"Always With Me" Song Playing on website Written and Produced by Andrew Calantone
Red Bird Explains Himself by Mary Oliver
Courtesy of Michele Crosby
"Yes, I was the brilliance floating over the snow and I was the song in the summer leaves, but this was only the first trick I had hold of among my other mythologies, for I also knew obedience: bringing sticks to the nest, food to the young, kisses to my bride.
But don't stop there, stay with me: listen.
If I was the song that entered your heart then I was the music of your heart, that you wanted and needed, and thus wilderness bloomed there with all its followers: gardeners, lovers, people who weep for the death of rivers.
And this was my true task, to be the music of the body. Do you understand? for truly the body needs a song, a spirit, a soul. And no less, to make this work, the soul has need of a body, and I am both of the earth and I am of the inexplicable beauty of heaven where I fly so easily, so welcome, yes, and this is why I have been sent, to teach this to your heart."
This Memorial site was created to celebrate the life and remember Michael Thomas Bovenzi in November of 2004. On Thursday morning, April 19, 2007, Michael's dad "Bo" Bovenzi passed away unexpectedly. We are all in a state of shock. It only seems natural to have this web site in memory of Michael and Bo since they were two peas in a pod. They are now together in Heaven smiling down on us along with our other loved ones that are with them. This web site will now be dedicated to Michael Thomas Bovenzi & Robert Edward Bovenzi
Bo & Michael together again, forever
What a joy it must have been to see your father's face again I'm sure you didn't have to wait For Bo to pass through the gate
We gathered at the house today There was really not much to say We received all of your signs From some church we could hear chimes
We didnt get a chance to say goodbye There's nothing left for us to do but cry We are trying to make sense of all of this But its you two that we deeply miss
We are learning that life is not fair How I wish this was one big nightmare But when we wake up tomorrow We will still feel pain and sorrow
Oh how it must have been to see your daddy's face again We will see you again one day Please help show us the way Alicia Calantone
This memorial website was created in the memory of our loved one, Michael Bovenzi who was born in Louisiana on September 03, 1980 and passed away on August 26, 2004 at the age of 23. We will remember him forever. Michael was an incredible young man who was full of life, character, and love. Not to mention, he was an outstanding athelete. On November 13, 2003 our family received devastating news that Michael had (AML) Leukemia. Michael fought this courageous battle with everything he had. He underwent two transplants and numerous rounds of chemo. He will forever be missed. In such a short time on earth, Michael touched so many lives. He still continues to amaze all of his family and friends. He is still here in spirit and will continue to live on in hearts of many. Michael's love for his family was unconditional. He always talked about how "cool" our family is. On April 19, 2007, his father Bo passed away unexpectedly. We know, without a doubt that they are toghether in Heaven having a wonderful reunion. We miss both of them terribly and cant wait for the day that we are all called home and can reside with each other once again for eternity. If you have stumbled upon this site by mistake, I would like for you to meet Michael, Bo, and our family and friends.
Please continue to visit this site...Updates and pictures will continue to be added. Please visit http://www.caringbridge.org/la/michaelbovenzi/ to read more about Michael's courageous battle with leukemia and his fight to stay alive. Thanks to Caringbridge.org, we were able to communicate and keep in touch with Michael while he was at MD Anderson in Houston, Texas.
There are two annual events dedicated in Michael's honor. One is the Annual Michael Thomas Bovenzi Classic Football Game to raise money for the "The Michael Bovenzi Loyola College Prep Scholarship Fund" and the other is "Light the Night Walk in honor of Michael Bovenzi to raise money for Leukemia and Lymphoma. The Light the Night Walk is The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's nationwide two-to-three mile evening walk to celebrate and commemorate lives that have been touched by cancer.
Death has suddenly knocked on our door, Just when we thought we could take no more. Everyone's back in the Bovenzi's den, Asking the same question "Why this again?" Who is to walk Michelle and Kristen down the aisle, When they one day find a man that can make them smile? Now who will wake up in the middle of the night, And make his way in the kitchen for a bite? Why can't he still be here drinking his juice, and playing the slots with Bullmoose? Why did Micahel have to get cancer? As of this moment there seems to be no answer. There's a lot about life that we don't understand, but God always walks us through it holding our hand. I'm so gald that our family is so close, And that our friends are there when we need them the most. Bo will never be gone if we keep him in our hearts, And it may be true that right now we are apart. But all of us will be laughing together once and for all. Don't worry Bovenzis, we are always with ya'll.
By: Robert Looney
Endless Love
From an uncle to a father to a brother and a friend, He was full of love and laughter, what a wonderful blend. Going from ballpark to ballpark, you could tell he was a sports kind of man And everyone knows one thing for certain, he was Michael's number 1 fan.
As a father, he loved his family with all of his heart. A strong willed man, nothing could ever tear them apart. Not a man of many words but when he spoke, you knew one thing All the joy and laughter that a man could ever bring.
After a spanking for doing something wrong I would sit with a frown, Then he would laugh out loud and say, "Cally got a beat down!" Looking back on all of this now it puts a smile on my face, To know that he and Michael are in a better place.
As the stars light up the night sky a new star shines bright With a warm and comforting glow that makes you feel just right. With all of the laughter and love you have given us we all know, That we will truly miss you, and I will always love you Bo!
By: Andrew Calantone
August 26, 2008
4th Anniversary
Wondering By: Michael Bovenzi 7th Grade
As I lay in my bed I wonder I wonder what it would be like With no parents Without them I would be living in a world with no love Mom is always there for me when I'm down I would be nothing without my mother Without my father I would have never been introduced to sports Always on the field telling me to get in there And hit someone or to keep my eye on the baseball On the court he is telling me to play aggressively And play hard At home he is helping me With my homework and different things I live my life to make my parents happy So they can find joy in life Luckily I have found Love in my life
Michael's Sisters at the 2004 Light the Night Walk
(2004 Players)
(2005 Players)
2006 Players
(Butterflies and red birds remind us of Mikey) THE LINE
The line was crying, tears of sadness from all the memories. The line was out the door, there was no end.
The line lead to his casket, where he looked so peaceful. The line was full of his family, it was full of his friends.
The line is something I will always remember, it talked to me and said it would be all right. The line amazed everyone, because it showed us how many lives he touched.
The line is something I have never seen before, I have never seen something so great. The line followed you Mike, you started the line. "The Line" by Robert Looney (Cousin)
With Me
As the day grows long, and in tiredness I begin to weap,
A picture above my desk helps me to keep moving my feet.
When I feel alone, full of nothing but sorrow and fear,
A hand touches my shoulder, and I know then that he is near.
He is with me all the time, when I'm down, when im glad,
He is the best brother, couisin, friend that I ever had.
Not a day goes by that he doesn't run through my mind.
In the whole world, people like him are very hard to find.
When I'm training and feel like im running out of air,
A quick breeze comes in and I feel him everywhere.
He turned me from a boy into a man,
When it came to sports, I was his biggest fan.
Michael, every game that I will ever play, I play it for you,
And it's comforting to know that you'll be with me every step of the way, no matter what I do.
Love you Mike,
Andrew Calantone (Cousin)
The Loyola College Prep Michael Bovenzi Baseball Practice Field
My College Essay by Robert Looney August l9, 2006
Most of my childhood consisted of growing up with my eleven brothers and sisters. By law, I only have one brother and one sister. The other nine are my cousins, but in my family there is no difference. I am the youngest out of the whole bunch. My personality and character is derived from eleven completely different people, because I look up to each and every one. To me, my brothers and sisters each have their own piece to my puzzle of life. About two years ago, however, I felt like one of those pieces went missing.
My cousin Michael lived with leukemia for nearly a year. During this time he spent most of his days lying in a hospital bed and, for months, lived in a foreign city several miles away from home. Any chance we had we went to see our courageous sibling and tried to aid his fight with this uncompromising cancer. The first time I went to see him I wasn't sure what to expect. We walked into the family room, which was adjoined to his isolation room where no one but nurses and doctors could go. The only form of communication was the intercom next to the window that allowed us to see him, and him to see us. There he was lying sound asleep on the bed. He had lost a great deal of weight, and he was almost completely hairless. As for me, on the outside I was solid and strong, but on the inside I was entirely broken down and weak. In my head I was wondering what we were all doing there, and I wanted to be back home with everyone at my grandparents' house where we spent most Sundays with no fear of anything, especially something of this magnitude. Little did I know that later on that day I would forget I was in a hospital altogether.
Once Michael woke up the mood of that hospital room turned completely around. Our faces were carved with smiles from his quick wit and stellar personality. For hours we all went on with stories and jokes, and it felt like we were back at home. When we walked out of the room that day my feelings were changed. On the inside I was now just like him, fearless and faithful. Michael was going to be okay. From then on I was not afraid.
A few months later the fight was over. Michael came back home to spend the rest of his remaining weeks. On his last night he once again showed me how to have faith and to trust in God. However, the next day he died, and I felt that piece he had to my puzzle was gone. At his funeral I realized that nothing was going to keep my brothers and sisters apart, and I felt foolish for thinking differently. I now know that no piece of my puzzle will ever be lost no matter what..........................
(The Bovenzi's)
The Walls
Michael and Houston Astro's (Rocket)
Michael's retired Football Jersey
Miss you Michael & Bo, Love Alicia Alicia & Michael
found michael thomas bovenzi bracelet in lake / Anthony Holt (found bracelet lake claiborne )
Hi my wife and I found a silver bracelet with michaels information on it in lake Claiborne which is in homer Louisiana...if someone lost this please let me know...I know it meant a lot to someone. Please email me at prerunner318@aol.com. thank you.Continue >>
Thank You / Alicia Calantone (cousin)
You know its strange really. The effect that one person had on so many people to be on earth only a short amount of time. Its not fair really. People fight so hard to try to live and others just throw their life away as if it were n...
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Baseball Memory / Daniel LeBlanc
This tribute is long overdue. I just recently got married and have settled down in my life in Nashville. For some strange reason I thought about Michael Bovenzi today. This is for Michael:
I didn' t know Michael very well but ...
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