Michael Stephen Anselmi Obituary

Michael Stephen Anselmi, age 66, died at his home in Colorado Springs on February 20th, following a long bout with cancer. He died, as he lived, in the company of those he loved. Mike was born in Cheyenne Wyoming, January 17, 1946, the third child of Marian and James Anselmi. He received his bachelors and masters degrees in Economics from the University of Wyoming and a PhD in Economics from the University of Colorado. He spent 20 years in the Air Force and retired as head of the Economics Department at the United States Air Force Academy. Upon retirement from military service, Mike joined Columbine Capital Services, where he was employed at the time of his death. Mike's vocation was economics; his avocation, and his joy, was music and theater. He met his wife, Sue, when she was the choir director at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. He always claimed that Sue's invitation to join the choir was as much about personal attraction as vocal attraction. And he was right. Married for the past seventeen years, their shared love of music and theater led them on wonderful journeys from the Metropolitan Opera in New York to the Theater District in London. Mike served on the Boards of both Opera Theatre of the Rockies and Theatreworks, and was a member of the Maestro's Circle of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic. The sung word shared its place in Mike's heart with the proclaimed word. As a lifelong student of scripture, he served for many years as a lector at Mass. Mike memorized each scripture he was asked to proclaim. By the end of his life he had long portions of the bible committed to memory. His parish involvement was wide: from training liturgical ministers to leading scripture studies, to serving on the finance council, and, always, to his first love, singing in the choir. Mike is survived by his wife, Sue, daughter Crystal Anselmi (Robb Stevenson), sister Esther Parsons (Robert), brother Joe Anselmi (Thelma), step-children: Eric Adam, Kate Johnson (Ken), Dan Adam (Natalie), Ken Adam, Andrea Henry (Matthew) and 10 grandchildren. His parents, Marian and James Anselmi, and his daughter, Christine Anselmi Garberding, preceded Mike in death. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions in Mike's name to St. Mary Cathedral at St. Mary Cathedral, 22 W. Kiowa St., Colorado Springs, CO, 80903 for the St. Mary's Hymnal Fund. A Vigil will be held at St Mary Cathedral, 22 West Kiowa Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Monday, February 27, 2012 at 7:00pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary Cathedral on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 10:00am. Inurnment will follow at St Mary Cathedral columbarium.