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As the new school year begins in Winchester, there will be one familiar face missing from the Lincoln School community.
In mid-June, long-time crossing guard Mike Aliano passed away unexpectedly from what family members believe was a sudden heart attack. He was 47 years old.
His brother, Steve Aliano, said Mike was found by his roommate on June 17 around 9 p.m. He was unresponsive at the time.
“He had just lost 100 pounds and was working out every day,” Steve said. “No one is sure what happened, but he had a couple of medical issues so they were looking closely at underlying medical conditions. I think it was a combination of things.”
Steve added the family was shocked by the news.
“He was doing so great,” he said. “He had lost all that weight.”
It might have been the end of the school year, but Steve said the Aliano family received an outpouring of love and support from not only the Lincoln School community, but from all over Winchester.
“There were hundreds of messages and flowers from the school,” he said. “He was a crossing guard at that corner for almost 11 years. There were all sorts of people reaching out, some of whom had graduated from high school already. There was so much support from the community that we were blown away.”
Officer Frank Batchelor was one of those people. He remembered Aliano as a great person to work with.
“Mike was a crossing guard for the Lincoln Elementary School and held that position for 10 years,” he said. “I was his supervisor for eight years and he was a valued employee who was well liked by the students and parents.”
A GoFundMe page has been organized for Aliano, thanks to Calvin Lee, the father of a Lincoln third grader. As of Sept. 1, the page has raised $12,500 of its $13,000 goal.
“Mike Aliano was more than a crossing guard at Lincoln Elementary — he was a daily source of joy, safety, and connection for our entire community. Every morning, Mike greeted each child and parent with a smile, a joke, or a high-five, making sure everyone felt seen and cared for.” Lee stated in the GoFundMe. “His booming voice and sense of humor set the tone for our days, and his genuine love for people was clear in every interaction. Whether he was handing out treats to the neighborhood dogs or encouraging us to hurry along with a laugh, Mike made a lasting impact on all of us.
“With Mike’s sudden passing, our community has lost a truly special person. Most importantly, his youngest son, 15-year-old Mikey (Michael Jr.), is now facing a future without his father’s support,” he continued. “We want to come together to honor Mike’s legacy by helping provide for his youngest son’s future. Every contribution will help ensure that Mikey has the opportunities and stability he deserves during this difficult time.
Mike Aliano and his family enjoyed many outings, whether out in nature, at sporting events or just hanging around together. COURTESY PHOTOS/ALIANO FAMILY
“Please join us in supporting Mikey as he navigates this challenging chapter. Your generosity will help carry forward the kindness and care that Mike showed to all of us, and make a real difference in Mikey’s life,” he finished.
Mike also left behind a 23-year-old son named Dominic, who lives in Medford.
Family thanks community
Mike Aliano was born Oct. 20, 1977 to Michael and Nina (Rizzuto) Aliano and grew up in Cambridge. He moved to Winchester 11 years ago.
Steve Aliano called his brother “a loud, good-natured guy who loved kids.”
“When he was in the room, you knew he was there,” Steve said.
Over the years, Mike had a variety of jobs, including working at Stop & Shop for 26 years where he was a crew chief manager before coming to Winchester.
Steve said he has so many memories of his big brother, but one of his favorites is just hanging out. He said six years ago, he bought a house in New Hampshire and Mike would come up every weekend.
“Some of my best memories are of Mike being there with his two sons,” Steve said. “We would go fishing or on nature walks. I have a 3 ½-year-old son and we would all spend a lot of time together.”
In his obituary, the family said “Mike was a lifelong sports enthusiast. A dedicated athlete in his youth, he later took great pride in cheering on his sons at their games. He was a passionate Pittsburgh Steelers fan and recently found joy in following UFC fights and WNBA games. Beyond sports, Mike enjoyed quiet moments—reading, playing chess, writing poetry, and sharing time with his loved ones.”
Steve said Mike loved to go to Bangor, Maine and enjoyed hitting up antique stores.
“When my mother was alive, we would go up to Maine a lot,” Steve said. “When she passed, it was a way to connect with our mom again. We would go up to the cabin and we would do the things we used to during better times.”
Mike is survived by his sons, Dominic and Michael Aliano; his brother, Steven Aliano, and fiancée, Kristen Wisdom; his nephew, Steven (Stevie) Aliano; and many extended family members and friends who will carry his memory in their hearts.
On Sunday, Sept. 28, the family will be holding a celebration of life gathering from 12–4 p.m. at the Sons of Italy in Winchester, 117 Swanton St. All are welcome.
“I think he would have liked that,” Steve said, of the celebration. “He really loved the community, he really did.”
