Obituary of Michael Ciampa

Michael R. Ciampa, a resident of Stoneham, passed away at the Lahey Clinic Medical after a courageous battle with cancer, on Wednesday morning, July 7, 2010. The husband of Mary Diane (Martell) he was 70 years old. Mike was born in Medford. He was the son of the late Pasquale and Justine Ciampa. He grew up in Somerville and Medford and was a graduate of Medford High School. Mike was a veteran of the Vietnam War serving his country in the United States Army. He had completed one tour of service and then was called back for an additional tour during the Bay of Pigs Invasions. Mike had a variety of careers. He worked as a Hairdresser, worked for Crown Cash Register, Wang, Bucci, PRI Automation, Lowes, and had being working at ABC Supply Company in Woburn for the past five years as a Manager. Mike was a true outdoorsman. He was a member of the Andover Sportsman Club and the Reading Rifle Club. He was an avid fisher both freshwater and saltwater. He also enjoyed hunting. Mike was also a member of the Frank W. Thompson Lodge A.F. & A.M. Masonic Lodge in Bedford. Mike’s outgoing personality made him many friendships. He will be missed by his family and friends. Mike was the beloved husband of Mary Diane (Martell) Ciampa. He was the loving father of Michelle Puleo & her husband Chuck of Woburn, Danielle Peacock & her husband Bill of North Andover. He was the brother of Diane Luongo & her husband Anthony of Burlington, Nancy Rovatti & her husband Joseph of Burlington and the late John Ciampa. Grandfather of Samantha & Nicholas Puleo and Michael Peacock. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St. BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Sat. July 10 at 8 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Patrick’s Church, 9 Pomeworth St., Stoneham at 9 a.m. Visiting hours Friday 4-8 p.m. Interment private. In lieu of flowers memorials in Michael’s name may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701. Dad I don’t even know where to start, how do you even begin? The first memory of my Dad that comes to mind for both Michelle & I, was that we never got to sleep in on weekends; Dad loved to get up early and would come upstairs and yell “It’s time to get up, I want to hear the pitter patter of feet when they touch the floor”. He was a great one for wanting to do yard work on a sat or sun with Michelle & I helping of course, except we would end up finishing it because Dad would end up down in front of Jean & Tom’s garage having a beer with Tom or off to buy a gadget. Another thing that was special about Dad was that he was always shopping for that “great bargain” at least that was what he would always tell my mother if he told her about it. He sometimes would buy something or other for fishing, hunting, or a gadget and make Michelle or I help him to sneak it into the house. One of the funniest memories with my dad was the first time we took it out; my dad wondered if it was too windy but I thought it might still be okay to try so we ventured out. No sooner did we get the canoe launched the wind started taking us back towards the rocks and my dad instructed me to gently put my paddle out to stop us from crashing into the rocks; I don’t know whether I was very strong or it was that windy but over we went along with everything in the canoe. Tackle boxes, life jackets, fishing poles, and cooler. Never the less, my mom was not too happy with him. I told him the water was freezing and he stated that he was in the same water. My dad was known for NOT being a night person; he was so bad that when Michelle was in high school and going out for her friends she would beg my mom to pick her up not my Dad. My mom being tired of always being the one to either wait up for us or drive us to or pick us up on our nights out with our friends made my Dad take me and all my friends to a dance which included picking each of them up. It’s easy to guess that he was not happy and by the time we got to Cristina’s house I instructed her to plaster on one her biggest smiles and then my Dad couldn’t be grumpy. He was a lover of HIS THINGS and borrowing items like a car, money, or a tool was never without fear of having anything happen to them. I get reminded a lot that I’m a lot like him when it comes to sharing; I don’t see it but Michelle always says yes. He always said that he was perfectly happy with his two girls; my mom would usually say in response because he would have to share his toys like fishing rods or other gadgets. When it came to cars, he was always insistent on being diligent about keeping them clean, not driving them so they stay like brand new in the garage. If he asked Michelle and me when the last time we checked the oil and we didn’t know, he would get aggravated. He was also my sister’s plumber as well always fixing my sister’s water heater, sink or toilet. The best thing about Dad was the way he loved his family, even though he also like his Friday night happy hours and going hunting but I guess he figured that we were always there. When I was expecting Michael he was a little worried that my due date would interfere with his big week long trip and would have a serious dilemma. Samantha’s christening also fell on another hunting weekend so to compromise he went for a day on Sat which brings me to his ability for remaining CALM!!!HMMM. Upon coming home from that day trip guns in tow in the trunk he stumbled upon a Bronco truck that had rolled down the driveway and hit the corner of the garage. He was everything but calm but being the true youngest daughter, Daddy’s little girl I went straight to tears when he jumped out of his car and started yelling. Poor Bill didn’t whether to run or hide under the truck. In all seriousness, he was truly a magnificent person who seemed to make friends where ever he went. He wanted to be on the go all the time and didn’t like sitting around. He was a great one for having many groups of friends with every job he has had. No matter whom he met along the way he always tried to keep in touch with long time friends. Dad was a lover of keeping up traditions like trying hard to recreate Grammy’s Xmas Eve; my sister and I looked forward to that every year and now we are passing them down to his grandchildren, Samantha, Nicholas, and Michael. All I can say is that he is going to be missed by Mom, Michelle, myself, Chuck, Bill, his precious grandchildren Sam, Nick, and Michael who were light in his life.