Every year my family seems to get smaller. I am an 'only' who grew up in a big Italian family in a large Italian neighborhood. Everybody seemed to be related to everyone else! I never felt lonely. There was always somewhere to go, someone to visit, someone to talk to--in 2 languages English and Calabrese! (Never mind me trying to speak Basilicata...my grandmothers couldn't even understand each other's dialects and spoke to each other in broken English!)
While I have plenty of cousins, I was born at a time when I had the attention of both my grandmothers and most of my aunts to myself. I was made to feel special. When I went away to college my father's sister (Bill's grandmother) crocheted an afghan for me that I still use! As the younger cousins were born, I was not jealous of them. I enjoyed watching them play and grow, and to be perfectly honest, I was glad they took the spotlight off me. (To this day I do not like having my picture taken because it seemed I had it taken every day for the first 5 years of my life by one aunt or another. When we moved out of the neighborhood to the country and found that our next-door neighbor had a horse (actually, a pony) anyone could ride, a trip to our house was high on the to-do list for younger my cousins...and I could be behind the lens!!) I was always proud of my younger cousins' achievements and supported them. (Try explaining to your 85+year old mother why the band, Classified, Billy was performing with that night was so good-- even if it was so loud...and we were outside!)
When Diane called me to say Billy was gone, I just sat here at my PC staring at the screen. I couldn't believe it...or didn't want to. Please read his obituary...especially the last paragraph. It is so important to prevent this happening to any other family.
Herkimer - William M. (Bill) Mirgo, 64, a life-long Herkimer resident, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, April 12, 2023.
He was born on July 19, 1958, in Herkimer the son of the late William and Phyllis (Fiorentino) Mirgo. Bill was a graduate of Herkimer High School, class of 1976, and he furthered his education at Herkimer County Community College, graduating in 1978.
Music was Bill’s life. As a talented and respected self-taught guitarist, he entertained Central New York as a member of many bands including Honeybush Brothers, Lonesome Dove, Classified, Southern Grace, Joe Angerosa, and most recently Vinyl Logic and Groove Machine. In addition to performing, he shared his knowledge and passion of music to others through teaching.
Mr. Mirgo was of the Catholic faith.
Survivors include his sister, Diane D'Amelio and her husband Dean of Frankfort; a niece, Melanie D'Amelio; a nephew, Paul Dack and his wife Katie Hong; a cousin, Mary Terico; and the numerous members in his musical family.
Bill was predeceased by his parents and an infant brother, Eric Mirgo.
Graveside services at Calvary Cemetery, Herkimer, NY will be held at a time to be announced. Arrangements are under the caring guidance of the Vincent A. Enea Funeral Service, (next to Hannaford Markets), 527 E. Albany St., Herkimer, NY.
Some of Bill’s colleagues have organized a musical tribute to his life at Masonville at Station 233 in Westmoreland on Friday, April 21 at 6pm. Anyone who has performed with him before or who would like to honor him is welcome to attend.
His family appreciates the outpouring of support, well wishes, and fond memories from so many of the members of his musical family.
Depression is a serious illness. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to someone, seek professional help, or contact Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. Please don’t allow this to happen to another family.
I know Heaven's got a hell of a band!
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