- Date Of Death: February 1, 2022
- State: Illinois
Mike Tangorra was a caring husband, father, brother and friend.
Mike was born in Bitritto, Bari in Italy on July 25, 1960. He was the second of 4 children born to Michele and Francesca Tangorra. He grew up on the Northwest side of of Chicago. Together with his 1 older brother and 2 younger sisters, Mike enjoyed living across from Portage Park where summers were spent swimming and sports were played all year long.
After graduating from Prosser High School in 1978, Mike went to work in the family business, Mike’s Niles Auto Clinic. His early love of cars turned into a passion that spawned a 42 year career in the automotive repair industry. Mike was the best mechanic in town. Just ask his 2 sisters. They trusted him with more than just fixing their cars. He retired in December 2020, but Mike couldn’t stay retired. He went back to work delivering truck parts. Mike loved cars! He loved working on them and he loved racing them. If there are cars in Heaven, then Mike surely is driving a Dodge Challenger Hellcat. If you close your eyes now, you can just see Mike’s big smile.
In 1987, Mike met Sue through mutual friends. It only took 3 tries before he finally got Sue to say yes to a date. Mike was never one to give up! He only had to ask her once though to be his wife. They wed on September 7, 1991. Family and friends danced the night away. It was a beautiful wedding. Again, just ask his 2 sisters. Mike would chuckle and grin when they would ask to play and replay the wedding video, over and over again.
Mike and Sue went on to have 2 children; a son, Michael Angelo and a daughter, Amanda Isabella. Michael will treasure forever the excitement his dad shared, when he caught his first fish. It was a moment only they shared. Michael thought that he lost his one little fish in the weeds. When he realized he didn’t, he shouted out with joy. Once Mike saw Michael holding that one little fish, he ran to his side, cheering and shouting with the happiest smile. It was on that fishing trip to Minnesota, hat Michael realized that Mike, his Dad, would always be proud.
Amanda, his daughter, will forever treasure memories they created at their summer home in Apple Canyon. Times spent boating and fishing, swimming and laughing. Years of memories spent with family. She will especially treasure the moments spent working alongside her dad, making repairs to their boat, the boat that he lovingly named the “Amanda Blue”.
Lovingly called “Papa” by his group of lifelong friends, Mike was more than just their friend – he was their brother. A lifetime of memories fill the hearts of men that started their friendship as young boys back at Portage Park Elementary School in 1974. Those young boys grew up together to become the men that spent countless vacations and holidays and dinners and poker nights together. Theirs was the most special of friendships. They now will all miss that 1 text notification that will no longer ring through.
Mike was so looking forward to enjoying his retirement years with Sue. He earned his retirement. He worked hard all his life. He sacrificed to provide for his family and to save for their future together. He was counting the days to when they would escape Illinois and discover Tennessee. Mike was ready for days spent together. Days spent boating and fishing and nights spent eating and drinking; he’d have his Shrimp Scampi every week if he could. He’d make sure to allow time for watching his YouTube, as well.
Mike liked nothing better than an interesting conversation with a good friend. He could have an engaging conversation with anyone!
Mike was a strong man, with the biggest of hands. We’d all marvel at how he could single handedly rip out a car’s transmission. We’d all laugh as we watched him try to lift his pinky finger while drinking from a coffee cup. Those same hands were also gentle and firm. All who knew Mike, knew how caring and kind a man he was.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents Michele and Francesca, and his brother Joseph.
He is survived by his beloved wife Sue, son Michael, daughter Amanda and sisters Maria Yeomans and Isabella Baker. Parents-in-law Angelo and Mary Marini will miss family dinners spent together eating bowls of pasta. As will Brother-in-law Bob Marini. They will all miss sharing that glass of wine together. Brother-in-law Mark Baker will miss taking those vacations they so eagerly planned where they would continue to talk about their beloved sports cars, a passion they shared. His niece Angelina Yeomans will miss seeing her Uncle Mike’s smile. His nieces and nephews, Robert, Nikki, Jeffrey and Kiara Marini will all miss hearing their Uncle Mike’s laugh. Dearly loved by his many Aunts, Uncles and cousins, Mike will be truly missed.
Friends and family,
Near and far,
Will all truly miss Mike.
For Mike truly was one of a kind.
How lucky are we to have loved someone so much that it makes saying goodbye so hard.
The family would also like to thank the ICU team of doctors and nurses at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge for taking such good care of Mike in his final days.
God saw you were getting tired
and a cure was not to be.
So He put His arms around you
and whispered
“Come with me.”
With tearful hearts we watched
you fade away.
Although we loved you dearly,
we could not make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating,
hard working hands at rest.
God broke our hearts to prove to us,
He only takes the best.
Mike, you were the best.
“And just so ya know,”
You were the best big brother your 2 sisters could ever ask for.
Together they will miss,
your joking and banter.
Together they will remember,
your loyalty and strength.
A man of dignity and honor.
Are you their dearest Brother,
Never forgotten.
And forever missed.
Until we meet again,
Rest In Peace.
Our dearest Mike.
Rest In Peace.
