Michael Sacco, 86, passed away on December 28, 2023 of natural causes surrounded by his family.
A proud son of Brooklyn, New York, born to Antonio and Gaetana Sacco. He is survived by his Wife Sophie, Daughter Valerie Moore, Son John Sacco, Daughter Angela Baker, Daughter Anne Marie Fry, 16 Beautiful Grandchildren and 6 Great-Grandchildren, Sisters Ida DiCanio and Marie Sacco.
Mike served in the U.S. Air Force from 1954 to 1958 before joining the Seafarers in 1958 and working aboard U.S.-flag merchant vessels. In 1960, he came ashore to serve the SIU in a succession of union posts, including those of patrolman, port agent and headquarters representative. He served as vice president of the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship from 1968 to 1979 and helped prepare the next generation of merchant mariners.
From 1980 to 1988, Mike directed the SIU’s Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters division as vice president, and in June 1988, the Seafarers International Union of North America Executive Board appointed him president, a post he masterfully helmed for nearly 35 years. His steadfast service as SIU president and president of the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO, brought security and stability to the Seafarers, and solidarity with the numerous maritime trade unions. His leadership was an inspiration to the entire labor movement.
In November 1991, Mike was elected to the AFL-CIO Executive Council, beginning his distinguished tenure as its longest-serving member. His big personality and even bigger heart were relentless in ensuring that working people had a seat at the table in every boardroom and that their voices were heard in every hall of power. Nobody fought harder for our nation’s rank-and-file working people than Mike.
In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Tony Sacco Memorial Scholarship Fund, Charleston Port & Seafarers Society or St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital.
Services: Visitation – Friday, January 5, 2023 Kutis Funeral Home 5255 Lemay Ferry St. Louis, MO. 63129 from 3pm – 8pm
Funeral Mass – Saturday January 6, 2023 St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church 4556 Telegraph Rd. St. Louis, MO 63129 at 11:00am
This was a very special man in our Labor movement! He believed in, he fought for, and he was always there for working men and women, no matter their union or their station in life. I was shocked to hear the news of his death, On behalf of our entire Labor movement, condolences to the family. May Joe’s soul rest in peace, he certainly deserves that!
SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT MIKE SACCO HE WAS A GOOD MAN I REMEMBER HIM AND HIS BROTHER JOE WHEN I WENT THROUTH PINEY POINT CLASS 110 IN 1972 MIKE PUT HIS HEART INTO SEAFARERS mike prayers to you and your family we all will miss you
Mr. Michael Sacco, thank you for being there you would be truly miss I will always remember you keeping a smile on your face and I know you saying right now Don’t cry for me smile for me much love to you and my condolences go out to the family.
Mike, Rest in peace my friend in the arms of the Good Shepherd!
Thank you for your great support. You were an inspiration to all and a great leader.
Mike was always a true friend of the seafarers and particularly of the Charleston Port & Seafarers Society. His unwavering support over many years serves as a
testament to the men and women of the maritime industry but also those who provide for the needs of seafarers.
It was our honor to count both Mike and his son Tony as honorary volunteers of the Charleston Port & Seafarers Society.
Uncle Mikey you were the best of the best…! there will never be another like you! We were very fortunate to have you in our lives. Say hello to Tony for me. I’ll miss you. Charles.
My beautiful brother Mike, you made a difference in this world.
We were truly blessed to have a brother like you.
Our lord will welcome you with open arms.
Mike, you were a mentor to me and a steadfast leader for the Seafare is international union. There is no doubt the Lord will welcome you with open arms. My thoughts and prayers will always be with you and your family!!! my prayers always!!! Nick Celona
Mike was a true leader. His first and last thoughts each day were about the welfare of his members and the welfare of his union. A life well lived.
Condolences…..
Danny Brown
For Uncle Mikey
We were so fortunate to have an uncle like you. You had the biggest personality always positive , every time we spoke there was never any negativity, it was always good hearing you speak , my mom always asks about you. I have nothing but good memories growing up, I will miss you.
Rest in peace
Elizabeth
Rest in peace Brother .Thanks for all your leadership has gotten us
For Uncle Mikey
We were so fortunate to have an uncle like you. You had the biggest personality ,always positive. This past year especially, your words of encouragement meant a great to deal to me. I have such good memories of our family growing up.
I will miss you,
Elizabeth
To Sophie and the family,may my condolences bring you some comfort and may my prayers ease some pain. Words can’t express how saddened I am to hear of your loss. May the memory of Mike bring you comfort and peace. Mike,a life long friend was an extraordinary man among men.Earth lost an angel and Heaven gained one! May he Rest In Peace in the hands of the GOOD LORD!
To Sophie and Mike’s entire family, as well as his extended Seafarers International Union family, saying goodbye to someone so important to so many is one of the hardest things we ever do. May you all find Mike’s strength and courage to let him go and the memories you’ve made provide some comfort throughout this heartbreaking time. You all will be in my thoughts.
Rest in Peace, Chief
May He Rest in Eternal Peace. You and the union you helmed helped to change a-lot of lives in positive way. May GOD bless you and condolences to your family .
R.I.P. Mike, enjoyed the conversations and the pizza at piney point.
Mike saw potential in me at a very young age, and always encouraged me to dream big and work hard. I owe him a debt I will never be able to repay for where I am today. So many working families were able to put bread on the table because of Mike’s leadership. He truly was one of a kind, and we will all miss him. I extend my most solemn condolences to his family.
Rest Eternal Grant him, O Lord, and may light perpetual shine on him.
Mike is safely in God’s hands as we who remain are grateful for his legendary care and concern for seafarers. We lift up his nuclear family as well as his SIU family in prayer during this time.
Peace,
Pastor Marsh Drege
Seafarers International House
New York
Please know that Mike was a colleague, friend and mentor to me for many many years. To all in the Sacco family May God grant you the strength to endure this very difficult time. Mike’s life and deeds will never be forgotten. God Bless.
Your Friend,
Robert Scardelletti
President Emeritus
Transportation Communications Union
My deepest condolences to Sophie and the entire Sacco family and to all of those that loved him. Mike had a great positive impact on the lives of many. I pray you rest in peace Mike and the Lord bless you eternally.
Thanks Mike.my condolences to the Sacco and SIU families
Rest in peace, Mike
Knowing what a difference you made in the lives of so many. You will be missed.
Blessings and prayers to the entire family as you mourn the loss of a husband, father, grandfather, father in law, uncle, friend and a one of a kind leader in the labor movement. We all share in your loss. May you all take comfort that he is resting in peace knowing the difference he made in so many lives.
It’s with a heavy heart I bid you farewell on your final voyage, my friend, my brother, my life long companion and my light. May the warmth of the Lords eternal love be your guiding light.
Rest in peace my friend,
Nick Marrone
To the best Grandpa ever, you will be missed dearly. There are no words to explain the impact you’ve had on my life amongst many others. May you rest in peace as I know God has welcomed you with open arms. Say hi to my Dad for me! I love you papa!
God bless you Mike and the Sacco family!
“The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”
Rest in peace. My deepest condolences to friends and family. Mike was a great union leader and great guy. Fair winds following seas and God bless.
My deepest condolences, love and prayers to the entire Sacco family.
Mike is deeply loved and respected, and for many of us Mike was a leader, a mentor, a confidant, and trusted advisor, and he treated us like family in many ways. Some of us really understand how completely he dedicated himself (and nearly every fiber of his being) to the betterment of the maritime industry, the membership, his leadership team and staff, and the labor movement writ large.
Mike’s many contributions to the maritime industry and labor movement writ-large cannot be overstated. Mike had a big personality (to say it mildly); he had a steady hand with good instincts, keen intuition, and prudent judgement which he wielded as a positive force for our industry, and in many people’s lives – personally and professionally.
Mike, you will be sorely missed but your legacy will live on with us forever; Rest In Peace.
To the Sacco family,
Our sincerest condolences. It is from our great admiration and respect of Mr. Sacco that we share in your mourning.
We recognize him as a tremendous visionary leader who kept Seafarers strong during his entire time as President.
Sincerely,
SMIS Dept.
I offer my deepest condolences and payers to the entire Sacco family. I am grateful for the many wonderful things Mike did for my life, especially accepting me into his family. May Mike be with the Lord in Heaven and Rest in Peace.
Sacco family,
We extend our deepest heartfelt sympathy to the family and friends in the loss,
of your love, one. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, may you be comforted during your journey of bereavement.
To Sophie, the entire Sacco Family, and the SIU, please know that you have my deepest sympathies during this difficult time. I am grateful to have known Mike for as long as I have and always valued our working relationship. I always looked forward to the jokes he’d tell at the beginning of each one of his speeches and the stories he’d tell about his experiences with the Union. He always showed me such kindness and respect and our whole family at Buchbinder will miss him. Sending you hugs and comfort, Andrea
I miss your “hi kid”. You were one in a million, a loving husband, father, grandfather, greatfather, brother, uncle.. Whenever I’d reach out to speak with you, you were generous with your time,, made me feel whatever we were talking about was the most important issue in the world. I always felt loved by you. I’ll miss you terribly Uncle Mike. May God bless you with his peace and strength.
To the Sacco family: I first met Mike Sacco in 1978 as an 18 year old student at HLSS. He taught me lessons of leadership, hard work and compassion. I never forget what I learned from him and in 2010 at the age of 50 I went to his office to thank him. He was always special to me and will always be remembered. Thank you Mr. Sacco, for everything you did for me and so many others. Perry Cubeta, Col, USAF (ret)
To the Sacco family,
Mikes dedication to his family and the industry was the most important part of his life. He shared his generosity with everyone, and certainly made a difference with me . He and Joe went above and beyond to make a life better for so many, and I want to acknowledge that on behalf of the Seafarers family. God bless and rest in peace, Uncle Mike.
My deepest condolences and prayers go out to the Sacco family. Rest in peace Bro.Sacco. Thank you for your hard work and leadership and everything you done for us
With respect to Mike Sacco, family and friends, I do respect of you lost in his memory his life will always live. I’ll always respect Mike for honoring his mentor. Paul Hall respect for the unions, and their families throughout all these years, his vision to the union and his families and country. He pursued it like the love of his own family. I believe Mike was there at the right place at the right time and help union members and their family to bring the Seafarers and Martime union into the future thank you for the strength of his family and friends and union reps will continue the grateful and respect to the future of. Of his beloved family friend career an wonderful work in the ARC the biggest chance Mike took and lasted 30+ years thank you.