by Jen Myers

LOWELL – Lowell High School Alumni gained a proud new member on Thursday as Michael Milinazzo received his Lowell High School diploma – more than 75 years after he last attended school.

Preceded by members of his family, Milinazzo, in full cap and gown, marched into the Cyrus W. Irish Auditorium under the U.S. Air Force JROTC sword arch as the Lowell High School band played the LHS Fight Song.

The JROTC Honor Guard presented the colors and the Chorus sang the Star-Spangled Banner. LHS Senior Class President Vaal Thawnghmung read Milinazzo’s biography.

When someone waits 75 years for a diploma, Lowell High pulls out all the stops.

“By the power invested in me through the state of Massachusetts, I declare an honorary diploma to Mr. Michael G. Milinazzo as an official graduate of Lowell High School,” announced LHS Head of School Mike Fiato.

As the newly minted graduate strode across the stage to finally receive his diploma, the crowd of current LHS Red Raiders went wild!

So, what took so long? Sometimes life gets in the way.

Milinazzo was born on March 18, 1929, one of 11 children born to Sicilian immigrant parents.

Growing up in Lowell, he spent his time doing what he loved most – playing baseball. Milinazzo played for the American Legion League, Holy Name League for Sacred Heart, Twilight League, and the Newspaper League for the Lowell Sun (they won the New England Championship). He pitched for the Butler School team and was a shortstop at Lowell High. He was even drafted by the Detroit Tigers before enlisting in the military.

When he wasn’t playing ball, he was working – at the Prince Macaroni Factory and a variety of other jobs including delivering newspapers and milk to help out his large family.

During his sophomore year at Lowell High School, Milinazzo dropped out of school, a decision his daughter, Karen Taylor, said was his biggest regret.

“Dad has always had a strong work ethic, strong moral character, and integrity, and instilled those values in his own kids,” said Taylor. “He stressed getting an education because he never finished his and always wondered where he might have been to this day had he. He would tell us he had one regret in life and that was he never finished high school.”

Despite that one regret, Milinazzo built a great life.

He married Christine Ballos in 1958 and they had four children. He worked for 50 years in construction as a member of Laborers Local 429, mostly as a Labor Foreman, on projects including St. John’s Hospital, the structure that houses the nuclear reactor at UMass Lowell, Hanscom Air Force Base, Tewksbury State Hospital, Olsen Hall at UMass Lowell, and the Big Dig.

Fiato said what truly impressed him about Milinazzo is that when 17 of his neighborhood friends were drafted to fight in the Korean conflict and he wasn’t – he enlisted.

“He didn’t get drafted – he chose to go and not to leave his friends behind and to serve his country,” said Fiato. “That is an incredible sacrifice.”

“Maybe his life experiences gave him that well-rounded education he missed out on at Lowell High School,” Taylor said. “He could fix anything and build anything. He could give advice.”

She said, recently, she started to think about how to soften the edges of her dad’s big life regret.

“We wondered if someone with his life experience could receive a diploma at his age,” she said.

Taylor took a chance and spoke to Lowell High School Head of School Clerk Sue Francisco. As soon as she heard the story, Francisco was on board and made sure the ceremony happened quickly – when someone is 94-years-old you shouldn’t hesitate.

“This is a real-life Christmas miracle,” said Taylor, her voice cracking with emotion. “Dad will display his diploma for as long as he has left on this world and I’m sure he will tell anybody who will listen.”