Michael Anthony Alfieri

Today we gather not to mourn a loss, but to celebrate a life extraordinarily lived by Michael Anthony Alfieri. As his children we have has spent time reminiscing through the lens of countless photographs, and quickly notice his beaming smile; a smile that now shines brightly down upon us.

Michael Anthony was born September 15, 1939, in Buffalo New York to Theodoro and Loretto Alfieri. He was the youngest of four children. Dad’s siblings were John, Ted, and Barbara. He grew up living in the apartment above the Rexall Drugstore that his father owned and ran on the corner of Grider and Sussex Streets in Buffalo. Mike would help after school and on weekends at the drugstore stocking shelves, helping customers, and serving sodas. Maybe it isn’t unexpected then that dad followed in his father’s footsteps and went to the State University of New York, Buffalo where he received his degree in Pharmacy. Mike was a dedicated Pharmacist for over 40 years at Saint Joseph Hospital in Omaha. So, it brought him such pride when his daughter Ann and then his grandson Christian went into Pharmacy as well.

Dad used to say that his time growing up in Buffalo, New York was a lot like that kid in the movie “A Christmas Story”. And dad did have adventures. He was the batboy for Buffalo’s AAA baseball team in the 1950’s. And, of course, he had to walk uphill in the snow – and this was Buffalo snow mind you – both ways to hockey practice. Like several of his grandchildren, dad was a goalie. Dad also attended St Joseph’s Collegiate Institute where he was a straight ‘A’ student except for once when he got a B is sociology.

Dad met Mary Lou Bayerl, who became his wife of 61 years, while he was a pharmacy student. Even after mom’s family moved to Omaha, dad would travel back and forth between Buffalo and Omaha by train to see her. On June 10, 1961, mom and dad were married in Buffalo, New York. Shortly after they began their family. Michael Jude arrived first in July 1963, followed by Ann Margaret in June 1964, and not too long after came Susan Loretta in August 1965. It was around this time that mom and dad decided to move their rapidly growing family to Omaha. Between the devastating loss of two daughters, Gail Marie and Sandra, they were blessed with the survival of their tenacious “preemie” son Joseph Gerard born in February 1969. James Anthony came along in May 1975, and finally their daughter Marybeth who was born in January 1977.

The family only continued to grow with arrival of sixteen grandchildren (Sarah, Alex, Christian, Natalie, Anthony, Alexi, Alijah, Adrian, Andrew, Jennifer, Daniel, Ian, Isaac, Michael, Christopher, and Luc), and six great-grandchildren (Liam, Landon, Kayden, Sayer, Beckham, Cohen). To dad, they were one of his greatest blessings and his greatest source of joy. He treasured the time he spent with each grandchild and great-grandchild on adventures large and small. Whether he was taking them to a hockey game or the zoo, on trips to Buffalo or Los Angeles, dad always had a smile on his face.

Dad also had a soft spot for furry friends, treating each and every one like a valuable family member. There was no greater best buddy to dad than Pepper, his black lab mix. Dad enjoyed playing fetch tossing her a ball or a windfall apple in the yard. This was a game that could last hours because Pepper really loved to play fetch. Still, dad found time to give her baths in the back of the pickup or take her on their weekly lunch dates to McDonalds where he would get Pepper a plain hamburger.

Dad had a love for the great outdoors. Whether it was in Colorado, South Dakota, or Maine, there was dad with his trusty canteen slung over his shoulder. He would lead his family to a mountain summit or some scenic overlook where he would just stand in awe of the beauty around him. Other times, he would pile us kids, along with his battered red tacklebox, into the station wagon and drive to Two Rivers or Branched Oak to go fishing. Dad would help us tie on the fishhook, cast off, and if we caught something tell us “don’t panic just reel it in!” Years later, dad learned to enjoy spending time fishing in the ocean. Whether it was on the Atlantic with his brother or the Pacific with his son-in-law and grandson, it didn’t matter to dad that the “big one” got away, what did matter was a day spent with family.

And oh boy! Dad was a sports fan. When dad wasn’t puttering about the house or working in the yard, you would find him on the sofa, beer in hand – in later years that became a cup of coffee - watching football or hockey. Dad was a fanatic Buffalo Bills and Sabres fan!! And he didn’t believe in quietly cheering for his team. No, you knew when a game was on in the house. Dad had some classic lines he yelled when he didn’t like a call. For example, there is the ever popular “there’s so much bologna on the field you could make a sandwich”. Really, sometimes it was more entertaining to watch dad instead of the game.

Now dad would be the first to admit he was always just trying to keep up with Mom when it came to activities. After he retired, Mom kept them busy as active members of their church, Saint Columbkille, where they were part of prayer and study groups, volunteering at Fontenelle Forest and St. Vincent de Paul, and becoming a state-certified Master Naturalist and Master Gardeners. The last spawned a real passion for gardening in dad and after mom passed away. He devoted his time ensuring her yard remained extraordinary. Mom kept dad on his toes with so many adventures. They traveled thousands and thousands of miles together all around the United States. Some of those trips were planned, but more often than not they were taken on a whim. So many times, when you’d ask where they were going did you get a one-word answer, “west!” While mom and dad shared adventures together in places like Alaska and Hawaii, they had adventures closer to home too. When mom decided to go back to school to be a teacher, dad took classes with her. …at least some of the science-y ones. And when mom wanted to be a park ranger at Badlands National Park, dad made the 500 mile drive each way to South Dakota throughout the summer to be with her.

Marv Levy, the former coach of the Buffalo Bills, famously said, “Where else would you rather be than right here, right now”. In looking back at dad’s life, you can see he lived each moment as if there was nowhere else he’d rather be. Once again, he is exactly where wants to be with the love of his life, mom, and that should bring great comfort and a beaming smile to all our faces.

The Alfieri family wants to express our heartfelt gratitude to all of you for being a part of this celebration for our dad. His unwavering presence in our lives has left us with a legacy of kindness, laughter, and love that will endure long after today.

Michael is preceded in death by his wife, Mary Lou.

He is survived by his children, Michael (Becky) Alfieri, Ann (Bob) Palumbo, Susan (Greg) Suing, Joseph (Megan) Alfieri, James (Amy) Alfieri, and MaryBeth (Dave) Berube; 16 grandchildren; and 6 great-grandchildren.

A VISITATION for Michael will be held Wednesday, February 21, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Kahler-Dolce Mortuary, 441 N Washington Street, Papillion, Nebraska 68046, with a ROSARY to follow at 7:00 PM. A FUNERAL MASS will occur Thursday, February 22, 2024 at 10:00 AM at St. Columbkille Catholic Church, 200 E. Sixth Street, Papillion, Nebraska 68046.

Contributions in Michael's memory may be made to Town & Country Humane Society, 14110 S. 84th Street, Papillion, Nebraska 68046; or American Heart Association, 9900 Nicholas Street, #200, Omaha, Nebraska 68114.