Salina town councilor championed Lyncourt, Little League

By Ashley M. Casey

Associate Editor

The flags in front of Salina Town Hall were flown at half-mast Feb. 6 in memory of Fourth Ward Councilor Mike Del Vecchio Jr., who passed away Feb. 3 at Upstate University Hospital. He was 69.

Del Vecchio was a resident of Lyncourt and championed the needs of the Fourth Ward as a town councilor. He was re-elected to his seat on the Salina Town Board in 2019. He had served on the board since 2008.

He was particularly proud of his work with the Lyncourt Little League, for which former New York State Assemblyman Michael Bragman helped secure an $80,000 grant. Del Vecchio coached baseball for eight years and softball for 15 years, served as a board member for the Lyncourt Little League and volunteered for New York District 8 Little League. In honor of his years of service, the Lyncourt-LeMoyne Mattydale Hinsdale Little League field was named after Del Vecchio in 2018.

Tributes to Del Vecchio poured in on social media last week, including in a Facebook group for the LLMH Little League.

“He was such a nice guy. He would walk around the baseball fields and greet and smile at everyone,” Syeisha Byrd wrote.

“Huge loss for the LLMH community…. prayers to his family and close friends,” wrote Cara Corkran Pinoargotte.

The Town of Salina Facebook page posted a photo of Del Vecchio and a gaggle of Little Leaguers holding the sign for the field that bears his name.

“His love and dedication to the town of Salina meant everything to him. Mike was a leader in the Lyncourt community and a genuine friend. He will be truly missed,” read the post accompanying the photo.

At the Feb. 10 Salina Town Board meeting, Town Supervisor Colleen Gunnip became emotional when she addressed Del Vecchio’s death. She asked the audience for a moment of silence to honor Del Vecchio.

“Even with all the health issues Mike had faced over the last year, he was always available to the Fourth Ward,” she said. “He was elected with 55% of the vote in the Fourth Ward, he served on the board for 12 years, and he did a great job. He was a great community servant, leader, friend to all of us. It’s going to be tough to fill Mike’s shoes.”

Gunnip said she met with Del Vecchio Jan. 22 after residents expressed concern about his absence and he provided her with a resignation letter that would have been effective Feb. 15. He wanted time to inform his family and friends of his resignation before announcing it to the public, but he died last Monday.

“I think it broke his heart to not be able to serve Salina residents,” she said.

Former Town Supervisor Mark Nicotra recalled Del Vecchio fondly.

“Mike has been a friend for years. He was my neighbor for a bunch of years as well. He’s just a great person — just a really nice guy that loved his community and loved serving his town. It was a great honor for him to do that,” Nicotra told the Star-Review.

Nicotra recounted the time Southern Wines wanted to buy the Lyncourt Little League fields. Del Vecchio and the town worked with the company to save most of the fields.

“After talking to them and making them realize what an asset to the community [the fields] were, they re-worked their plan and only took out one field and made a sizable donation to the Little League,” Nicotra said.

Del Vecchio, was born Dec. 13, 1950, in Syracuse to the Lucy (DeYulio) and Michael Del Vecchio Sr., according to his obituary. A communicant of St. Daniel’s Church, Del Vecchio taught confirmation classes. He took pride in his Italian heritage and belonged to the Italian American Athletic Club.

Del Vecchio is predeceased by his parents and his sister-in-law, Nancy Del Vecchio. He is survived by his son, Michael A. (Ashley) Del Vecchio, of Westmoreland; a brother, John Del Vecchio, of Syracuse; two grandchildren, Anthony and Kyler Del Vecchio, with whom he loved spending time; a niece, Jessica Barnes; and several cousins.

Calling hours were held Feb. 6 at the Thomas J. Pirro Jr. Funeral Home in North Syracuse. Funeral services were held Feb. 7 at the funeral home followed by a funeral mass in Our Lady of Pompei/St. Peter’s Church.

Contributions in Mike Del Vecchio’s name may be made to the Lyncourt-LeMoyne Mattydale Hinsdale Little League.