It's hard to imagine that it's been a year. I met mike in October of 1963. He was the best man at my wedding . We traveled to Europe together. Great trip to Florida too. We went to cape Hatteras back in the late 1970's. He was a great friend who would do anything to help our someone in need. We would talk 5 or 6 times a year. Catch up on our kids. Wow, Michaels graduation is this year. Same as my grandson. Yes was a good man, devoted husband and father. He was taken way to soon. 

John was what you see is what you get and Sean, Devin and I loved him.  Although we spent more time with him years ago when the kids were smaller, he was always thought of as part of our "Damascus" family and it was devastating to hear of his passing.  John was a "one of" easy to talk to, amazing with the kids and we have years of fond memories of the annual Halloween party and trick or treating at our house with the crew of boys at Damascus elementary school.  Devin spent a lot of time with John and Michael and they were always into something, Sean and I remembered when Devin crashed John's go cart through his garage and John was the calmest of all insisting it was no big deal and wouldn't think of letting us help with paying for any of it.  Sean and I rode motorcycles with John and Teri to the wall and visited Arlington cemetary and John's patriotism was admirable.  He lived every minute like he had all the time in the world, so many hobbies interests and so much love for his friends and family.  There aren't a lot of true blue people out there anymore but John was and I know whether in touch or not, if we ever needed him he would be there.  A light went out with John's passing but he lives on in his son and someday I know we will all meet again....

I always like saying "my brother" when talking to friends. It felt a priveledge to have a brother, someone who shared the same name and blood. Of course we didn't aggree on stupid things like politics, we were the same in important things like family, love of country, working hard and having no debt, and especially our love of cars. About a year ago I suggested I fly back east and we drive his corvette out to California and I would help pay to truck it home. He said no because it is too uncomfortable, oh but what a trip it could have been. Last year, like most yearrs we took the Harley and Triumph out for a ride. For some reason it was the best ride we had ever taken together, just relaxed and easy. 
      About two weeks before Mike passed, I received in the mail a 1960's toy slot car  set. It was totally complete and inside the box was a picture of the two of us puting a new one together maybe in 1960? He wrote on the back "While you are playing with the race cars, think of me being with you.. Remember when - " It was the most thoughtful gift I had ever gotten from my brother. I called my sister Frances up right away to tell her and ask her if there was something wrong with Mike, half joking because it was so unlike him. Then I called him to thank him. We had one of the best phone calls. We talked about life, the beach, about what he was doing around the house, usual stuff. We talked about Michaels graduation the next year. The last thing he said to me and the last thing I said to him was "I love you". I have no regrets. My brother was a happy man. There was no doubt in anyone who met him that he loved them. And he had no doubt from anyone that they loved him. I don't think it gets much better than that. 

Many of Mike’s friend’s know of his nickname “Monk” and its orgin but for those of you wondering how it came about, I’ll tell like it happened.  Back in the Jr High days, the ole gang used to hang out, just about every day, at the gas station/castle at Forest Glen Rd. One day, Hennessy was walking toward the group and with his tall lanky build and from a distance it actually looked like his hands were dragging on the ground. Someone yelled, “Geez he looks like a monkey with hands dragging”, the name stuck and eventually shortened to Monk. 

Mike has been out to Las Vegas to visit, 3 or 4 times over the years. One of his first visits was a mini reunion with some of the old gang. One day, we all piled into a couple cars and spent the day driving around Vegas and some neighboring towns.  Mike was unbelievably amazed at the number of older cars on the road here, that didn’t have a speck of rust on them.  He must have said, at least a hundred times, “Geez Guys look at the car…..NO RUST”.  That’s all he talked about for a couple days. And of course, we kidded him every time he picked something up or took a second look at something with: “Hey Mike, any rust on that”.  He’d just laugh and say “No Rust”. 

Shortly after Mike and Teri were married, they came to Las Vegas for a few days and had a suite at the Luxor Hotel.  I would go down to the strip and hang with them afternoon and evening.  Now Mike was never into Slots or Gaming.  He once told me he wouldn’t play with anything that didn’t have rust on it, (a throwback to the Rust reunion). So I took Teri over to a Crap table and taught her how to play.  The first time she touched the dice, she rolled for about 20 minutes. Everybody on the table cleaned up. Everyone knew she was just learning the game and everyone declined to roll in order to get the dice back to her. I won about 800 bucks and Teri won 1400 as I recall. Mikes eyes were popping out.  He was ready to move into the Luxor and send Teri down to the crap table everyday pick up a quick grand or two. 

When Teri was pregnant with little Mike, Big Mike asked me once the secret to being a good parent.  I told him parenting was much like long War. And in this war, it would be necessary to win EVERY battle, because if you lose just one, you lose the war. And the greatest challenge, as a parent, in winning every battle, was to know exactly what shade of blue; your kids face turns before letting of his throat.  Then I told him to practice on a neighbor’s kid first.  He told me many times, he thought that was the funniest advice he ever got. 

I loved him and I miss him,

Growing up, we all called him Mike. We also called him affectionately “monkey” or “monk.” And most of us never got used to the name change to "John." But whatever you called him, he was always the big guy with the big heart and the easy smile. He could and would talk with anyone, about anything. And he had opinions about most things - - even if he didn’t know anything about it…! Hahaha!

My first memories of Mike are from when we would hang out at his house on Forest Glen Rd after school – Montgomery Hills Junior high school. We’d make fun of his sisters’ boyfriends and smoke cigarettes and for some reason we usually ended up wrestling over something. I always lost, of course…. And there was hanging out at Sam’s and Bobby’s with Pat and Scott and Mike and JC and Rosemary (Roe da hoe, haha)….  And Jimmy Aker… It was a close group of friends and we have all remained so for over 50 years….

He and I drove to California together in the summer of ’68. We landed eventually in Long Beach and worked in restaurants to support a fledgling surfer habit. When we returned in the fall, all of our other buddies were joining the Marines. We didn’t though….

Many years later we lived together in Columbia with Sam and Theresa and others who rotated through as roommates for varying periods of time. Mike took over the small work shed as a garage for his Triumph motorcycle. He worked on it incessantly and if he wasn’t working on it, he was cleaning it. There was lots of Budweiser too... Those were good times…

But marrying Teri and raising Michael were the 2 things that made him complete. He loved them more than life itself, and I’m sure they know it. His life revolved around Teri and Michael. As we all know, and anyone who ever met him would know, Mike was a generous, loving and caring man. And above all he was a family man. And his mom and dad, his brother Tommy and his sisters Sharon and Francis were also never far from his mind.

He was the big brother, the protector, the provider, the close friend, the patriot, the little kid at heart who liked his toys, and always, always the guy who you wanted to have as your best friend.

He visited Arlington every year to visit his dad and pay his respects. I couldn’t be happier than to know that Mike will be there now, too. I will do what I can to go visit every year, just as he did, and pay my respects and remember the big guy with the big heart…   

I’ll always remember, miss, and love ya man…

"So like you Teri to have this all pulled together so beautifully. Makes me think of the boys elementary school graduation cd you did for all if us. they both me cry. You and John are filled with so much love and kindness and enormous hearts. We will miss the great times at soccer. Bill and John had much hot rodding stuff to talk about and christopher will always remember him as the guy who wanted to know what snacks he had at each game. Chris always thought that was funny and John used that as a fun way to get to know him. Chris tells me he would always try to steal his candy too. I always thought that was so sweet and endearing of him as each soccer season led to new conversations between them.  He will be missed dearly, love you guys very much."

This story was added by Sarah Olsen on 26th April 2015

"I'm so thankful to have met John, Michael, and Teri, they always welcomed me over and were like a second family to me. John was like a father to me. Every time I would go down there he'd be working on fixing up another toy. The last time I was down there he gave me this dinosaur that he fixed up so it would walk. When I went to visit Teri she would always offer me tea, and for some reason just about every time I was there they had just had pizza. It was like a routine, Teri: want some tea? Wanna play cards? John: there's pizza in the fridge. Michael: *sits on the computer until Teri and I get him to play cards* One day John was talking about how he wanted to keep this fox he found when he was working. Although he never got a real fox I tried to draw him one and gave him a stuffed one. Even before he passed, whenever I would see a fox it would remind me of John and make me smile.I'm so thankful he gave me his construction ear plugs, they helped me a lot with my concussion. Though I miss him terribly, i'm at least glad that he was a part of my life, and that I got to spend time with him."

A most interesting man, John, with his elaborate antique toy collection and attention to detail.  John always seemed to have a twinkle in his eyes with a quick wit and a delightful playfulness about him!  I always enjoyed his easy conversation and perspective. And even though "we" (at 27901) wrecked his truck and his motorcycle, John always seemed welcoming and glad to see me. Probably because I was not directly a party to either accident but guilty only by association.
Still, he was forgiving!  And what a handsome devil to boot.  John will be sorely missed! 

I see where my brother Jimmy posted on here. The memories are the same for me.  One main difference, I had a huge crush on Mike back then.  His family later moved to a townhouse nearby.  One evening I was over there with some of his family.  I managed to talk Mike into getting in the closet where I succeeded in stealing a kiss from him.  Needless to say, we were stumbling over brooms and a vacuum cleaner and those present became aware of something going on.  Boy did we look guilty coming out of the closet!!  I was about 12.  Teri, Michael, Francis and Tommy, my sincere condolences to each of you.  May the Lord bless you with strength, love, comfort and all you need to get through this difficult time.  My last time seeing Mike was after we graduated.  He was such a sweet and dear person.  The Memorial site is awesome and a great tribute to Mike.  Job well done.  Love & Prayers.

From time to time when we had an opportunity at work John would come to my truck and stand on the side steps of my door and either give me a small present or have a short conversation with me, he had great fellings, a soft and touching way to treat his friends and one day he said: " I would love to take a brake and go to the beach in North Carolina, sit, relax and look at the ocean, have a few beers and listen to Jimmy Buffet all day long!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4XtBiWgXLE

The best boss I ever had, a long time friend with the heart of a brother.

If you came to visit John, he would always give you  one, two, three or several things to take with you, once he gave me a box full with antique small bottles.

 John and I had a taste for VW bugs  and some 15 years ago he also gave me a 1966 VW bug emergency light switch that today I use on one of my bikes as a toggle switch for the radiator fan, use it a lot and always remember the day he gave it to me, it keeps my engine cool!

Will always be remember as a special person, a special friend, as someone who cared, someone who saw the details in life and apprecitate them all.

My boss, my friend, my brother!

Teri & Michael, Tommy & Frances,

I'm so, so sorry. I have never, ever heard anyone say anything negative about Mike. I always called him Mike. Frances, I think of you & Mike every year on your birthdays. Hopefully, you'll find a way to celebrate Mike in the years to come.

I met Mike & his family in 1959. We lived in the same apts. on Glen Ave. He had a strong love for his family. I can remember when we were in 5th grade, he had a run-in with one of his sister Sharon's boyfriends. Apparently, this guy got a little too friskey. Mike was 10, this guy was 13. I literally saw Mike beat him to the point of a bloody nose, eye & lip. Kinda like the butt whoopin' in  A Christmas Story. Last I saw him, he was hobbling up Holman Ave. Mike said, "You don't mess with my sisters".

We were pretty much inseparable those first few years. Neither of us were much into sports. I think that made us closer. We were both into cars, big time. We played in the dirt with cars & spent hours together making model cars. As we got older, we started playing with the real stuff. His first car was a Fiat 500. He could hardly fit in the thing. His real love was 49 Fords. He would always say "flatheads forever". 

Mike was always a gentle giant. Soft spoken, patient & caring. I cherish the time we spent growing up together. You couldn't ask for a better friend. Mike, thanks for the memories.

John preferred working nights wether for F O DAY or for my company so he could work on home improvements around he and teri's house. He always amazed me with the amount of energy he had and his dedication for completing each project. If he ran out of things to do teri would find him something to do at one their many neighbors, because he loved helping others and liked to stay busy. John and i had a great working relationship which in time turned into a great personal friendship. His love for his son michael and other children was heart warming to see. It will be impossible to replace john both as a friend and outstanding employee. The Mannix Trucking family will all miss you deeply. God bless michael and teri in this difficult time.

I met John 23 years ago.  I had just started working with Teri and she was dating John at the time.  We were getting acquainted and she told me her boyfriend had the cleanest work truck. He kept a cloth inside it and would wipe the dashboard and insides down whenever he was sitting inside it. Well a few days after she told me this, I drove into our work parking lot and there was this guy sitting in his truck and he happened to be wiping down his dashboard. I knew it must be"The Boyfriend".   That was my first encounter with this sweet man.  

He nicknamed me Shortstop because I'm 5'1" and of course him being 6'4" there was a bit of height difference.  He always made me feel welcomed whenever I came to the house and helped me out several times throughout the years. My family always thought of him as a super nice guy.  He was such a giving person and I truly enjoyed his friendship. I thank God for bringing such a kind hearted soul into my life.   

There are too many stories for one post but this is a good one. The happiest I had EVER heard my brother was when he called me on the phone to tell me that Michael was born. I had never heard anyone so happy in all my life. Not the happiest but funniest for me though was when I was sitting across the living room and he was holding baby Michael above him being the proud papa and Michael puked straight into his face. To this day I have never laughed so hard, but what was cool in my brother laughed too! I love my brother so much, and my heart is broken.

Mike is my Stepbrother he was always nice to me and my brother and sisters. He will be missed but he is looking down from Heaven with my Papa/Dad smiling at his family. God Bless Tommy and Mary Frances during this time of celebration of Mike's life with us. Love you Tom and Mary Frances. 

John (Hen-Hen) was the only true friend I've ever had, I met John in 1979 and we would go to house in Owens Mill and he would always have great food and alot of Brigham Day buddies to crazy it up. John would come over for Coffee  every other Saturday and bring me a sausage dog from Red Rooster, we'd sit and talk for about an hour and then we'd part knowing we both had a honey do list to do. Its going to be so hard not seeing him coming up my driveway anymore, he was a good man, one man that me and my family will surely miss. I've been Blessed to have had him Teri and Michael in my life, I'll miss his stories, and the good laugh I'd get from them and the true meaning of a good friend who would drop what he was doing to help me, John may have passed but I'll never stop thinking of him, My friend forever.