From The Providence Journal, February 27, 2003
Michael J. Gonsalves, 40; 'The Doctor' of heavy metal
A Mass of Christian burial for Michael J. Gonsalves,
40, of Fletcher Avenue, Warwick, will be celebrated Monday at 10 a.m. at St.
Ambrose Church, 191 School St., Lincoln. Burial will be in St. Ambrose Cemetery.
Mike had been a staff disc jockey for more than 17
years at WHJY radio, where he had worked as a summer intern while in college. He
started as the host of Metal Zone on Saturday nights, and had been the station's
overnight DJ since 1991. The Metal Zone is the longest-running continuous
heavy-metal radio show in the country.
He also hosted a weekly event called "Legs and
Eggs," for third-shifters, at the Foxy Lady, in Providence.
Mike began his career as a disc jockey spinning
records at private parties. He worked at the Rhode Island College radio station,
WXIN, where he was music director for four years, and as a disc jockey, and
later manager, at the United Skates of America roller rink in East Providence.
He was also the co-owner of All Star Sports Cards and
Comics, in North Providence.
Mike was a graduate of the former Our Lady of
Providence High School, where he lettered in baseball and tennis, receiving
All-State honors in tennis during his junior and senior years. A 1986 graduate
of Rhode Island College, he lettered in tennis for four years, and was team
captain his senior season. Mike was an active member of Kappa Delta Phi
fraternity for over 20 years.
An accomplished athlete, he played in the McColl
Softball League in Lincoln, and for the WHJY softball team. Michele Maker,
promotions director at WHJY, recalls, "I played second base. One game, he
hit a line-drive in my direction . . . sent me to the emergency room, and the
stitches from the ball were embedded in my kneecap."
He had also played in the Scituate Summer Basketball
League.
For the last two years, he had attended the Boston
Baseball Fantasy Camp in Florida, meeting and getting to know such former Red
Sox greats as Luis Tiant, Bill Lee and Johnny Pesky. Last year, Mike was named
the fantasy camp's Most Valuable Player.
Born in New York City, a son of Neil I. and Mary V. (Trepanier)
Gonsalves, both of Providence, he had lived in Providence for many years before
moving to Warwick in 1993.
Besides his parents, he leaves two brothers, Edward L.
Gonsalves of North Providence and Jonathan N. Gonsalves of Johnston; and a
niece, Amanda Lyons of Johnston.
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