Michael D. Saraco, Jr., age 74, of Billerica, formerly of Winchester, Woburn and Lowell, passed away on November 25, 2020. Born and raised in Winchester, he was the son of the late Michael D. and Gladys P. (Gordon) Saraco, Sr.
Mike attended Winchester High School, then enlisted in the United States Marine Corps (USMC) in 1964, completing two tours in Vietnam and attaining the rank of Sgt. He returned to Winchester and worked in several public service positions including as a member of the Winchester Auxiliary Police, a “Temp” and Call Fireman on the Winchester Fire Department, and at the old Winchester Incinerator (now the Transfer Station).
As a proud veteran, Mike worked in many capacities in public and corporate security, including for the Dept. of Mental Health as a Campus Security Officer at the Fernald School, with the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Dept. at the Cambridge Courthouse, then as head of security at Chomerics in Woburn before returning to the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Dept. at the Billerica House of Correction. He continued his service to his country as a member of the National Guard.
Mike was extremely proud to have served his country for 10 years in the USMC. The strength and bravery Mike developed in his time with the USMC remained one of his greatest assets in life. The motto “Improvise, Adapt and Overcome” served him well through the years with respect to day-to-day difficulties as well as in his recovery from a major stroke in 2005 and multiple heart attacks in 2019. His determination to maintain his independence despite his health setbacks was an inspiration to all including his medical providers, friends and family. Throughout his entire life, he had a very strong work ethic, often working various part time jobs in addition to his full time employment. It was important to him to provide for his family, and he did.
Mike was an extremely social person and enjoyed regularly visiting over coffee with friends and family. He loved going out to breakfast and was a notorious “over tipper.”
Mike was the devoted father of Michael D. Saraco III and his fiancé Patty Mahoney of Woburn, Wendy Halloran and husband Scott of Tewksbury, and the former husband and close friend of Jill Brown, of Woburn. Mike was the dear brother of Barbara Walsh and her husband Robert of Burlington, William Saraco of Woburn, and Linda Saraco of Groton, MA, and the late Andrew, and is further survived by many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews and cousins. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to visit briefly with the family at Costello Funeral Home, 177 Washington St., Winchester, on Tues., Dec. 1, from 4-8PM with adherence to mask-wearing and social distancing guidelines, and entering through the front door, and may gather again on Wed., Dec. 2 at Costello at 10AM for a procession to Wildwood Cemetery, 34 Palmer St., Winchester, for Graveside Services at 11AM. The family strongly suggests in lieu of flowers, for donations to be made in Mike’s memory to Marine Toys for Tots Program www.toysfortots.org.