Michael J. Libertini, Sr.

Michael J. Libertini, Sr. (56) passed away unexpectedly on December 30, 2020, due to an underlying heart condition.
Mike was born on October 15, 1964, to Umberto Libertini (father, deceased), and Audrey Libertini (mother, deceased); among his family was also Thomas E. Libertini (brother, deceased), and Loralynn A. Libertini (sister, deceased). He is survived by Michael J. Libertini, Jr. (son), Anthony M. Libertini (son), Lisa Botelho (mother of children), Rebecca M. Libertini(niece), Maria Gannon Asacker (girlfriend), Maddie Asacker (daughter of girlfriend), and Gabe Asacker (son of girlfriend).
A man of many talents, Michael made his living plumbing for over 40 years in the Boston area. Most recently working for companies such as Addarios, Gem, and lastly Nicolopoulos where he most recently worked and will be greatly missed by the people he's grown so close to. Over the years he thrived during his time as a Needham Youth Baseball coach, a member of the Dïrty Crüe (a Mötley Crüe tribute band), and baking/cooking for his loving family and countless friends, especially when it came to his mother's secret meatball recipe and his father's famous Thanksgiving stuffing.
Anyone who knew Mike will miss his laugh, realism, hand gestures, passion, outspoken demeanor, and his ability to rock out. A living embodiment of dedication, he put 100% of himself into everything he did, being a loving father, master plumber, incredible guitarist, avid collector, and unbelievable cook. Anything Mike did, he did to the fullest extent, keeping whoever was in the vicinity entertained and on their toes. He got his passion for cooking from his mother, and his passion for collecting things from his father. Mike had many old jars, cans, and baseball cards. Lastly having a love for all things rock, he may have bought a guitar or two into his life as well.
Mike's persistence exemplified the night he met Lisa Botelho, the mother of his children, and, after the third time meeting her that night, initiated a bizarre romantic gesture by rubbing ice on her face out of nowhere to help her with her crowd-induced panic attack. He also had a nice car, but she didn't know that until later. After dating her for a while, he nicknamed her Weezy. Even though they decided to split after 21 years together, they remained friends and considered each other family, getting together with each other frequently for family meals, and holidays, even including Lisa's boyfriend in the events and expressing how happy he was that she had found happiness. He remained connected to her family.
Mike found his passion for baseball at a young age as he would meet with local friends Mike Fraini and Mark Goldschmidt on Pythias Circle. Although he never played in high school, he did join a men's league baseball team with his longtime best friend, bandmate, and co-worker Artie Carey. After a tough expansion season with the Boston Knights, Mike and Artie took their talents to the Boston Rockies. Mike instilled his passion for baseball in his oldest son, Mike Jr. who started playing from the ripe age of 2 and followed his father's footsteps all the way up through high school and beyond. Mike's attention to detail was unmatched, even going as far as to teach his son how to "wear one" like he always said - getting on base is a skill. His youngest also played baseball from a young age, but only for a few years, where he had the same lefty batting stroke as his father, despite being right-handed, as his oldest son had always wished, in vain, that he had.
Mike started coaching football in 1997, for the Needham-Wellesley Pop Warner program, where he became a staple of support for the entire program and instilled his diligent work ethic, trained by his career as one of the best plumbers his coworkers had ever known, into all of those he had mentored. Mike, along with John Sullivan, Lynn Palmatier, Dave DiCicco, Barbara Fitzgerald, Jay Ciccone, Dave Schindler, Fred Sullivan, and countless others worked to teach hundreds of youths the importance of hard work, toughness, dedication and being a part of a team. He taught them to strike first, strike hard, and have no mercy. There were no favorites to Mike Sr, that's why Mike Jr played center for his first 5 years, no one else wanted to do it. If his own son wasn't getting special treatment, then no one was going to and a lot of people respected that about Mike. Mike, concerned for the safety of all of the kids in the program, led the charge to leave Pop Warner football, and join American Youth football. Although a hard decision, he knew what needed to be done, and took appropriate steps to make it happen. He continued coaching youth football even when his children weren't on the team and was always quick to provide any support he possibly could. Even away from the field, he made an impact, lending his P.A. system to the high school so they could hear the voice of Mike Riley echoing through the town. He would often rock his 80's metal a little too loud, or at least that's what some of the neighbors thought. Mike's Response "So when you moved next to the Football field what did you think was gonna happen?". Classic Mike.
Avid music lover, particularly of the stylings of Van Halen, and Queensrÿche. He had been in several small bands over his life, including Myst (not to be confused with the more popular band that didn't include him, also named Myst), the Moody Band, and, most recently, the Dïrty Crüe. When not changing the lyrics to songs on the radio whilst in his car, he was rocking out on stage, lighting it up, and making the crowd go wild - with the volume on his amp set to 11, his playing, which made a name for him in local musician circles, was heard loud and clear, though his stage presence left a little to be desired, "a little robotronic," as Jack Black would say. He will also be missed by longtime friends and bandmates Glenn Moody, Chris DiMaggio, John Amato, and Artie Carey, along with some others. His sons followed in his musically talented footsteps, much like everything else he had carved a path, set a legacy for - his eldest plays the guitar, much like he did, though not to the same level of skill; and his youngest is a beginner at the acoustic, and a long time player of the keyboard.
Mike loved sports, and in particular supported the Boston Red Sox, the New England Patriots, and the Boston Bruins. He always had his particular views on the game, and the calls the referees made, and the trades the owners opted for, and so forth. Especially in the big season-ending games, he would animatedly watch with anticipation, not afraid to voice his complaints to the screen. Maybe if he had shouted just a little bit louder, the refs would have been able to hear him.
Mike leaves behind his youngest son PFC Anthony M. Libertini. Words can not describe how proud Michael was of Anthony after not only making the decision to join the U.S. Army, but thereafter sticking it out and making it through basic training even though it was NOT easy. After a slight hiccup the first time through, Anthony persisted and it could not have thrilled Mike more. The harder Mike was on you, the more he cared. So I think it's safe to say that Anthony was the most loved in the family. After all those years of Anthony trying to earn his father's respect, he finally succeeded and their relationship grew as Anthony matured into the man he is today.
Mike also leaves behind his oldest son, Michael J. Libertini Jr. Following closely in Mike's footsteps, Jr. also played youth sports, and the guitar, so they always had something they could talk about together. Jr. was even supposed to attend college while playing on their football team, but that opportunity eventually fell through for him. Any arguments they may have gotten into over the years, no doubt, was due only to Mike Senior's wishes for only the best for his eldest. Currently, Jr. works in a trade, as a mason, and Mike Sr. was proud that he found his way, and likely was also happy that he could warn Jr. away from being a plumber instead.

Included in those he leaves behind is Maria Gannon Asacker, longtime love and partner, and her two children Madeleine R. Asacker, and Gabriel G. Asacker of Mendon. Maria and Michael first met at summer camp when they were 10 and 11 years old, respectively. They had a mutual admiration for each other throughout their school years but didn't become more than friends until decades later. Their paths crossed once again, after 30 years of no contact, where they were fortunate enough to spend the last 11 years blending their families, and lives together.

It is with heavy hearts that we lay to rest Michael J. Libertini Sr, on Thursday, January 7th at 11 am, at a graveside service at Needham Cemetery, 128 Nehoiden St., Needham.

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