It is with unbelievable sadness and a very heavy heart that I report that my Dad, Mike "Pops" Gratis, passed away peacefully on the evening of June 16, 2006 in the arms of his wife of 47+ years, Terry, shortly after watching an enjoyable game of Red Sox baseball with her. Those who know Pops well also know that he had been fighting cancer for about 20 years and that he'd always taken it in stride, many times to the point where quite a few did not realize that he was even sick. He lived a good, full life and enjoyed it to the end.
His wake was held
on June 22nd at Nickerson-Bourne Funeral Home and was
very well attended. There were many pictures
posted in the building, some of his favorite music was
played in the background, and there were a lot of fond
memories shared. His funeral was held on June
23rd at Saint Margaret's Church. A motorcycle
procession was supplied by the Cape Cod Harley Owners
Group, other riding friends, as well as a Blue Knights
and Bourne Police Department bike, excellent coverage
both to the church and cemetery (...honestly, the best
I've ever seen) was provided by the Bourne Police,
Massachusetts State Police and Wareham Police
Departments, and flower transportation was provided by
long time family friend Doug Butler in his El
Camino. Immediately following the church
services, he was buried at Saint Patrick's Cemetery
(across from Centre Cemetery), Tihonet Road (Off Route
28), Wareham, MA, where a tribute was given by the
church, taps was played and flag presentation made by
the United States Air Force, and a special "parting of
the ways" gathering was held at the end of it all by
all of the motorcycle riders present. After the
burial, everyone was invited to the Way Ho Grille to
enjoy food and refreshments, where more fond memories
were shared and stories exchanged. It was truly
a beautiful and memorable send-off that I know Pops
would have loved and the family greatly appreciates
all of those who were involved with it.
Mom requests that memorial donations be made to:
Hospice & Palliative Care of Cape Cod
765 Attucks Lane
Hyannis, MA 02601-1867
508-957-0200
http://hospicecapecod.org
His funeral notice and guest book via the Cape Cod Times & Legacy.com can be seen HERE.
Thanks to all who have contacted us, sent cards and/or flowers, made Hospice donations, and to those who are keeping us in your thoughts & prayers. Pops would have been very proud of the send-off he got and how many people really cared about him.
His Brother-In-Law (Mike's Uncle) Joe Labretto came up with this very fitting poem:
BLUE HIGHWAY
When I die, please
don't cry,
As I have just gone to ride
My Harley on that
Blue Highway in the sky.
And when the
thunder roars
And the lightning's flash,
You'll know it's just me
Laying on the gas.
When you look up in
the sky
On that bright moon lit night
You'll know it's my Harley headlight
Lighting up the night.
When the day comes,
As we all know it eventually will,
I will be waiting for you on
My Harley just over the hill.
So give me a wave
as you thunder by,
As I will always be watching over you
From my Blue Highway in the sky.
Here are some of my favorite, recent pictures of Pops enjoying life. If you want a higher resolution photo emailed to you (...these have been compressed for the web site), drop me a line and I'd be glad to send it.
Son, Mike, Uncle/Brother-In-Law Joe Labretto & Pops on the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia in June of 2002. Pops loved this ride, and my daughter, Rachel, and I had just completed it in 2006, much to his joy, just a couple of days before his passing.
Mike, Pops, Joe, Kenny Sanasarian, Bruce Harrington, Tracey Sanasarian & Dee Harrington with the Cabot Trail in the background.
Son, Mike, & Dad at the Blue Knights Blessing at West Dennis Beach in May of 2003.
Pops, Renee & Mom (Terry) at Renee's High School graduation in June of 2003.
The following pictures are of what Pops considered one of his best and most memorable motorcycle rides - Hitting the road for 2 weeks to go to Harley-Davidson's 100th Anniversary in Milwaukee, WI from August to September in 2003.
Mike, Pops & Bruce Harrington at the Harley-Davidson Factory. Their 3 bikes can be seen directly behind Burce's arm.
Pops & Mike in front of the factory entrance.
Mike & Pops in front of a reproduction of the original Harley-Davidson "factory".
Pops displaying our HOG Chapter flag at one of his proudest ride moments, participating in Harley-Davidson's 100th Anniversary 10,000 bike parade through downtown Milwaukee.
Mike, Dee Harrington & Pops at the waterfront festivities.
If Pops was on his bike he was always smiling.
While on our trip we visited the Volo Auto Museum in IL and met up with a couple of old friends of Pops.
Mike, Daughter/Granddaughter Rachel, & Pops at Lake Forest College in IL.
After leaving Milwaukee, we continued over the Great Lakes and met up with friend Joe Mateus in Toronto, Ontario. Here's Pops in front of the local H-D dealership with the world famous CN Tower (largest free standing structure) in the background, as well as Mike, Joe & Bruce.
Pops, Mike, Joe Mateus, Dee & Bruce Harrington enjoying a meal at the end of the day in Toronto.
After Toronto, Bruce & Dee continued home while Mike & Pops went to his old hometown of Windber, PA. Here he's with his Cousin George in front of a World War II memorial in town.
The following are some more recent of Pops of moments that we'll always remember & cherish.
Mike & Terry celebrating their 46th Anniversary at Lorenzo's Italian Restaurant on November 20, 2004.
Three generations of Mike Gratis: Michael J. Gratis, Jr., Michael G. Gratis & Michael J. Gratis, Sr. celebrating Thanksgiving in 2004.
A complete family shot taken at Christmas in 2004. Ann, Terry, Pops, Rachel & Renee in front, Mike, Sr., Jon, Patricia Gutterson, Barrett & Mike, Jr. in back.
"Canada Joe" Mateus visited us July 9-10, 2005, and here he is with Pops & Mike. We spent a lot of time talking about different bike trips we'd taken, including our visit with Joe in Toronto back in 2003.
Pops showing Joe his Harley Shed, complete with a lifetime of motorcycle pictures, including the old black & white ones right above Pops' head of him on his Indian motorcycle back in the mid-1950's.
Mom & Dad, with Renee along side, celebrating their 47th Anniversary on November 24, 2005.
A nice Thanksgiving Day 2005 shot of Terry & Mike, along with grandchildren Rachel, Mike Jr. and Renee.
A classic picture of Pops on his bike, taken a couple of years back, probably close to the last time he felt comfortable getting on the bike. So it seemed only fitting....
...that we used that picture on his headstone. Without a doubt, it's one of the most beautiful we've ever seen, and a fitting, final tribute to Mike "Pops" Gratis.
He shall always be remembered.....
