Tireless advocate of the disabled Basketball was not just a pastime -
it was his life Michael D. Lione, 66, of West Orange, N.J., passed
away on Wednesday, May 29, 2013. A memorial gathering to celebrate his
life will be held at the Liberty Middle School gymnasium, 1 Kelly
Drive (off Rte.10, Mt. Pleasant Ave.), West Orange, N.J., on Monday,
June 17, 2013, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Born in San Antonio, Texas, Mike
lived for 14 years in Newark, N.J., before living in West Orange for
the remainder of his life. He held a B.S. in industrial engineering
from Newark College of Engineering (NCE) /New Jersey Institute of
Technology. He worked for over 30 years with Verizon (formerly New
Jersey Bell/Bell Atlantic) as an engineer and a manager within various
departments throughout his career. Mike was a polio survivor since age
two, and never allowed the polio to be an obstacle in his life. His
ability to overcome the challenges of life in a wheelchair served as
an inspiration to many who also used wheelchairs, and to more who did
not. Mike worked in several capacities to champion awareness of the
challenges for the disabled. He was a member of the board of trustees
on organizations such as the Community Health Law Project (CHLP), and
past president of Disabilities Issues Awareness Leaders (DIAL), an
advocacy group for Verizon employees with disabilities. He was in the
forefront of ADA compliance issues. As president of DIAL, he followed
up on those issues. In 1978 he received the N.J. Bell "Citizen of the
Year" Award. Mike developed an interest in basketball during his high
school years. He began playing at 17 and his devotion to the game
blossomed into a lifetime of basketball as a player, coach, creator,
organizer, mentor and general manager. Some of the many teams and
organizations include the N.J. Wheelers, United Spinal Association
(USA, nee EPVA), N.J. Blue Devils, Parsippany Elks Wheelers, Kessler
Sports On Wheels, NAWAA (North American Wheelchair Athletic
Association), EPVA/USA Nets and the Jersey Shore Summer Basketball
League. He was a member of the Olympic Torch Relay for the 2004 Summer
Olympics. A moment of silence will be observed on Monday, July 1, at
the opening of the 43rd season of the Jersey Shore Summer Basketball
League to honor longtime coach of Larson Ford, Mike Lione. Mike
coached for Larson from 1972 through 1993, winning five championships
along the way. He then served as general manager. In total, Larson has
won 10 championships in the league's 43-year history. Many pro, future
pro and overseas players came through Mike's program in addition to
Pro-Am leagues and tournaments over the years that are too numerous to
mention. Larson Ford will dedicate this season to Mike's memory. Mike
is survived by his loving sister, Mary Anne T. Lione, of Long Valley,
N.J., and was predeceased by his parents, Michael and Olga C. Lione of
West Orange. He will be missed by his family members and the most
amazing group of friends anyone could ever hope to have. In lieu of
flowers, donations may be made to the .
Published in Star-Ledger on June 9, 2013
- See more at: http://obits.nj.com/obituaries/StarLedger/obituary.aspx?n=Michael-D-Lione&pid=165245454#fbLoggedOut
Tireless advocate of the disabled Basketball was not just a pastime -
it was his life Michael D. Lione, 66, of West Orange, N.J., passed
away on Wednesday, May 29, 2013. A memorial gathering to celebrate his
life will be held at the Liberty Middle School gymnasium, 1 Kelly
Drive (off Rte.10, Mt. Pleasant Ave.), West Orange, N.J., on Monday,
June 17, 2013, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Born in San Antonio, Texas, Mike
lived for 14 years in Newark, N.J., before living in West Orange for
the remainder of his life. He held a B.S. in industrial engineering
from Newark College of Engineering (NCE) /New Jersey Institute of
Technology. He worked for over 30 years with Verizon (formerly New
Jersey Bell/Bell Atlantic) as an engineer and a manager within various
departments throughout his career. Mike was a polio survivor since age
two, and never allowed the polio to be an obstacle in his life. His
ability to overcome the challenges of life in a wheelchair served as
an inspiration to many who also used wheelchairs, and to more who did
not. Mike worked in several capacities to champion awareness of the
challenges for the disabled. He was a member of the board of trustees
on organizations such as the Community Health Law Project (CHLP), and
past president of Disabilities Issues Awareness Leaders (DIAL), an
advocacy group for Verizon employees with disabilities. He was in the
forefront of ADA compliance issues. As president of DIAL, he followed
up on those issues. In 1978 he received the N.J. Bell "Citizen of the
Year" Award. Mike developed an interest in basketball during his high
school years. He began playing at 17 and his devotion to the game
blossomed into a lifetime of basketball as a player, coach, creator,
organizer, mentor and general manager. Some of the many teams and
organizations include the N.J. Wheelers, United Spinal Association
(USA, nee EPVA), N.J. Blue Devils, Parsippany Elks Wheelers, Kessler
Sports On Wheels, NAWAA (North American Wheelchair Athletic
Association), EPVA/USA Nets and the Jersey Shore Summer Basketball
League. He was a member of the Olympic Torch Relay for the 2004 Summer
Olympics. A moment of silence will be observed on Monday, July 1, at
the opening of the 43rd season of the Jersey Shore Summer Basketball
League to honor longtime coach of Larson Ford, Mike Lione. Mike
coached for Larson from 1972 through 1993, winning five championships
along the way. He then served as general manager. In total, Larson has
won 10 championships in the league's 43-year history. Many pro, future
pro and overseas players came through Mike's program in addition to
Pro-Am leagues and tournaments over the years that are too numerous to
mention. Larson Ford will dedicate this season to Mike's memory. Mike
is survived by his loving sister, Mary Anne T. Lione, of Long Valley,
N.J., and was predeceased by his parents, Michael and Olga C. Lione of
West Orange. He will be missed by his family members and the most
amazing group of friends anyone could ever hope to have. In lieu of
flowers, donations may be made to the .
Published in Star-Ledger on June 9, 2013
- See more at: http://obits.nj.com/obituaries/StarLedger/obituary.aspx?n=Michael-D-Lione&pid=165245454#fbLoggedOut
Tireless advocate of the disabled Basketball was not just a pastime -
it was his life Michael D. Lione, 66, of West Orange, N.J., passed
away on Wednesday, May 29, 2013. A memorial gathering to celebrate his
life will be held at the Liberty Middle School gymnasium, 1 Kelly
Drive (off Rte.10, Mt. Pleasant Ave.), West Orange, N.J., on Monday,
June 17, 2013, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Born in San Antonio, Texas, Mike
lived for 14 years in Newark, N.J., before living in West Orange for
the remainder of his life. He held a B.S. in industrial engineering
from Newark College of Engineering (NCE) /New Jersey Institute of
Technology. He worked for over 30 years with Verizon (formerly New
Jersey Bell/Bell Atlantic) as an engineer and a manager within various
departments throughout his career. Mike was a polio survivor since age
two, and never allowed the polio to be an obstacle in his life. His
ability to overcome the challenges of life in a wheelchair served as
an inspiration to many who also used wheelchairs, and to more who did
not. Mike worked in several capacities to champion awareness of the
challenges for the disabled. He was a member of the board of trustees
on organizations such as the Community Health Law Project (CHLP), and
past president of Disabilities Issues Awareness Leaders (DIAL), an
advocacy group for Verizon employees with disabilities. He was in the
forefront of ADA compliance issues. As president of DIAL, he followed
up on those issues. In 1978 he received the N.J. Bell "Citizen of the
Year" Award. Mike developed an interest in basketball during his high
school years. He began playing at 17 and his devotion to the game
blossomed into a lifetime of basketball as a player, coach, creator,
organizer, mentor and general manager. Some of the many teams and
organizations include the N.J. Wheelers, United Spinal Association
(USA, nee EPVA), N.J. Blue Devils, Parsippany Elks Wheelers, Kessler
Sports On Wheels, NAWAA (North American Wheelchair Athletic
Association), EPVA/USA Nets and the Jersey Shore Summer Basketball
League. He was a member of the Olympic Torch Relay for the 2004 Summer
Olympics. A moment of silence will be observed on Monday, July 1, at
the opening of the 43rd season of the Jersey Shore Summer Basketball
League to honor longtime coach of Larson Ford, Mike Lione. Mike
coached for Larson from 1972 through 1993, winning five championships
along the way. He then served as general manager. In total, Larson has
won 10 championships in the league's 43-year history. Many pro, future
pro and overseas players came through Mike's program in addition to
Pro-Am leagues and tournaments over the years that are too numerous to
mention. Larson Ford will dedicate this season to Mike's memory. Mike
is survived by his loving sister, Mary Anne T. Lione, of Long Valley,
N.J., and was predeceased by his parents, Michael and Olga C. Lione of
West Orange. He will be missed by his family members and the most
amazing group of friends anyone could ever hope to have. In lieu of
flowers, donations may be made to the .
Published in Star-Ledger on June 9, 2013
- See more at: http://obits.nj.com/obituaries/StarLedger/obituary.aspx?n=Michael-D-Lione&pid=165245454#fbLoggedOut
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Former Player
Herman Alstons Tribute To Mike Lione
Sometimes someone special comes into your life that is irreplaceable.
This guy would tell anyone in earshot about how special and underrated
this kid named Herman Alston was. Whether it was NBA people, Overseas
people, anybody who had a line to the sport. He tirelessly put my name
out there. R.I.P. to my mentor, my friend Mike Lione. You were family to
me and thanks for believing in your boy!! You will be missed my man!!!
Nothing but love!!!
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Obituary: Michael Dennis Lione
Sign the guest book
Tireless advocate of the disabled Basketball was not
just a pastime - it was his life
Born in San Antonio, Texas, Mike Lione lived for 14 years
in Newark, N.J., before living in West Orange for the remainder of his
life. He held a B.S. in industrial engineering from Newark College of
Engineering (NCE) /New Jersey Institute of Technology. He worked for over
30 years with Verizon (formerly New Jersey Bell / Bell Atlantic) as an
engineer and a manager within various departments throughout his career.
Mike was a polio survivor since age two, and never allowed the polio to be
an obstacle in his life.
His ability to overcome the challenges of life in a
wheelchair served as an inspiration to many who also used wheelchairs, and
to more who did not. Mike worked in several capacities to champion
awareness of the challenges for the disabled. He was a member of the board
of trustees on organizations such as the Community Health Law Project (CHLP),
and past president of Disabilities Issues Awareness Leaders (DIAL), an
advocacy group for Verizon employees with disabilities. He was in the
forefront of ADA compliance issues.
As president of DIAL, he followed up on those
issues. In 1978 he received the N.J. Bell "Citizen of the Year" Award.
Mike developed an interest in basketball during his high school years. He
began playing at 17 and his devotion to the game blossomed into a lifetime
of basketball as a player, coach, creator, organizer, mentor and general
manager. Some of the many teams and organizations include the N.J.
Wheelers, United Spinal Association (USA, nee EPVA), N.J. Blue Devils,
Parsippany Elks Wheelers, Kessler Sports On Wheels, NAWAA (North American
Wheelchair Athletic Association), EPVA/USA Nets and the Jersey Shore
Summer Basketball League. He was a member of the Olympic Torch Relay for
the 2004 Summer Olympics.
Mike Lione coached for Larson from 1972 through
1993, winning five championships along the way. He then served as general
manager. In total, Larson has won 10 championships in the league's 43-year
history. Many pro, future pro and overseas players came through Mike's
program in addition to Pro-Am leagues and tournaments over the years that
are too numerous to mention. .
Published in Star-Ledger on June 9, 2013
- See more at:
http://obits.nj.com/obituaries/StarLedger/obituary.aspx?n=Michael-D-Lione&pid=165245454#fbLoggedOut
 |
