Birth date: Sep 28, 1941 Death date: Sep 25, 2025
The world became a lot dimmer on September 25, 2025, as the brilliant husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend was taken from us. Born on September 28, 1941, Michael Joseph Zanga Jr lived his 84 years with an energ Read Obituary
Purple is not only my favorite color but the color itself is a high vibratory hue, up there with indigo blue. It’s resonates with the feeling, the vibe I felt when I was around Mike. We always joked about him being my bf, his smile was infectious & his fun-loving heart matched perfectly with his compassionate soul. The love he had (& still has) for Heleomar was always palpable. I’ve always been in love with your love. You two are a beautiful example of what love, honor & commitment should look like. It’s hard to find that kind of love & friendship in relationships nowadays & having my fair share of heart breaks I can say it’s very rare. That being said, MIKE-THANK YOU for giving me hope, for being an inspiration, an excellent example of how to do marriage “right” & THANK YOU most of all for loving Heleomar so well that it helped her flourish, to accomplish her dreams, & achieve her goals to become the magnificent woman she became. In loving her so amazingly, she has been able to pour from a full cup into countless men & women in the nursing profession. Truly she is one of a kind & that’s in part (a BIG part) to you! It’s made her one heck of role model, “the best boss ever (how I have her saved in my phone), a caring friend who always has you back, & by far one of the most beautiful souls I’ve encountered in my life. She helped me grow & believed in me when I didn’t. She pushed me to do things I would have never done & although she started as my boss she has remained a steadfast supporter for over 15 years. I know first hand how a partner can make u or break u. Thank you Mike for loving her the way you did…it was your love that poured into her & then out of her onto all of us! Behind every great woman is a great man behind every great man is a great woman. Mike, you are definitely one of the few great men I’ve known in this life and I am so honored to be known by you! I was Blessed to have been your fake girlfriend ;-) & blessed to have received your “fake gf love”, aka your very kindhearted, caring & playful love. He gave me so much , even in the brief moments throughout the years -sometimes minutes & sometimes only a few hours-he somehow managed to make his mark, to fill up those spaces in time & make them seem longer than they actually were. He had a way of making you feel important, like u truly mattered & like a year or so hadn’t come & gone. He made me feel like time hadn’t passed at all & like we were old friends picking right back up were we left off. He remembered things about me & my life that made me feel special. I don’t think he even knew he had that effect on me. That genuine heart felt presence he exuded is a rare gift hard to come by in society nowadays. Back then, being in my mid 20’s to early 30’s at the time, & not experiencing it much, I sensed it. I valued it, I valued him. He gave me an example of what a good man was, showed me how a man should love his wife & son. The way Mike loved Heleomar was exceptional & I’m still waiting to find that type of love at 43. I don’t wait in vain, thanks to you buddy I know it’s out there so I wait patiently. I can never show my appreciation enough…thank you & love you. You will be missed greatly, but we will see you again. I can see you now with your bushy eyebrows and your big smile just waiting for the ones you love…saving some special spaces really close to you for the love of your life & your children. Until that day …..XOXO. Rest in peace!
P.S.-I know you will watch over her & shower her with your love. I have no doubt she will receive it & return it, for the bond of love you two shared is unbreakable even in death. And undoubtedly she will transfer that love energy once again in her special Heleomar kinda way onto everyone she comes into contact with. In memory of you, to honor you I’m going to make a commitment…I will do the same! As I type this I am affirming out loud…I will pour my love out to those who need it, I will believe in others until they believe in themselves, & I will make others feel cherished, welcomed, acknowledged, accepted & worthy the same way u made me feel in your presence. Your friendly & playful demeanor made you feel like home from the instant I met you. I felt safe & respected & like I mattered at a time in my life that type of unconditional love & acceptance was hard to come by. Thank you for being a bright light in the world, in our lives, & especially in Heleomar’s & Lucas’ lives. They say “people may not remember your name or what u achieved in life but they will remember how you made them feel“. Your legacy lives on in all the ones you touched with your loving ways, with your magnificent heart!!
To say Mike was loved would be the easiest way to sum up the impact he had on those around him. He was the glue that help folks together in any social involvement. From the parties at his house to our weekly poker games and monthly poker family dinners, he was the example we should all strive to be. Be like Mike.
