Michael F. Sabino

Michael was born on September 10, 1944, in the Bronx, New York, to Pasqual and Pharer Sabino. He attended and graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx graduating in 1963. He always talked fondly about how his graduation was at historic St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. After graduation, he moved to Louisiana to attend Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, where he obtained a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business. After college, he entered the military as a commissioned officer. He was a proud veteran of the Army serving in Vietnam.

After returning home from the service, he settled in Springhill, Louisiana, where he owned and operated a small store at one time, then worked at International Paper in Springhill. In 1998, he moved to Chillicothe, Missouri, and married Valerie Symmonds Haas. He then moved to Kansas City where he continued to work at International Paper, as well as Georgia Pacific and Amazon before finally retiring. He loved keeping busy and working with people and trying to be a problem solver. He and Valerie recently moved to Spring Hill, Kansas.

Michael enjoyed nature, the outdoors, traveling and visiting national parks with Valerie, working on his word search puzzle books, visiting with people, and history. He loved his beloved Keeshonds: KaCe, Beaux and Duffy. He had a great sense of humor, quick wit, and had a great talent for storytelling. He loved telling young people what it was like growing up in New York City. He was also a fan of westerns and enjoyed watching them daily. He loved watching baseball, basketball, and football. He was a die-hard LSU fan, seldom missing a football game and was ecstatic when he got to attend a game at Death Valley. Even though he bled purple and gold, he was known to chant M-I-Z-Z-O-U once in a while. He and Valerie traveled to Arizona several times to watch the Kansas City Royals during spring training and also attended many games at Kauffman Stadium. Michael was a huge supporter of the Kansas City Zoo as well as Starlight Theater.

Mike was a devoted husband and dad. He loved all types of music, even trying to appreciate a bit of hip hop and learning a few “moves.”

Michael is survived by his wife, Valerie Sabino of the home and a brother, Pat Sabino of Freehold, New Jersey; four children: Lauren Haas of Raytown, Missouri, John Sabino of Seattle, Washington, Jennifer Sabino of Springhill, Louisiana, and Annie Lord of Phoenix, Arizona. He loved and adored his grandchildren: C.J. Ruiz-Haas, Karowyn Sabino, and Dakota Hiles. He also had several nieces and nephews. Michael was preceded in death by his parents.

There will be a celebration of life in honor of Michael on Friday, November 28, 2025, at McGilley State Line Chapel, 12301 State Line Road, Kansas City, Missouri. Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. with services at 11:00 a.m. A military burial service will be held Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the Leavenworth National Cemetery in Leavenworth, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wayside Waifs in Kansas City, Missouri.

Michael was definitely one of a kind and he will be deeply missed and remembered by all that had the pleasure of knowing him.