Mihajlo Mitar Palivoda

Mihajlo "Mike the Barber" Palivoda, adoring father of Oksana and Ariana Palivoda, died early Wednesday morning, peacefully holding their hands. He is survived by his brothers, Vasyl Palivoda and Petro Palivoda, and sisters Melania Eracovic and Mehaljina Kobilarov and his many nieces and nephews. Mike's life was rich with adventure. Such a grand and lively storyteller, Mike's eyes would sparkle as he wove together strands of his life, from memories of his many travels and childhood on his family's farm. Some of his favorite childhood memories were of secretly skipping church to go play soccer with his brothers or spending hours picking chamomile flowers to give his mother to make tea (his favorite kind). He was always happiest surrounded by nature or playing soccer. He was the proud owner of Hillside Hair Styling for over 35 years, where he worked as barber. As his co-workers and clients would happily attest to, Mike was the best damn hair cutter they ever knew, a true artist with scissors. Mike loved soccer. He can trace his soccer career back to the days when he first learned the beauty of the game in his native Yugoslavia. There he eventually went to play at the Third Division pro level, then later moved to France Rodez FK for three seasons. When he arrived in the U.S.A, Mike began playing and coaching for Newark Ukrainian Sitch, enjoying 15 fine seasons with the team on the semi-pro and professional level. During that period he helped the team win numerous league championships, State Cup titles, and twice reached the Eastern quarterfinals of the U.S. Amateur Cup. Mike and the Newark Ukrainians played international matches against Polish champions Ruch-Chorzow, Legia of Warsaw, England Amateur Cup finalist Skelmersdale United, and German professional side Armenia Bielefeld. In 1980, Mike co-founded the Garden State Women's Soccer League and established the Hillside Women's Soccer team, which won seven league titles and the State Cup seven times, and reached the quarterfinals of the National Cup twice. He hosted two international women's teams, a German team which he defeated 4-0, and played Dutch team GDA Dames, from Den Haag to a 1-1 draw. He held the first soccer clinic for women in Hillside, NJ. Mike then worked for over 25 years educating children from 6 to 15 about the world's greatest game. Mike taught soccer to the children in Newark for 10 years at St. John the Baptist church. Mike also conducted training for recreation coaches who had no experience at playing at top levels as he did. For 5 years, he was the coach of the N.J. Women's State Select Team. Mike's genuine care for others was most evident in how passionately and devotedly he loved his daughters and grandchildren. He was the best father, grandfather and the very gentlest of souls. He will be well and truly missed by his family and the soccer community he so dedicatedly served. On Monday October 17th at 9:30am, a short service will be held at Saint John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church, 719 Sanford Avenue, Newark, NJ 07106. Viewings will be on Monday October 17th from 2-4pm and 7-9pm at Lytwyn & Lytwyn Funeral Home 1600 Stuyvesant Avenue, Union, NJ 07083.