Mate "Mike" Balic

Mate Balic Obituary

Mate “Mike” Balic of Hawthorne, NY passed away on Friday, March 18, 2022 at Phelps Memorial Hospital Center in Sleepy Hollow, NY at the age of 80. Mike was born in Split, Croatia on April 28, 1941 and moved to the United States on April 1, 1972.

Mike married his beloved wife, Heidi Balic, on November 30, 1974. On the night Mike met Heidi at the Croatian Church in Manhattan, he told his friends he was going to marry her. From that night on, they spent nearly 50 years together and raised a beautiful family. Mike and Heidi enjoyed dancing and traveling the world together. He leaves behind his two adored children, Peter Balic and Erika O’Byrne, his daughter-in-law Rosemaria Balic and son-in-law Brian O’Byrne. Mike was also deeply loved by his mother-in law, Lieselotte Gebauer. They shared a very special bond and enjoyed many of life’s adventures together. Mike was the very proud grandfather to Marlena and Adrianna Balic and Derek, Peter and James O’Byrne. His grandchildren affectionately referred to him as “Opa,” and they were the shining light of his life. Being with them always brought a smile to his face. He loved watching his grandaughters dance and his grandsons play soccer. He always enjoyed a fun summer day swimming in the pool with his family and swinging in the sun with Heidi and Lieselotte. Family was everything to Mike.

Mike was loved by all those who knew him. He had an infectious smile and loved to share stories with family and friends. He could be seen cheering at his children’s sporting events from the sidelines and was always there to lend a hand to a friend in need. Mike had a long career as foreman for the Iron Workers Union. He retired almost 20 years ago, and has enjoyed his time at home since then. He helped watch his young grandchildren and always enjoyed a trip to the casino with his mother-in-law. Mike was always the person you could count on and loved being with family and friends. He touched many lives with his generosity and passion for life.

Mike’s love for his family was immeasurable, and he leaves behind a cherished legacy. He will be sorely missed, and his memory will live on in his family’s hearts forever. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in the name of “Mike Balic” may be made to the American Heart Association by visiting https://www.heart.org/ .

Reposing, Hawthorne Funeral Home on Monday, from 3-7 PM. Funeral Mass, Holy Rosary Church, Hawthorne, N.Y. on Tuesday, 10:30 AM.

HAWTHORNE FUNERAL HOME

21 West Stevens Ave.

Hawthorne, New York 10532

914-769-4404