Michael A. Roa's Obituary
Michael Anthony Roa was born on October 21st, 1988 in Brooklyn, N.Y. to Anthony Roa and Carmela Santiago. At the age of 5, Michael was started in school and attended P.S.314 in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn. Michael graduated from P.S. 314 at the age 11. That same year, Michael started attending McKinley Junior High School in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn till his graduation at the age of 14. Michaels mother passed away that same year after a prolonged illness and Michael was relocated to St. Petersburg, Florida to live with his father and step-mother Elizabeth Velez. Michael, now living in Florida started to attend Pinellas Park High School in Pinellas County from where he graduated at the age of 17. That same year, after graduating High School, Michael goes on to attend DeVry University in Orlando where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree. After graduating from college, Michael starts his career with the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office as a Public Information Specialist in the Public Information Office. Michael’s career was cut short when he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia in January 2016. Michael underwent many Cancer treatments, brain surgery, and a nasal cavity bereavement during a 13 month period at Moffitt Cancer Center. Michael passed away peacefully on February 5th 2017 at the age of 28 in the presence of his siblings Yadira, Camille, and Marc. Michael will be remembered for his courage and determination in which he confronted and battled this dreaded decease. Michael was loved by everyone he met for his easy going and funny personality, quick wit, sarcasm, laugh, generous heart, and style. It’s been said that “to know Michael was to love Michael”.
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