Michael Dominic Del Rosso

Like many people whose lives Mike Del Rosso contributed to, when thinking of him the words kindness, generosity and a loving spirited nature are the first to come to mind. Mike and his wife Mary Beth a dear cousin of mine welcomed me into the lives of their beautiful family Tony, Vinnie and Annie at a time in my life when I was in need of family ties. I am forever grateful and thankful for the wonderful blessed memories Mike Del Rosso inspires. Peace and love to him and all his Family always.

Mike´s sister Marg, and her husband Vinny, are our best friends here in Charlotte. We met a little over 20 years ago. But I had known Mike in Phoenix nearly 20 years before, when I did morning radio there. We were on different stations but you occasionally end up in same places together. He and I spoke to some kind of communications class at Arizona State one time; fun session. Good guy. Easy-going. Very smooth and professional on the air. Big loss for his family and for Marg, I know. Condolences to all.

Upon the passing of Michael DelRosso
I was saddened to read of Mike´s passing. My heart goes out to Anne, Vinnie and Tony and theirs and our extended families. Mike was a great joy in the DeFrancis household and my Father´s Italian family connection as his family was all in Detroit. When I first met Mike I was about 9 years old. It was in the den at Aunt Betty & Uncle Vince´s house on Coulter. We had many wonderful get togethers with all the cousins destroying the Oster household and eating to our heart´s content. Those were fun times. Marybeth had just announced her engagement to marry. I hoped someday that I would grow up to be as handsome as Mike with his olive skin, dark chestnut hair, soothing voice and deep brown eyes. Then I challenged him to wrestle ( I was a 5th grade wrestler at Royal Palm Middle school and full of mischief) and Mike obliged pinning me flat in seconds. Then he softly told me, if I didn´t settle down, he´d "take you out in the alley and break your knuckles." Fortunately Aunt Betty´s house didn´t have an alley. He was kidding, of course. I thought he meant it. Who was this Italian guy from NY? Was he in the mob? I had no idea so I behaved myself and played it cool. A few years passed and Mike & MaryBeth were living in Parker/Yuma with Tony...Vinny? Annie? where he was a radio DJ at KZUL. On our annual Summer pilgrimage to San Diego, we visited the station and got a warm welcome from Mike. He even announced our arrival On-Air and suddenly we were celebrities...in Yuma. I bragged about my cousin who does those 20 20 EyeCare commercials to classmates at SunnySlope High. And was always comforted, where ever I was by tuning in to Mike´s radio voice on KOY, KEZ, KLITE. Summers in Sedona´s Oak Creek was the last gathering place I recall for those related to the Morand Clan including: Oster, DeFrancis, McWilliams, DelRosso, Edgar, Demansky, Greer, Kavanaugh and others. Best family times ever. Eventually, our families grew up, children married and moved away. I moved to San Diego in `85. Aunt Betty moved to Flagstaff and family get togethers dwindled. MaryBeth & Mike headed off to Chicago, left my mom a bunch of her books. I returned to Phoenix briefly in `95 to help out Mary Ellen as Art´s faculties were failing. I was hooked on all the foreign travel novels Mary Beth gifted her like Provence by Peter Mayle, et. al. It made me long to travel. We were all touched when Mike attended my father´s wake after Art´s tragic death. Ever the gentleman, Mike had flowers in one hand and a deli plate in the other. We chatted on Facebook for a few years until he withdrew. Glad to still see posts by Tony, Vinny & Anne. Mike is missed dearly! RIP
Eric (Ricky D.)

I was saddened to learn of Mike's passing. I had the absolute pleasure to call him a colleague during our time with Phoenix radio station KOY years ago. Mike was always the gentleman, so kind to everyone, and I must add, very "easy on the eyes!" I would greet him in the halls of KOY with "Hey, Del Rosso" (in my best Italian accent). He would flash that million dollar smile and shout back with his natural Italian inflection, "Aaay, Mangino!" (my married name). I ran into him on occasion through the years and he was always that same, shy guy with a laugh that I can hear even now. Rest in peace my friend.

Mike will always have a special place in the Turner girl hearts. He has always been integral to our family and our memories will bring a smile. We have been fortunate to enjoy pancake breakfasts and mustache parties as well as so many gatherings. We feel blessed to have shared his love.

I first met Mike when I was 13 or 14. I was his younger sister-in-law. I thought he was so handsome, and I wanted to marry somebody as handsome as Mike del Rosso. So you could say I grew up with Mike. He was a great support when my dad died when I was 15. He was great fun. He and my sister stuffed me in the back of the Camaro and took me to Disneyland in California. I was pleading by the end of the trip there to just let me walk. One of my fondest memories that I can remember about him ; we were at the public library and the librarian was shushing everybody. Mike and I decided to start passing notes instead of speaking to each other. We would draw pictures to communicate what we were trying to say. Needless to say I didn't get a lot of homework done. I still have those drawings as a fond memory of him. I saw my first r-rated movie with Mike and Marybeth. There wasn't a whole lot of discussion afterwards. He was very kind and he loved children and animals. I feel truly blessed for having known him.