Michael Valinoti

The Cochran Funeral Home and Crematory of Hiawassee announces Funeral Mass for Michael Richard Valinoti, 85, who died on November 8, 2016, from cardiac arrest at his home in Vernon Hills, IL.

Mike was born on April 30, 1931, in Brooklyn, NY, to Dr. Joseph R. and Katherine J. Valinoti and was raised in Brooklyn and Manhasset, NY. He graduated from Brooklyn Preparatory School, Fordham University with a Bachelor of Arts, the Brooklyn College of Pharmacy with a Bachelor of Science, and Rutgers University with a Master of Science in Pharmacy. He settled in Waukegan, IL, first to work as a pharmacist at Abbott Laboratories, and later at St. Therese and Victory Memorial hospitals. In Waukegan, he met his wife, Jacqueline, and there they raised their two daughters. Mike enjoyed family time; travel; reading, particularly news, biography, and history; and baseball, first following the Brooklyn Dodgers as a boy, and later adopting the Chicago Cubs as "his" team. Just days before Mike's death, he watched the Cubs win the World Series!

In 1996, Mike and Jackie retired to Hiawassee, GA, to enjoy beautiful mountain and lake views, friendly neighbors, frequent vacations, and visits from family and friends. Mike and Jackie were married 49 years, until her death in 2013. In mid-2016, Mike moved back to Illinois to be near family.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents; wife; brother, Dr. Joseph R. Valinoti, Jr.; many aunts, uncles, and cousins; and grandnephew. He is survived by his daughters, Victoria (Michael) Sakshaug and Elizabeth (Thomas) McCarthy; grandchildren Joseph and Katherine Sakshaug and Sylvia McCarthy; many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews; and two great-grandnephews.

Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, November 14, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Blairsville, GA. Visitation will be held from 10:00 am until the Mass begins. Interment will follow at Laurel Hills Memory Garden, Hiawassee, GA.