Pumped up and Living Life!

Welcome back. I would like to start by saying that I'm not a writer or a philosopher. Just a person much like many of you trying to express and share myself the best I know how.
As these articles continue, it is my hope to grow and learn as my father had encouraged me to do through my life. Perhaps I'll become a better writer or philosopher with your help. I ask you all to feel free to express yourselves and share with me as my father would have done.
There is a saying that goes like this:

" It takes a family to raise a child, but a whole village to raise an idiot!"

Well I'm sure at some point -someone- is going to make that association with me concerning my style of writing. I'm sure at some point I may agree. But nevertheless, in the end I pray that I may become a better person by it. And leave a testament of my father's life that his present and future generations, as well as those who were his friends, can understand and relate too. legacyofmikemichaels@gmail.com

My father was born on the rainy day of June 4th 1943 in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. He always loved rainy days. He called them his lucky days. As most of us wanted to crawl back into bed, he would be pumped up ready to take on life. He died on the rainy day of August 16th 2008 in Orlando, Florida. I know he was ready and I like to think he took the same drive into his new life as he did in his old. My father taught me many things and one in particularly was that if you were going to do something, do it the best you can. He also taught me "don't take life too serious, do what you can and don't worry about the rest". With that in mind I though I would skip ahead to share a high light of his life. I'll return to his childhood in future posts. The time is in the late 70's and Dad was at the peak of his life.
As many of you probably know, he always enjoyed a challenge. He seemed to feed on it both in business and in his personal life. There was little separation of the two as they seemed sometimes to be completely meshed with one another. He was operating a successful Full Service Outdoor Advertising Company which he built from the ground up. Martineau & Sons, Inc. He had employed a full staff which included several Salesmen, several Artists, Managers and an average of 10 men manufacturing and installation crew. But between it all there was clearly a time I recall where he would just focus on having a good time. That was when he played tennis. You see, my father rarely drank alcohol and did not smoke or ever consider doing drugs, but tennis. Now that was truly one of his loves. That got him all pumped up. The physical intensity of a fast paced match of quick thinking and reaction. He even made it into the New England Tennis Journal in April of 1978 when he competed in the World Heavy Hitters Championship. He was also a very active member of the Fore Court Tennis Courts.

Where once again he was published in the local paper for participating in a tournament and had partnered up with Roger Ethier to compete against Police Cmdr. at the time Raymond D.Tempest and his partner Gaston A. Ayotte Jr. who was also at the time, a City Councilman. The tournament was hosted by Mr.Maurice Morin of Fore Court Tennis Courts and called "Giants on the Courts" Which was a heavyweight tennis match to benefit the 43rd annual Milk Fund Appeal. The four played for the championship and raised $540 when area residents placed their odds on the winners at the rate of a penny per pound. Though my father and Mr. Ethier didn't win the match they enjoyed it immensely. He never really cared much about winning, just having a good time and making the game interesting. He shared may antics with friends at Fore Court Tennis Courts and i recall him in the past years happy to see once again an old friend of those times. To his last day he would say those times were the greatest for him.
Tennis wasn't the only active sport he enjoyed, he also enjoyed Hockey, both watching and playing as in his youth he would play with some friends that were college team players. He had taught us as kids to ice skate and play hockey. I recall some of my favorite times with my father as a child was going to the games. He would buy me caramel cremes and we would watch the game. Every time I see caramel cremes I think of those times and I can't help but smile.

I realize this is a bit short and I had originally planned more. This has been difficult for me and hope you return again for another post. Thank You once again for your time and interest. And a special thanks goes out, not only to the men mentioned here but also the individuals not mentioned that shared those times with him. THANK YOU!

Finding Closure

On August 16th 2008 at 8:20 pm Heaven opened it's gate to the greatest man who ever touched my life. My Father, Michael Martineau a.k.a. Mike Michaels. I, Roland Martineau on behalf of my entire family created this site for all who knew him. His lineage is as follows: First born son Michael R. Martineau ,his second born son Roland A. Martineau and last born, daughter Linda A. Martineau as well as his grandchildren Alison Martineau, Joshua Martineau, Rebecca Martineau,Jeremy Martineau, Heather Martineau, Amanda Martineau, Natasha Martineau, Destiny Martineau and GreatGrandson Austin Martineau-Henry. It is our hope that all remember him and get more insight as to the events in his life as well as share who he was to those who did not know him. This site will be updated regularly with additional content. Your input would be greatly welcomed concerning your own contact with him as well as any comments concerning this site and can be sent to - legacyofmikemichaels@gmail.com
Please return to this site on October 13 2008 as the first volume into his life will begin.
I would like to take this first online presence to express a great personal grievance concerning Joan Savolainen and her willful disrespect my fathers wishes and the lack of acknowledgment of his family. Though to start his site this way may seem a bit unorthodox, it is completely in character of my fathers beliefs and the way he would handle things of this nature. So in that respect I shall continue.
First offensive action was in the form of consciously omitting the existence of his surviving relatives in all medical records during his treatment that ended in this death (making it extremely difficult to get any information concerning his condition) as well as only acknowledging herself in his obituary notice posted on August 18th, and is as copied from the Osceola News-Gazette and is as follows:

MICHAELS - Please join us for a celebration of life for Mike Michaels of Narcoossee, which will be held from 7 p.m. -9 p.m. this Saturday at the St. Cloud Hotel on New York Avenue in St. Cloud.
Mike passed away Saturday night after a short illness. He was Osceola County's area "sign man". Mike was also an active member in Schnauzer Love Rescue, which was truly one of his great loves.
He is survived by his loving wife, Joan Savolainen.
Instead of flowers, please send any and all donations to the following 2 groups:
Schnauzer Love Rescue, 1356 Stonecrest Dr., Birmingham, AL.35235 and
American Diabetes Assoc., Attn: Memorial Program, 1701 N. Beauregard Street, Alexandria, Va 22312

My family was further heartbroken by this and we have posted another obituary through St. Cloud in the News, with great thanks to John Willard and this staff who were also great friends of my fathers.
Her second offense was in regard to certain personal property in my fathers possession at the time of his death. Repeated request for these items were denied by her. The last request ended in Joan Savolainen stating to me:
"YOU AIN'T GETTING SHIT, I WILL GIVE IT ALL AWAY BEFORE I GIVE IT TO YOU!"
There has been no just cause for her behavior and her need for complete control and power over others with no remorse or compassion for our loss has left us with an empty place in our hearts. Specifically in regards to his grandson who was promised the three oil paintings requested. One in particular that was a self portrait that my father painted of himself during his youth while attending Rhode Island School of Design. His grandson shares many of his attributes including his artistic abilities and was in the process of preparing a specific display for these items. These painting were previously in our possession, but were temporarily returned to my fathers office due to construction at my son's in preparation of their return. The room was being themed around our history. Unfortunately my father passed away before their return. The other things I requested are not things of great monetary value to others, in fact were things Joan referred to repeatedly as junk. To us they're truly priceless as they are items that we grew up seeing him use and teach me and my brother with. Like a purple sign box with my name (Roland) on it and the lettering brushes inside or some of his hand tools and equipment, i.e. the safety harnesses we wore that were stored upstairs in a exposed pole barn and probably dry rotted, but nevertheless still priceless to us. I had worked with my father for many years and also been fortunate to be very close to him most of my life. My siblings, his grandchildren and great grandchildren weren't so fortunate and this makes her actions even more devastating to his family. All the items requested would probably equal less than $2000 in monetary value. They are priceless to the family and legacy of my father. My Father and his family have been directly insulted and offended both verbally and publicly by her. It is my intention to give Joan Francis Savolainen clear notice of these offenses so that there may be NO misunderstanding as to the Martineau family's position. And give her another opportunity to do what is morally right and fulfill my deceased fathers wishes, that through the years have always been clearly expressed by him. I will continue to elaborate further into these matters as well other aspects of my fathers life in future posts. I end this post stating before God and all who will hear that I always have and will continue to love my father more than he will ever know and will forever miss his presence in my life. His words will live on in my heart and mind and I vow to continue to pursue the fulfillment of his wishes. I ask once again by all that is right and just that my fathers things be returned to this family as he desired, that they may serve as a declaration of his life through which his seed could embrace.
I would like to close with positive note and express our Greatest Gratitude to all who knew him and made a positive impact on his life. Though they're not all mentioned here by name, they are in our thoughts and I will do my best to acknowledge them by name as his legacy is spelled out through future posts as they deserve their own attention and focus without the negative shadow necessary in this post. Please view his obituary generously placed in St. Cloud in the News. We Thank You all for your time and attention.