Man with disabilities bequeaths model cars to help food pantry

Michael Joseph Page loved cats, collecting model cars and caring for others. A loving son and brother, Mr. Page — who passed away in June from pulmonary fibrosis — left behind a legacy in his family and community as a man of strong faith who strove to help people in need, even during his own hardest times.

He also left a gift that has helped to feed the hungry at the Sister Maureen Joyce Center food pantry in Albany.

“He was an extraordinary individual” and “a beautiful person,” said Doreen Sollecito, Mr. Page’s sister. “He accepted his death with dignity.”

Mr. Page had autism and a variety of neurological disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Mrs. Sollecito said it was difficult for her brother to make friends when he was growing up in Brunswick with his sister and their four other siblings.

In 10th grade, Mr. Page dropped out of school after struggling in classes. He worked at Price Chopper for a short time, but turned to caring for his mother while living at home. Mrs. Sollecito said her brother and mother “were best friends. They had a closeness that was unbelievable.”

Pets and cars

She added that her brother’s passion for “cats and his car collection” was his entire life. Obsessed with World War II history, Mr. Page also loved feeding the pigeons that came to his mother’s house — so much that he was nicknamed “Birdman” by his family for the number of birds he attracted.

He also found great happiness in collecting model cars and trucks, and he spent a lifetime collecting hundreds of them, leaving them in their original packaging. Instead of opening them, Mrs. Sollecito explained, her brother loved to press the buttons and watch the flashing lights.

She used to bring her brother to Mass at her parish, Our Lady of the Assumption in Latham.

“He was extremely friendly,” recalled Rev. Geoffrey Burke, pastor. When Mr. Page was sick, Father Burke would bring communion to his home: “We would chat and he would show me his car collection.”

Tough times

In 2013, their mother passed away, and Mr. Page went into a period of depression. After living at home for 53 years, he got help from Mrs. Sollecito and his siblings to move into a residential facility operated by the Wildwood program in Latham, a non-profit that helps individuals with disabilities to live independently.

Mrs. Sollecito said that her brother “started blossoming.” He made friends and was the most active and social he had ever been.  

Then, in 2016, Mr. Page was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. The Page siblings jumped into action to help, taking him on incredible trips to fulfill his “bucket list.” They traveled to Florida — Mr. Page had never flown before — and visited Universal Studios, Sea World and Daytona International Speedway.

As a joke, the Page siblings also bought their brother a crown and robe and called him their “king” because of how much they were helping him. It kept everyone in high spirits and gave Mr. Page a good laugh.

For the hungry

When Mr. Page’s health condition became terminal, he asked that his extravagant car collection be donated, after his death, to a local food pantry. He hoped that his cars would go to children in need or be sold to help the hungry.

Even in his final days, Mr. Page’s faith was strong. When his breathing became difficult, he would offer up his suffering for the souls in purgatory. During a visit from Father Burke at the hospital, he questioned the pastor about all the saints he would meet in heaven and asked if he would see his family. The pastor assured him that he would.

When Mr. Page passed away, some his model cars were kept by family, but others were given, according to his final wishes, to Toys For Tots and to the Sister Maureen Joyce Center food pantry.

Fifteen cars remained. Mrs. Sollecito teamed up with her parish, Our Lady of the Assumption in Latham, to raffle off the cars.

Smiles all around

The raffle was held at OLA and organized by Rosemary Gavin, pastoral associate for teen faith formation and youth ministry. Mrs. Sollecito recalled seeing a young boy jumping up and down with excitement after winning a model racetrack. She said it felt as if Mr. Page was there with her.

The raffle raised more than $500, which was added to the Sister Maureen Joyce food pantry donation.

Even in death, Mr. Page’s humor and love for helping others lives on in his siblings and in the lives of those he touched through his generous donations.

“It made my day when I was there,” said Mrs. Sollecito of the OLA raffle. Seeing all the smiling children running around with their new model cars and trucks, she knew that her brother “would be beaming.”