a lot of stories that I could stand up here to tell about Mike today. 
For instance the THIRD time he fell on the icey stairs, the time he drilled through his own hand, those beat up old Cadillacs he used to own, the flavored tobacco pipes he would smoke, all of the crazy jobs he had worked to put bread on our table , or that time that I'm pretty sure he illegally kidnapped a neighborhood bully at the local delicatessen. 
True story. 
However while I was viewing his Facebook posts yesterday. I found something that I thought was particularly interesting. And instead of just one story about him I thought it was more appropriate to try to explain who he was. It sums Mike up to a T. Credit ARago 
It says - 
Mike was a Lion of a man. How perfectly fitting. 
In my time knowing Mike he often and quickly would become Fired up. Sometimes it was over a news story he had heard , sometimes political opinions , sometimes theories on religion or science, among many other things that he found interest in. Mike was a student and loved learning new things. . He also had a intense  intolerance for stupidity. Actually Mike was fired up pretty often and more than any of the other inhabitants of our household I knew how to get him there in a flash. 
But the reason I am telling you all this is so that you can understand that out of all the reasons that he had that got him to the fired up status, the one that was paramount and remarkable was being fired up for his family. Whether it was as a protector, fighter, counselor, provider, joke teller, or advisor he was all in when it came to his family. 
He was passionate about that most of all. 
No one messed with this family! 
One thing he said that I will always remember is when he would say.. 
Don't tell me you can't!
He never let anyone around him use it as an excuse to fail without trying. 
His lion like approach to life and family will be forever missed and his passion will live on in his family's lives. 

I didn’t think I could get up here and say something today, I just kept saying to myself “I can’t”.  But i remembered what Michael used to always tell me.  “I can’t” IS NOT an option. You can, and you will.  So here goes nothing.  
There are so many stories that I could tell today.  Some funny, some sad. Some about triumphs and some about defeat.  There’s the story about driving cross country in a moving truck listening to the Fantasia soundtrack, him teaching me how to drive (even though he was a horrible driver), that time he coached me through my nervous breakdown in college, or our black tie night out to see Pavarotti where he pretended to be a food critic from New York when the service wasn’t up to his standards. Some stories end in laughter.  Some in tears.  And some even end with a pounded fist on the dining room table and mashed potatoes in the loover doors.  
The point is that we lived LIFE with Michael.  He was our dad. He was always there.  He was always working, always fighting to give us the best possible life.  And his fight over the last 8 years was no different.  I have never met someone who could face everything that Michael had going on with such determination and an amazing sense of humor.  He was brave.  He was a fighter.  And he was not going to give up.  And to his very last breath, he didn’t.  We had to tell him to go.  
Michael has left an everlasting impression on my life, he has shown me the importance of family and more specifically the importance of siblings and I cant thank him enough.  

I remember Michael as a quiet and thoughtful soul! Peace for him and all his family. 

         Your friend Sherry Trasp 


I'm so very sorry for your families loss. My thoughts are with you all at this difficult time. 

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Michael Francis Breglia

2 mars 1953 – 26 février 2018

Palm Eastern Mortuary & Cemetery

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