East Millinocket – Americo Ralph “Mig” Gaetani, 90, passed away peacefully Wednesday, September 14, 2016. Mig was born November 11, 1925 in East Millinocket, the son of Peter and Maria (Tortora) Gaetani, immigrants from Italy. Mig remained a resident of East Millinocket and worked for thirty seven years for Great Northern Paper Company, retiring in 1986. He will be remembered as a kind and loving husband, father, grandfather and uncle with a delightful sense of humor and a ready smile. Mig graduated from Schenck High School in 1943 and was then drafted into the U.S. Navy. After initial training he was shipped to the European Front, sailing across the Atlantic in the Queen Mary. Once in England he was assigned to Landing Ship Tank (LST) #209 and participated in the D-Day invasion at Normandy where his ship was at Juno Beach in support of English and British troops. Following his time in the Navy, Mig attended the Northern Conservatory of Music in Bangor. He was a gifted musician, a natural with the clarinet, and often played with the Bangor Town Band and the National Guard Band. Mig always kept a mandolin by his chair and would play it most evenings. In addition, Mig enjoyed woodworking, snowmobiling, and crossword puzzles. Since 1954, Mig enjoyed his summers at Cold Stream Pond in Enfield with his family and his brother Peter’s next door. The shared area became known as “The Italian Riviera” to family who treasure their memories there. Mig was predeceased by his beloved wife Mary Ann (Laurusonis) Gaetani. Mig and Mary met on a blind date, were married in 1951 and were at each other’s side for 64 years until her passing in 2015. Mig will be sadly missed by his sons Anthony and wife Sherry of Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, and Patrick Gaetani and wife Tori of Holden; his grandchildren, Kevin, Mitchel, Madison, and Maria; and by his many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and his wife, Mig is predeceased by three brothers, Alfred (“Gus”), Armand (“Sal”), and Peter, and a sister in law, Kitty. Friends are invited to visit with the family 1-2 P.M. Saturday, September 17 at the Lamson Funeral Home, 11 Tamarack Street, Millinocket, where funeral services will be held beginning at 2 P.M. Interment, with military honors, will be at the East Millinocket Cemetery. Gifts in memory of Mig may be sent to the Katahdin Area Support Group, P.O. Box 374, Millinocket, ME 04462.