Michael (Mike) Nesci, February 21, 1961 – August 11, 2023
Mike was the 3rd of five children born to Carmen and Valentina Nesci of Oak Lawn, Illinois. In 1969, the family moved to Lincolnshire, Illinois. Growing up, Mike liked playing in his treehouse, riding bikes, listening to rock n roll music, and reading comic books. He graduated from Adlai E Stevenson High School in 1979. Over the next several years, he pursued various professions including bartending, mortuary science, retail sales, Illinois Toll Booth Operator, and custodial services until finding his true passion for the Renaissance Faire lifestyle. From 1998 through 2022, Mike worked for Lady Mac’s, a Texas-based vendor selling replica horns, canes, and staffs. In 2011, he relocated to the Houston area. Every year, from April through November, he worked at Renaissance Faires in Texas, Georgia, Wisconsin, and Michigan. For the past year, he worked for RenBoots selling replica boots, shoes, and clothing. His Ren Faire friends and coworkers became his second family; his “tribe”. During family gatherings he regaled his nieces and nephews with funny stories about his experiences from the Ren Faire.
A little about Mike:
He loved to talk! He would talk to anyone about anything, usually starting the conversation with “Hey, where are you from?” He knew a little bit about everything. Friends called him the “walking Wikipedia”.
He loved to read and learn. He liked thrillers about espionage, and often went to the library to satisfy his curiosity about a wide range of topics, including astronomy and history.
He liked sitcoms from the 70’s and 80’s and knew detailed biographical information about the actors. If you ever watched a movie with Mike, you probably had to tell him to be quiet as he had a habit of interjecting anecdotes about the actors.
He loved old school rock roll, especially KISS, Boston, and Steve Miller Band
His favorite snack was any kind of BBQ potato chips.
One of his pastimes was to go on “walkabouts” of the fairgrounds. On days the Ren Faire was closed, he would look for interesting objects left behind by fairgoers. At night, he would go stargazing.
He loved cats and often spoke of feeding the feral cats who lived in his neighborhood.
He was truly a unique individual who lived life simply but authentically. He will be missed by his family and many friends.
Mike is survived by his five siblings, sisters Nina Moskaluk, Rita (Steve) Dunn, Joanne (Jon) Goldstein, Suzanne (Roger) Baker, and brother Mark (Carol) Nesci, and nephews Adam, Connor, Evan, Bryan, Eric, Matthew, and Emmett, and nieces Madeleine, Hailey, and Erica.
