Some sad news.

Mike DiFuccia was a friend of mine. I was on the Board of directors of the Buchanan Center for the Arts when he was hired as our Executive Director some nine years ago and to hear that this vigorous young man of 54 had succumbed to a massive heart attack this past weekend was a true shock. Having survived a heart attack and subsequent open heart surgery myself, Mike's passing was felt with an empathy that only those who are "members of the club" can know.

To his family and his fiancee go my deepest condolence. I will miss Mike and so will Monmouth. His committment to his job at the Buchanan Center is really not covered in the obituary below. The artistic community of Warren County will hope to redress that omission a bit by holding a special commemorative event for Mike at the Buchanan Center for the Arts in Monmouth,IL on Wed. Oct. 3rd at 5:00 PM.

Michael Anthony DiFuccia
January 23, 1953 - September 23, 2007)

Michael Anthony DiFuccia, age 54, of Galesburg, IL, passed away Sunday, September 23, 2007 at Genesis Medical Center, Illini Campus, Silvis, IL. A celebration of life will be held at 7:00 P.M. Wednesday at the Gibson Funeral Home in Port Byron, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to River's Edge Fellowship located at the Heritage Center, P.O. Box 244, Hampton, IL 61256. Further arrangements are pending at the Vancil-Murphy Funeral Home, Springfield, IL. Michael Anthony DiFuccia was born January 23, 1953, in Erie, PA, the son of Nello and Patricia Ray-DiFuccia. Michael served in the Navy and was currently executive director at the Buchanan Center for the Arts, Monmouth, IL. First and foremost Michael loved his two boys, Matt and Nick. He was a member of the Worship Ministry at River's Edge Fellowship, he was an extremely talented musician, loved to play golf and was a man of faith. Michael was currently engaged to his fiancee, Allyson Wright. He is survived by his sons, Matt and Nick DiFuccia, Springfield, IL, his mother Patricia Helm, Erie, PA; sisters, Sandi Kruse, PA, Teri Kotyuk, PA, Kim Gillespie, NC; brother, Nello "Chip" DiFuccia, PA and many other extended family. He was preceded in death by his father, Nello.