Ronca, Michael J. SCOTIA Michael J. Ronca, 50, of Scotia passed away suddenly on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Troy. He was born on May 14, 1961 in Niskayuna. He was the grandson of the late Guido and Mary Ronca, and Louis and Marion Tenace. Michael worked for Emerick Asscociates Inc., in Cohoes for 20 years. He was involved in dirt track auto racing since he was 16, racing at Albany/Saratoga Speedway in Malta for many years. He is survived by his wife Karen; children, Mark and Blake; parents, Nicholas and June, and brothers, Nicholas (Debra), Donald, Richard (Christine), and James (Deborah). He was also survived by 12 nieces and nephews and five godchildren. Calling hours will be held on Sunday, from 2 to 6 p.m., at the Catricala Funeral Home Inc., 1597 Route 9, Clifton Park with a service on Monday at 11 a.m. Burial will be in St. Anthony’s Cemetery in Glenville. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Autism Society of the Greater Capital Region, 101 State St., Schenectady, NY 12305. Arrangements by the Catricala Funeral Home, Inc, 1597 Rte 9 Clifton Park, NY 12065
I thought it would be nice to post some of the kind words many folks on the forum and facebook have posted in remembrance of a great friend and racer.
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I sit here stunned, almost at a loss for words… Having known Mike for many years both from the races and with my work at Cottrell Paper Co and his at Emerich Associates, I have come to know that I could always have a friendly conversation with Mike that would always end with a smile and a wave.
To Mike’s family, friends and fans I say this,
“What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us. Take comfort in your memories, for they will indeed be a part of you forever.”
Eternal rest, grant unto him, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May the souls of the faithful departed
through the mercy of God rest in peace.
Amen.
Goodspeed Mike Ronca… 7
Your friend, Burger (DTD Forum Member)
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I raced against Mike on several different occasions and he was always a good person to race with. You could race along side of him and not have to worry about a slide job coming off the corners or him putting his nose where it shouldn’t have been. A class act racer from my perspective and a nice guy. You will be missed on and off the track. RIP Mike – Jeremy Wilder
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What a terrible loss to the racing community to lose such a great guy at such a young age so suddenly. Mike and his family are the ones that introduced me to racing some 40 years ago when his dad Nick used to pile all the kids in the truck and head off to the races. I can’t tell you how many times Mike has helped me through my years of racing from motor issues and chasis problems right down to loaning me the parts I needed to get back to the track. To this day his dad Nick still comes to our race shop a couple of nights a week to talk and laugh about what ever comes to mind. Mike comes from an incredible racing family with so much history and so much heart for the sport. He will truly be missed by many people that he came into contact with. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Ronca family and friends. RIP Mike – Jack Gentile
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I got the phone call late last night from a mutual friend that I grew up with along with the Racing Ronca’s. I was stunned to say the least. My deepest condolences to the entire family that has such deep roots in our local racing.
“Mikey” as his family referred to him or “Hungry” which is what his closest friends called him for years. Look back to the photo’s of a scrawny kid with a bushy head of hair and a nova street stock # 77 at Malta to see Hungry Mike. His grin was infectous and his smile contagious, each will be sorely missed by us all.
The Ronca’s have always been some of the most supportive people in my life dating back to helping me get started in racing to my recent losses of my parents they all were there. I know there will be a great void in the line-up at Malta opening night and when I announce “The Racing Ronca Brothers” there will be more missing than a car in the line-up. We will miss ya Hungry, but now Heaven has got a # 7 and we are left with memories of a great friend.
“out of Clifton Park in the Shippies Excavating, Hometown Auto Glass, Noel’s Machine Shop #7, one of The Racing Ronca Brothers… Godspeed Mike Ronca” – DanMar10 (DTD Forum Member)
