When Baseball Was Fun

MANUEL “MIKE” PAPISTA left us the other day on Saturday, January 23, 2010.
He was our legal advisor for the WBWF, but more than that he’s been a dear
friend ever since I met him on the campus of Southeastern High School in the
Fall of 1944. His smile was infectious and his person was brimming with enthusiasm
and respect and love. I write this not as some mamby pamby jibberish. I write this
because it goes straight to this man’s big heart & soul. I knew him well.

We played baseball and football together at Southeastern, capped off by winning the
Baseball City Championship in 1947 at ole Briggs Stadium. Mike was in the middle
of our lineup and also played an errorless left field. In 1997 he coordinated a 50 year
reunion of the team held at a restaurant in Greektown and then a ball game at Tiger
Stadium. Everyone on that team looked to him for leadership and guidance. He had
it all and never once complained about any problems that he might be facing. Rather,
he was always there to share that big wonderful Greek smile along with a pat on the
back. He loved life and was always ready to share it.

I remember visiting him on the University of Michigan campus in 1949. He loved this
school and it showed as he happily showed us around Ann Arbor and the Campus.
He was a student in their Law program and went on to a tremendous career in the
Detroit legal community. If the residents of his new home need legal advice or just
a helping hand with some heavenly problem MIKE will be there for them.

So GOODBYE old friend. Keep the porch lite on like you did in 1949 to give us guidance
into your special new residence. AGAPE, MANUEL. bobby hoeft