STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Diane Colini was at the tail end of an emotional tribute to late husband Mike Colini when she alluded to why Staten Island Little League was the perfect place for his street naming.
“So I guess it’s only fitting that the street he spent so many years parked on now bears his name,’' she said matter-of-factly in front of hundreds of onlookers at the league’s Dongan Hills complex on Saturday morning. ”He will constantly be a presence here at Staten Island Little League, he will be sitting on the top of that sign with a Johnny Walker in his hand and a cigar in the other, rooting for our Staten Island (Little League) All Stars.’'
Amen.
Colini, who more many hats over a quarter-of-a-century at Staten Island LL and also had an admirable career as a Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) police officer, died suddenly last September while vacationing in Las Vegas.
Officials from both SILL and the MTAPD took centerstage during the ceremony. Incredibly, Saturday’s street naming in Colini’s memory was the very first in the history of the MTAPD. The ceremony was MC’d by MTAPD Deputy Inspector Quincy Grigsby.
MID-ISLAND’S LEGENDARY COACH BILL ROGERS WILL TAKE CENTERSTAGE AT STREET NAMING NEXT WEEK
In addition to Diane Colini, family members in attendance included Mike Colini’s children — Nicholas, Lauren and Christian — and step-children, including Tommy, Colleen, Timmy and Terrence Quinlan.
City councilmember David Carr, who was instrumental in getting Colini’s street naming approved and emphasized how Colini “earned” Saturday’s honor, was the first of many guest speakers at the event. Other politicians who attended and spoke included District Attorney Michael McMahon and Borough President Vito Fossella, while representatives from the offices of State Senators Andrew Lanza and Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, as well as State Assemblymember Michael Tannousis, presented the Colini family with proclamations and citations.
K9 Mike, a canine police officer, was joined by partner and MTA police officer Charlie Spahr, to the delight of the crowd.
Others who took a turn at the mic included Captain Ryan Russell, the Metropolitan Transit Authority Police Department’s Staten Island Commander, and Staten Island Little League’s Kevin Moylan, who not only joined the Island’s oldest league at the same time as Colini 25 years ago, but someone who became the latter’s close friend.
State Island Little League’s All-Star baseball teams were also present with the highly popular District 24 Tournaments beginning next weekend.
“We came today to dedicate this street sign and, as (Councilman Carr said), we do this in our city to honor people in a way that says that we are a neighborhood, an organization, a community that says that amongst us walked a great man, a humble man, a man whose life was filled with dedication and service,’’ said DA McMahon. ”A dedication to his family, his beloved wife and children, the memory of his son Michael, who was tragically lost, and service to the community in his role as an MTA officer. ...
“Little League life is tough,’' added the DA. ”And I was very much involved as a player, a coach and a director at Snug Harbor LL and so I know about all the hours spent, tending to the field, making sure the snack bar is open, dealing with those always happy parents. ... But Mike Colini always did that with grace and charm. When we came here for opening day, he always made us feel welcome, he made sure this league continued to be a great institution and presents that great American pastime.’'
Diane Colini and her family deeply appreciate the wave of support from the community, not only from yesterday, but last September.
“We’re definitely overwhelmed, we appreciate the honor that they bestowed on him,’' she told the Advance/SILive.com. ”He worked hard for it. I don’t want to say well deserved, but it just means a lot that he meant so much to the community.
“He made an impact on a lot of people’s lives.’'
Laura Moylan did a superb rendition of “God Bless America.’'
BP Fossella, meanwhile, referred to Opening Day and the impact it had on anybody who ever played baseball. He likened Saturday’s ceremony to Opening day.
“The most important thing about Opening Day was coming together, running out on the field and taking that bow and saying, ‘we’re going to try our best. We’re going to have fun. We’re going to respect ourselves, respect each other, respect the coaches and we’re going to try our best.
“And today is Opening Day for Mike Colini Way, here, on Staten Island, because he tried his best every single day.’'
Please scroll down for more photos of the street naming ceremony for Mike Colini.
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