Obituary of Michael “Mike” Competillo

Michael (Mike/Booey/Grumpy) Competillo, 69, of Groton, NY passed away at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY at approximately 11:35 p.m. February 26, 2026, due to complications following a hemorrhagic stroke.

Mike was born in Buffalo, NY on October 24, 1956, along with his twin sister, the late Doreen (Competillo) Hannon, to the late Anthony and Bertha (Calvaneso) Competillo.

Mike is survived by his wife of 46 years, Linda (Ivancie) Competillo, their two sons, Christopher Valentine Competillo and Michael Anthony Competillo, daughter-in-law, Jasmine Competillo, granddaughter, Juliette Competillo, grandson, Reid Competillo, and “granddogs”, Cruizer and Rosie, as well as his remaining sisters Carol (the late Donald) Doino, Elaine (John) Tomasello, and Diane (Walter Coverson) Competillo, and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and cousins, too numerous to count or list here.

Having studied heating and air conditioning at McKinley High School, Mike graduated in 1974 and then spent a year in Sweden as a foreign exchange student, which was forever a precious memory for him. Throughout his life, he relished any opportunity to speak Swedish to anyone he could.

Returning from Sweden, knowing that heating and air conditioning was not his niche, Mike pursued the love of broadcasting that had been sparked in him when he was a member of Junior Achievement in high school. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting from the State University College of Buffalo in 1978.

During his college years, Mike became involved in theater, dance, volleyball, and many other things. As a young child, he taught himself to play guitar, which he perfected through the years. Mike also learned to play many other instruments, among them the violin – taught by his father, Tony, who played in the Cheektowaga Symphony.

Raised in Saint James Roman Catholic Church, Mike utilized his melodic voice and guitar playing as a member of the folk group at the church, along with his sister, Doreen, and Tony. It was there that he met the love of his life, Linda Ivancie, who had joined the folk group as a vocalist.

Prior to Mike meeting Linda, he had attended a service at the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Orchard Park, NY, where he committed his life to Jesus Christ – a commitment that he kept for the rest of his life. Separately, Linda had made that same commitment to Christ and attended Riverside Assembly of God in Buffalo. As they grew in their mutual love for Christ and one another, they were married on October 20, 1979, at Lockport Christian Church.

After college, Mike worked at WDCX radio in Buffalo for six months. He then obtained a position at the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) radio station in Newfield, NY as its production director and radio announcer. At the end of 1982, CBN in Newfield was sold. Mike worked briefly at WTKO in Ithaca but ended up driving school bus for Lansing Central School for 37 years before retiring in June 2021. Many knew him fondly as “Mr. Mike”.

In the mid-90s, Mike launched his business, Emcee Productions, with a friend. He eventually became its sole owner. He videotaped many weddings, funerals, and more through the years, and most recently switched over to video transfers.

Mike and Linda had made their home in Newfield for a short time before moving to their property in Groton in November 1981. They lived in a mobile home for 12 years, after which they built their home – literally – on the property in 1994, with the help of many friends and family members. Mike was extremely proud of having built it. He enjoyed raising their sons, Christopher and Michael, in the home he built with his own hands in the rural town of Groton, which he loved.

Mike enjoyed planting gardens, improving the home and property, feeding and caring for the many wild birds, trying his hand at raising dogs, cats, goats, chickens, and ducks at different times, figuring out ways to make different things or to make things work better, and much more.

For 17 years, Mike was a member of Asbury Church and was its worship leader for most of that time. He also directed many Christmas and Easter cantatas there. In September 1999, the Competillo family switched their church membership to Groton Assembly of God, where Mike lived out the remainder of his days serving in numerous ways.

At Groton Assembly, Mike was also one of the worship leaders, sang faithfully in the Groton Community Choir, lent his musical and many other talents to help anyone who needed his help, was the leader of the Praisin’ Puppets ministry, and was the driving force behind webcasting the church services for viewing on both YouTube and Facebook. There were so many things that Mike had been involved in in his lifetime that it is extremely difficult to name them all now, or to even remember them all. Mike was the epitome of the scripture that says, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” Ecclesiastes 9:10. Whatever he undertook, he wanted it to be the best it could possibly be, especially if it was something that would be a blessing to others and honoring God.

Mike’s greatest desire in this life was to please God, and that he most surely did. He loved his wife and family dearly and deeply, especially his most recent loves – his grandchildren, Juliette and Reid, and even his “granddogs”, Cruizer and Rosie.

Mike was many things in this life – husband, father, son, brother, friend, bus driver, musician, radio announcer, videographer, artist, witty, funny, kind, caring, brilliant, and so much more – but there was no role he embraced more than that of one who wanted bring the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all in any way that his infinite talents would lend themselves to.

It is the hope and goal of Christians everywhere to hear our God and father say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” when we stand before Him in heaven. There is no doubt that Mike Competillo has already heard those words and is now living in His presence for all eternity.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks those who would like to honor Mike’s memory to kindly consider donating to Groton Assembly of God, 701 S. Main St., Groton, NY 13073, designated to benefit the Sound and Media Ministry.