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Mike's parents emigrated from Crete, a Greek Island. They met in the states and married. He worked in the coal mines until he could afford to buy farmland in Raton, New Mexico. He spoke very little English, and had very little money to live on when he moved to the farm and quit the mines.
Mike went to school in the winter snow with no shoes. The principal of the school saw him and took him to the store and purchased a pair of shoes for him with his own money. Mike will never forget what he did for him.
Mike loved to play all kinds of sports, but especially baseball. He pitched softball, played football, but his talent was in boxing. One man wanted to train him professionally but he didn't want to do that for a living.
He loved to work in the garden and enjoyed living on the farm, until his father lost it and they had to move into Raton proper.
He was very shy of girls and never dated one until he was in the army.
When the war began, his father came to Oakland, California, seeking work. Mike came a little later. He washed dishes for a restaurant at night and went to school during the day. He put all the money he earned towards a down payment on a house so the rest of the family could come to Oakland. He had broken his arm very badly when young and lost a year of school and because of that he was drafted into the army before he finished his last year in high school. His appendix burst in the front lines, and he lay in a tent hospital for three months. Gangrene set in and he was given the last rites. He survived, but has had bad adhesions ever since causing bile problems. When he recovered he was put on grave detail, recovering bodies, trying to identify them, shipping them home and also on the burial squad, burying many there.
When he returned home July 1946, he went to Oakland Laney Business College to get enough credits to graduate from high school which he accomplished in 1947. He spent a year in mechanic school, then went to Oakland Barber College and graduated from it in 1950. Thus began over 40 years as a barber. He cut a lot of children's hair. He had a little red fire engine where the small ones set and he would entertain them by doing Disney character impersonations and farm animals. The children loved him. He was very good with the impersonations, even did it on ships and got many compliments. In time he owned his own shop which he loved, but the building was sold. He had a good clientele and it really broke his heart. He could not find another building, even though he thought he had one. He spent a lot of time and money cleaning it up and painting it only to find there were no water pipes. It used to be a barber shop at one time and he thought it still had the water. He ended up working with another man in his shop until his retirement.
Mike loved to dance, especially waltz. He took lessons so he could dance better. He used to go the German Hall. One evening he asked a girl he had not seen there to waltz. She was a beautiful dancer and he enjoyed dancing with her. He tried many times to take her out but she always refused. Finally he quit asking her to dance. Several months later he asked her again and asked her again to take her home. She said to him, "The only way I would allow you to take me home is to go to church with me tomorrow morning and to act like a gentleman when you take me home." Mike couldn't believe what he heard. He had been praying to meet a religious girl. He stopped drinking beer that night, took her to church every Sunday and about six years later joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, knowing in his heart it was true. He married Eva Mae Sessions Dyke several years later in the Oakland temple, September 22, 1966. She had an adopted son who was later sealed to them. Mike was 40 when he got married. He has held many offices in the church and is now second counselor in the High Priest Quorum.
He and Eva love to travel and he really enjoyed escorting tours for AARP seniors for eight years. Mike is a very kind man. He always helps those in need and will spend as much time as needed to take them to doctors, help any one in any way he can. He has been commander of Oakland Chapter #7 Disabled American Veterans and enjoys helping them out when they need him to help others. He supports Eva in her many activities and never complains. He is proud of what she does and enjoys being a part of it. He even took her back to see her first husband before he died. He treats Russell's daughters with respect and love when they visit them. He is a great person and is respected by all who know him.