Michael Gordon Sansone

Mike’s curiosity, creativity, & incredible energy was obvious from early on.

Mike began working in the restaurant business as a 14-year-old and worked in many 5-star restaurants in the Monterey Bay area through his early 20’s. He also enjoyed performing at a local dinner theater and developed a love for dancing.

From 1986-1989, Mike was a manager at the Salinas Spurs Ballpark while also coaching high school baseball. Mike loved to teach great teamwork and “best practice” baseball stances.

During the 1990’s, Mike worked a variety of jobs including retail, management, taxi driving, and ministry as an assistant pastor at Harford Furnace Baptist Church in Bel Air, MD. In anything and everything he did, Mike sought to build and encourage connection and community.

In 2000, Mike became a Community Manager for all the AOL chat rooms. Mike also worked for newly formed “.com” companies in the Chicago area. With each venture, Mike brought love, service, and skill along with great humor and wit.

In 2004, Mike relocated to West Des Moines, Iowa. Then in 2006, Mike launched the website Converstations (short for conversation stations) – an innovative website and blog in a world where the word “blog” was still a new thought, yet to be explored and adopted by the masses. However, there was still something missing.

In 1965, when Mike was a 4-year-old boy, his dearly beloved grandfather went to Heaven. Mike lay in the backyard of his beloved Nonno and Nonna’s house. He looked at the clouds and prayed saying, “God, I need a friend who will love me for who I am, not make fun of me because of my red hair, and walk beside me no matter what.”

46 years later, God answered that prayer by bringing him his beloved wife, Angela Thye, whom he met ushering at a West Des Moines church in January of 2011. Mike and Angela ushered their own wedding at that same church in August of 2011.

During their 15 years of marriage, Mike and Angela partnered together, serving many populations joyfully with uncommon and extravagant love: houseparents at Rawhide Boys Ranch in WI; managers at Springs Rescue Mission in Colorado Springs, CO; and managers at Hawthorn Senior Living in 6 different states, spanning 9 different communities.

While managing a senior living community in Florida, Mike suffered a stroke on October 17th while in a nearby emergency room. Despite receiving prompt and specialized medical intervention, Michael passed away at Shand’s Hospital in Gainesville, FL on October 22nd.

Mike lived his life serving people with everything he had, with an others-first focus and eternity in mind. No one whose path crossed Mike Sansone’s left his presence unnoticed, unheard, uncelebrated, or unloved.

Mike left this earth at the age of 65, having fulfilled his personal mission: To be contagious and courageous, a friendly face among strangers who travel through a wearisome land. Giving a reason for hope, lending an ear, sharing a smile, or by offering a hand.

A Celebration of Life was held on October 27, 2026. To watch the service you can visit https://youtu.be/SX5LsK0pKWI?feature=shared.