[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 208 (Thursday, December 2, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1302]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING MICHAEL R. MELILLO

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TIM RYAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 2, 2021

  Mr. RYAN. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor and pay tribute to Michael 
Melillo, of Niles, who passed away on Wednesday, November 24, 2021 at 
the Cleveland Clinic. He was 64 years old.
  He was born April 6, 1957, in Warren, the son of Ray and Jean Walden 
Melillo. Mike was a 1975 graduate of Niles McKinley High School and 
owned and operated Men's Union Barbershop as well as the adjoining 
beauty shop, Hair Design by Michael. Mike deeply loved the city of 
Niles, and he was a beloved fixture of the community. For the last 
almost 40 years, he could be found daily at his Robbins Avenue 
barbershop--an establishment built by Mike's immigrant grandfather, 
Phillip Melillo in the 1930s.
  He was a lifelong member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Parish 
in Niles and was a proud Italian-American. His world revolved around 
his family and nothing pleased him more than to be surrounded by his 
adoring grandkids.
  Mike led a very active and healthy lifestyle. Beyond daily fitness, 
Mike enjoyed golfing, swimming, running and playing bocce. He loved 
basketball and was known for his sharp jumpshot all the way up until he 
quit playing in his late 50s. Many of Mike's days were spent coaching 
his children's youth sports teams and eventually attending his 
grandchildren's games. Mike restarted the Mount Carmel grade-school 
basketball program with Stu Sussman in 1999, where his teams were 
exceptionally successful in both winning games and building life-long 
loving friendships. Family traditions were important to Mike. In the 
summer, he could be found tending his garden and, in the fall, crushing 
grapes in the wine cellar. Mike was also a Niles Frontliner who had a 
reverence for the proud Red Dragon Football program.
  Mike meant the world to his loved ones and served as the guiding star 
for his wife and children. He will be gravely missed by his father of 
Niles; his wife, Gerri Gatta Melillo; a son, Vincent Melillo and his 
wife, Christina of Dublin, Ohio; two daughters, Michelle Spano and her 
husband, Randy of Canfield and Rose Allison Johnson and her husband, 
Chaz of Niles; a brother, Raymond T. Melillo and his wife, Pam of 
Poland; three sisters, Vickie Janik and her husband, Ed of Niles, 
Monica Melillo and her fiance, Bill Hensley of Painesville and Gwen 
Maynard of Youngstown; seven grandchildren, Chaz, Enzo, Nico, Mia, 
Carmela, Capri and Michael; and a little girl due in June (Vince and 
Christi). He was preceded in death by his mother.
  A friend to so many, Mike had a one-of-a-kind sense of humor. He had 
a knack for building profound relationships and leaving a positive 
impact on people's lives. While his presence will be most painfully 
missed by both his family and community, his influence will be 
everlasting.

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