Michael Dillon's Obituary
Michael Dillon
Our big brother, dad, grandpa and our hero, Dossen Michael “Mike” Dillon passed away August 17, 2013, after a short three week battle with lung cancer due to melanoma with metastasis to the brain. He was born November 1, 1931, in Yakima, Washington to “Hi” Dossen and Dorothy Fox Dillon, both deceased. The Dillon family pioneered the Yakima Valley in the 1880s coming from an Irish settlement in Boston, Mass., via Faribault, Wisconsin; Smith Center, Kansas; Virginia City, Nevada; and the Willamette Valley in Oregon.
Mike and family moved to Tacoma in 1939, where Mike attended Lowell and Franklin Elementary schools, Jason Lee Junior High and Stadium High School, graduating in 1949.
Always an athlete, while still in Grade School at Franklin, Mike was the Champion of the Marble King Tournament for that district. While at Stadium, he was one of a very few High School athletes who ever pitched two “no-no’s,” that is two full baseball games with no hits and no runs.
He attended the University of Puget Sound, then known as C.P.S., on a basketball scholarship. Being very shy, he abhorred wearing the green beanie at C.P.S. that identified him as a freshman. The next spring in 1950, Mike signed to play professional baseball as a pitcher with the St. Louis Browns, which shortly became the Baltimore Orioles. He played in the minor leagues for five seasons.
Mike served his country in the U.S. Army and the medical reserves and was honorably discharged.
Once again, Mike returned to play baseball, this time to pitch for the Stanley’s Shoemen, Stan Naccarato’s outstanding Tacoma baseball team that in 1956, won the National Amateur Baseball Congress Championship. This was equal to winning the World Series for amateur baseball.
In 2005, Mike was inducted into the Tacoma Athletic Commission’s Tacoma Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame as a member of Stanley’s Shoemen baseball team.
After beginning his adult life as a shy skinny kid, he later spent many years in sales around the Tacoma area, everyone he met he counted as a friend. He was warm and gregarious. He could not travel anywhere and hear, “Hey Dillon” yelled by someone in a crowd. He seemed to know everyone in business and in sports, including those at the local “watering holes” in the Tacoma area. He always had a funny story or joke to tell.
In later years, his most favorite job of all was working at Madrona Links Golf Club where he was a course marshal and rode around the course in a golf cart as “Marshal Dillon.” He also worked in the Madrona Pro Shop.
Mike admitted that the New York Yankees were his favorite baseball team. His first opportunity to attend a game in person to see them play was this year on June 9th, when the Yankees played the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. It was his first and only visit to Safeco Field. He counted the Mariners as his second favorite baseball team.
Mike was predeceased in 2006, by his brother Patrick Dillon who died of lung cancer and brain metastasis due to smoking cigarettes.
Mike loved being surrounded by his family. He is survived by his Kathleen Dillon Callahan of Gig Harbor; his sister-in-law Julie Lade Dillon of Lakebay, WA.
His four daughters: Julie Ann Dillon Obrien (Pat) of Allyn, WA; Kathi Anne Dillon St. Julien (Tony) of Portland, OR; Ruth Ann Dillon Wiest (Peter) of Seattle; and Michaelyn Dillon Leary of Graham.
His grandchildren: Alecka Dillon Shaw, Ryan Matthew Johnson, Dawson Louis St. Julien, McKenzie St. Julien, Zenovia Enya Wiest, Megan Marie Martin (Russ), and Sophia Briell Wise.
His great-grandchildren: Hannah Marie Johnson, Dio Robert Patricka, Lily Ione Patricka and Cyrus Ryan Martin. His nieces and nephews: Timothy Morris, Joan Morris Martin, Dorsey Dillon Fyhn and Shawn Patrick Dillon.
A private family inurnment service was held at Mt. View Cemetery.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
God’s Speed big brother. KC
Remembrances may be shared at www.mountainviewtacoma.com
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