Michael Gallitte

MICHAEL P. GALLITTE of Mayfield Village, Ohio, passed away August 24th, 2011. Mike was the beloved brother of Irene Butler the late Edward T. of Naples, FL, Doris Giles the late Earl and Lois Markt, both of Shaker Hts., Ohio. He was the dear uncle of E.T. Butler, III, MD,Joi, Nancy Glynn the late Theodore, Lynn Magee William, Julie Hambleton, MD Harry Hollander, Laura Hambleton John Donnelly and Thomas E. Hambleton and was also survived by several great nieces and great nephews. Mike was the dear friend of Carol Beni of Mayfield Village, Ohio. Mike was born in Cleveland and a 1942 graduate of Shaker Heights High School. He attended John Carroll University and after serving in the US Army during World War II, graduated in 1948 from Miami University. His fraternity was Delta Tau Delta. Mike's career was as a food broker and he shared that with a love for cooking. He loved nature, his friends and his family. Here are some personal comments on their Uncle Mike about that love and care to his family. This is from his niece, Laura Hambleton: "Throughout his life, Mike was thrust into roles not always of his choosing, yet he took them on like a natural. My first memory of this is the yearly ritual of cutting down a Christmas tree. Mike approached this with patience and skill. He stood by without a word as his sister, my mother, Lois, circled round and round the Christmas tree lot, searching out the best shaped blue spruce with the most densely packed needles this side of the North Pole. Once home, he hauled down the tree from the top of his car, wrapped it in a sheet and dragged it into the house. He never complained as Lois asked him to twirl the tree this way and that as she eyed it for its best angle. He did this year after year, without fail or flinching. That was how he was with his three nieces and one nephew -- Lynne, Julie, Laura and Tom. Unflappable. Even though he didn't have children of his own, he took their antics, screams, tantrums and demands in stride. And no place was too far to drive with them: Niagara Falls, Deerborn, Michigan, Springfield, VA. He packed the kids in the car, along with his sister, and motored out of Cleveland. Goodbye to the comfort and quiet of home. Hello open road with a single mom and her four kids. Mike embraced family and friends. Everyone called him Uncle Mike. Even our friends. After he died, one friend called me and said, "I am sorry about the passing of Uncle Mike." Mike was the uncle we watched football with and toured his beloved streets of Cleveland. He had stories to tell -- and recipes to share. He was the keeper of his mother's famous dishes. For him cooking and eating good food, especially made from old family recipes, meant bringing together people and celebrating tradition. His art was passed down orally, in the kitchen, at the stove, cooking. His mother didn't write anything down, nor did Mike. He just knew it was a pinch of spice here and a dash of salt there. To learn as he did, we stood with him in the kitchen. Some of us were better students than others. Miss you, Mike!" And another niece, Nancy Glynn..... "Throughout my life.. He made me feel that he was always happy to see me. I know I did not always bring happiness, but, he gave me his and I always left happier. It always felt better when he was around." Nephews Tom Hambleton and John Donnelly... "Mike was definitely Uncle Mike. Always quick to laugh and caring towards all his nieces and nephews even if we were, at times, little brats. He had pet names for most of us, I still can hear his baritone booming, "Tom the bomb!" and then he'd laugh. He always exhibited a gentle patience as an Uncle. I remember very vividly one day after he had given me a baseball glove and showed me how to break it in, taking the bat and ball and going over to the little field near his house at 3233 Warrington. He'd hit ball after ball after ball as I would insatiably run after them and occasionally catching one or two. After a few weeks of this I got to be pretty good at it as he taught me how to judge the ball. And he'd sheer me on as I got to be pretty adept at getting that leather on the ball just at the last moment. I am sure these lessons made me a better ball player when I finally got to play for the camp and school teams. I can still clearly see the ball point pen markings on his closet's door frame marking my growth. I'd stand up straight with my back to the frame and he'd place the pen on my crown and draw a line. Then he'd mark it, Tom 7/21/68, or Tom 6/12/71... I was never very good in arts and crafts but at camp one year when I was very young I made a tiny little bowl so malformed that it looked like a goat had stepped on it and painted it a gaudy model car orange. I gave it to him as a gift and he proudly displayed it on his dresser and put pennies or pills or other trinkets in it. Many years later as he sold his house and moved on with his life, I remember going upstairs to his 3rd floor bedroom to look through old home movies and I saw it still sitting there on his dresser. It made me smile. He was proud of being a self-made business man who owned his own small company. He ofte would tell me that there was nothing sweeter than the satisfaction of doing it for yourself. He also said that the biggest skills one could have as a business man were coping skills, because life will throw you curveballs and you have to learn to cope. Those lessons have served as inspiration to me in running my own business. MIke loved family. Mike loved a good joke. Mike loved life. Uncle Mike, you will be missed." "Mike was Frank Sinatra. At least he was from the Frank Sinatra era. There was a little Brat Pack in him. He was a bit of a performer, sometimes in a livingroom, sometimes behind the wheel of one of his humungus Cadillacs. He loved Cadillacs. It gave him presence. He loved telling stories while driving his Cadallics. I never heard him sing, but I'm sure he did at times. At least I hope so. After all, he was Frank Sinatra. On 29 August 2011 14:41, laura hambleton wrote: Throughout his life, Mike was thrust into roles not always of his choosing, yet he took them on like a natural. My first memory of this is the yearly ritual of cutting down a Christmas tree. Mike approached this with patience and skill. He stood by without a word as his sister, my mother, Lois, circled round and round the Christmas tree lot, searching out the best shaped blue spruce with the most densely packed needles this side of the North Pole. Once home, he hauled down the tree from the top of his car, wrapped it in a sheet and dragged it into the house. He never complained as Lois asked him to twirl the tree this way and that as she eyed it for its best angle. He did this year after year, without fail or flinching. That was how he was with his three nieces and one nephew -- Lynne, Julie, Laura and Tom. Unflappable. Even though he didn't have children of his own, he took their antics, screams, tantrums and demands in stride. And no place was too far to drive with them: Niagara Falls, Deerborn, Michigan, Springfield, VA. He packed the kids in the car, along with his sister, and motored out of Cleveland. Goodbye to the comfort and quiet of home. Hello open road with a single mom and her four kids. Mike embraced family and friends. Everyone called him Uncle Mike. Even our friends. After he died, one friend called me and said, "I am sorry about the passing of Uncle Mike." Mike was the uncle we watched football with and toured his beloved streets of Cleveland. He had stories to tell -- and recipes to share. He was the keeper of his mother's famous dishes. For him cooking and eating good food, especially made from old family recipes, meant bringing together people and celebrating tradition. His art was passed down orally, in the kitchen, at the stove, cooking. His mother didn't write anything down, nor did Mike. He just knew it was a pinch of spice here and a dash of salt there. To learn as he did, we stood with him in the kitchen. Some of us were better students than others. Miss you, Mike!" Niece Julie Hambleton... "Memories of sitting out on the drive of 3233 Warrington w/ Grandpa and Uncle Mike -- listening to the baseball game Driving down to Springfield, VA every summer as a young girl to visit Aunt Dorry and Uncle Earl. Visiting the Washington monument; all the memorials; Going to the Army/Navy game etc Going to Niagra Falls w/ LoLo and her kids Driving thru the dark streets of Cleveland on Christmas eve to look at the holiday lights and decorations Sunday dinners at 3233 Warrington; then out in Mayfield Village -- spaghetti and the best meat balls + sausages sorry Tilly; his rivaled yours! "Jooo-Lee" Some really great memories as a child xoxo Jooo-Lee " and Lynn Hambleton... " Dropping me off at college freshman year - and saying 'Lynne - you'll either come out of here a brain or a nun.' Because it was so desolate.... Giving John D a tour of Cleve - before he and Laura got married - and try to shock him with his racy humor and quick wit. Seeing Carol's and her daughters' high-heel shoes at their apt threshold all lined up the day he moved in.... And expressing interest in meeting the ladies. Always there for you if you needed him. Gave me my first baseball mit + taught me how to throw. Teaching me to type on his old typewriter. Going to Cleve Browns games w him on the bus w his friends. Walking to the high school football games with him - Red Raiders. His fabulous cooking. His fascination with Farah Fawcett. His love for music - and liking to sing songs - like Little ---- of Ivy - Does eat oats and lille lambs eat ivy.... Or something like that. Doing little tricks/ pranks - like shaking his finger + make a slapping sound, or telling jokes I or trying to surprise you - by grabbing you knee and screaming at the same time to make you jump. Always giving you words of wisdom - e.g. importance of not speeding on the highway; or career advise; or investment advise, and respect for mom... His strong wish to be with family. Going to work with him....and hanging around his office downtown. Going to buy Italian foods / groceries with him.... Always having a joke on hand... Or his quick wit to entertain those around him - even when he was under medical care... And wining the hearts and minds of those around him. Those are top of mind memories for now. Am in hospital w R. She's out of surgery, doing well...and sleeping periodically. She's a bit confused and hunger for information...as her doctor has no bedside manner or patience to explain things in plain english. Will probably be her till dinner time. Bill's trip delayed today....due to Thruway bridges washed out near Albany. Things are busy, busy here - as with you too. Xoxo L " The family prefers that those who wish may make contributions in his name to The National Kidney Foundation, 2800 Corporate Exchange Drive, Suite 260, Columbus, OH, 43231-8617, or The American Heart Association, 1689 E 115th St., Cleveland, OH 44106-3903. FRIENDS MAY CALL AT BROWN-FORWARD FUNERAL HOME, 17022 CHAGRIN BLVD., SHAKER HEIGHTS., OHIO FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND FROM 5-7 PM.


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