Craig was a good friend and a remarkably good husband and father. He had a great sense of humor and could laugh at anything and anyone, but never to the point of hurting someone's feelings.
He had a love of music, and was incredibly proud of his sister Lexi, who was a better piano player at 14 than most are at 50. We would trade guitar licks until the wee hours, and his mother's musical teachings always put him ahead of my ham-handed attempts at virtuosity.
Craig taught me much about the Greek culture and ethos, (and Ouzo and Retsina) and would caution me every time I told him I wanted to ask a Greek girl out. The first time I watched "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" I smiled in recognition at every insight Craig ever shared with me about the culture and the community he had a love-hate relationship with.
But it was in his marriage to Diane that Craig found himself. Diane was the center of his life and son Nick was his anchor. In our intermittent contacts after I moved in and out of Chicago for so many years, the first things I heard from Craig were reports on Diane and NIck. This was inevitably followed by questions about how I could ever want to live anywhere else but his beloved Chicago. When I decided to forego the sailboat racing and hedonistic advertising lifestyle in my 30's and finally get married, it was the strong suggestion from friend Craig that I was missing more than I knew that put me over the top. For that, I owe him a debt far greater than the many memories, the laughs and that fateful night as a designated driver when he literally did save my life.
Sadly, the only Greek language Craig ever shared with me were the dirty words, so I can't end with a sage comment in Greek. But I can say, in poorly phrased English, that he lived an enviable life with a joy and a gusto so few of us ever achieve, and he found happiness in those closest to him. And in his sharing of that happiness, he made life better for all that knew him. Myself, gratefully included.
Though his life was cut short by cancer and, subsequently, a pulmonary embolism, he gave his all in his love of his family, friends, tradition and his heritage. He was proud, beyond words, of his son Nicholas and his wife Diane. His sense of humor was legend and he will be remembered, for his love of life, for the smile he could put on your face and for his gift of laughter. May God bless him and keep him in His love.
Dr. and Mrs. Nicholas Mitchell
Survived by wife, Diane Michelotti, and son, Nicholas.
David T Sollitt
Craig was a good friend and a remarkably good husband and father. He had a great sense of humor and could laugh at anything and anyone, but never to the point of hurting someone's feelings.He had a love of music, and was incredibly proud of his sister Lexi, who was a better piano player at 14 than most are at 50. We would trade guitar licks until the wee hours, and his mother's musical teachings always put him ahead of my ham-handed attempts at virtuosity.
Craig taught me much about the Greek culture and ethos, (and Ouzo and Retsina) and would caution me every time I told him I wanted to ask a Greek girl out. The first time I watched "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" I smiled in recognition at every insight Craig ever shared with me about the culture and the community he had a love-hate relationship with.
But it was in his marriage to Diane that Craig found himself. Diane was the center of his life and son Nick was his anchor. In our intermittent contacts after I moved in and out of Chicago for so many years, the first things I heard from Craig were reports on Diane and NIck. This was inevitably followed by questions about how I could ever want to live anywhere else but his beloved Chicago. When I decided to forego the sailboat racing and hedonistic advertising lifestyle in my 30's and finally get married, it was the strong suggestion from friend Craig that I was missing more than I knew that put me over the top. For that, I owe him a debt far greater than the many memories, the laughs and that fateful night as a designated driver when he literally did save my life.
Sadly, the only Greek language Craig ever shared with me were the dirty words, so I can't end with a sage comment in Greek. But I can say, in poorly phrased English, that he lived an enviable life with a joy and a gusto so few of us ever achieve, and he found happiness in those closest to him. And in his sharing of that happiness, he made life better for all that knew him. Myself, gratefully included.
Jane Brodie (Belanger)
Though his life was cut short by cancer and, subsequently, a pulmonary embolism, he gave his all in his love of his family, friends, tradition and his heritage. He was proud, beyond words, of his son Nicholas and his wife Diane. His sense of humor was legend and he will be remembered, for his love of life, for the smile he could put on your face and for his gift of laughter. May God bless him and keep him in His love.Dr. and Mrs. Nicholas Mitchell
Survived by wife, Diane Michelotti, and son, Nicholas.