Michael Joseph Petto

Michael passed away after a brief battle with cancer at the age of 62. Born at the Winchester Hospital, Michael spent his childhood and later years in our family residence in Stoneham, MA. As a youngster, he was a member of the local Pee Wee Hockey and Little League Giants teams. Michael was an avid car restorer as a young man, taking engines apart in the yard, with help from Dad and an attentive little sister who learned a lot from him. He also enjoyed tinkering with motorcycles, and built a custom Harley-Davidson on a Sportster frame. As an adult, "Mike" was a big rig driver and an expert truck and trailer mechanic for Ruma's Pallet World located in Everett, MA and Xtra Lease, Foxborough. In his spare time, you could find him working on his '78 HD FXE or helping his friends and family with car repairs. Michael was also an avid gardener who took pride in his tomato garden and keeping the lawn in tip-top shape. He loved Boston sports, especially the Red Sox and Bruins, but would watch the occasional Celtics or Patriots game. There wasn't a day that went by where you'd find him without his beloved Dunkin's iced coffee and the Boston Herald. He possessed a dry wit and loved a good pun. Michael was preceded in death by our loving parents Angelo and Evelyn. For 15 years, he was a devoted son to our widowed mother, setting the rest of our minds at ease, knowing she was looked after with love and attention when we couldn't be there. Devoted father of William of Spring Lake, NC and Diana of Chelsea, MA, Michael was especially proud of his children's academic and extracurricular achievements. They in turn adored him. He was the Grandfather of Anastasia Petto; Uncle of David Petto and Pamela Reed; Brother of Steven Petto and his wife Kathleen of CA, Karen Reed of Amherst NH, and Jeanne Doyle and her husband Gene Trombley of Derry, NH; and Dear Friend of his former wife Joyce Karvelas and her husband Jack, Juana Hercules, Jim Ruma, and the entire Maiorana and Hercules families. He will be greatly missed by his siblings, his friends, and his many coworkers and friends at Ruma's Pallet World.