Michael Vincent Sanfilippo, Jr.

Michael Vincent Sanfilippo Jr., “Mike”, passed away suddenly at his home Wednesday, January 25, 2023. He had recently celebrated his 77th birthday.

Born January 20, 1946 and raised in Newport, Rhode Island, Mike grew up loving the ocean, surfing, scuba diving, and eating seafood. He attended Aquidneck Elementary and graduated in 1964 from Middletown High School. He was a member of the US Naval Sea Cadet Corps and a Golden Glove boxer in New England. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he served on staff of the Presidential helicopter, Marine One, under the Johnson and Nixon administrations during the Vietnam War. Making a career out of helicopter aviation mechanics, Mike started working for Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. in Lafayette Louisiana, where he had his two children. He then circumnavigated the globe working and visiting in places such as Saudi Arabia where he was a PADI dive master and instructor in the Red Sea, Sarajevo where he was contracted with the United Nations, Thailand, Zagreb Croatia, California, Alaska, Wyoming, and Texas for the 2003 NASA space shuttle Columbia disaster recovery. He followed a lifelong friend and finally made his home in Mobile, Alabama.

In Mobile, Mike was a founding member and marshal of the Mobile Mystics Mardi Gras Organization. His favorite past time was hunting and was a true outdoor sportsman, belonging to multiple hunting camps. He was a member of the NRA and the American Legion, and took pride in responsible gun ownership. He was an avid Alabama football fan. He led an adventurous life, and beat two different types of cancer. Mike will be remembered for his love of his country, family, seafood, guns, travel, beagles, hunting, diving, photography, cooking at his grill or boiling pot, drinking Budweiser, wearing a cowboy hat with his permanent New England accent, and his endless Mike-isms.

Mike was pre-deceased by his parents, Michael and Esther (Capece) Sanfilippo; and stepson, Edward Street.

He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Julia Heiter Sanfilippo; daughter, Carmen Cusella (Joe); son, Antonio “Tony“ Sanfilippo; stepson, Jason Street (Wendy); grandchildren, Alyssa Cusella, Alana Cusella, Juliana Suzanne Cusella; Brittany Hatten (Stephen), Courtnee Street (Zack), and Julian Street; great grandson, Elijah Hatten; and brother, Ronald Sanfilippo.

A memorial service and celebration of life will be held Saturday, February 18. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Mike’s name to the Remember Everyone Deployed organization.

Online condolences may be given at www.mobilefhc.com. Mobile Funeral Home and Crematory – Mobile, Alabama.

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