Michael A. “Mick” Palmesano

Michael “Mick” Allen Palmesano of North Quincy, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by love and his family on March 6, 2022, at the age of 50.
Mick was born in Hornell, NY on November 6, 1971, the Son of Mike and Suzy Palmesano. He had resided in Hornell, NY through age 18 and was a graduate of Hornell High School, class of 1990. Most notably, Mick had a furious passion for drumming which began at age 4. Mick aspired to be a Rockstar very early in his life and would go on to be signed to 3 record deals with different bands over the course of 1992-2000. At age 18, Mick took his big dreams to Hollywood, CA in 1990 where he attended & graduated from the Musicians Institute in 1992, winning the “Rock Stylist” award along the way. He joined the punk / speed metal band, AVERSION in ’92, based out of Huntington Beach, CA. This experience included appearances on MTV’s Headbangers Ball with the video “Let It Go,” touring the U.S., and recording the album “Fall From Grace” on Dr. Dream Records in 1994. While home and not on tour, Mick underwent a tattoo apprenticeship in1993 in Huntington Beach. Mick loved tattoos and was excited to learn the trade; though he could not seem to fit tattooing too well into his musician lifestyle. In 1995, Mick joined the Orange County based hard-core punk outfit, X-MEMBERS, and recorded the album “Down With The Average Joe” on the original gangster rap label, Priority Records. X-MEMBERS went on to make three laps around the U.S. and Canada during the summer of 1996, opening for bands such as The Offspring, No Doubt, Biohazard, Sublime and the Deftones. It looked like the group was on a roll when they landed a coveted slot on the nationwide Warped tour and secured dates opening for No Doubt and Goldfinger. But after pressing only 10,000 copies of “Down With the Average Joe,” Priority dropped the band. X-MEMBERS got a reputation for inciting violence that kept them from landing any gigs beyond their final No Doubt shows.
As his music career experienced frustrating highs and lows, Mick chose to start pursuing a degree in Accounting at Golden West College in Huntington Beach. At the end of 1997, Mick decided to move to Boston, MA, shifting his primary career focus from music to Accounting. He attended college part-time, receiving his AS Accounting degree in 2000, while in parallel working full-time entry-level Accounting jobs during the day. However, his passion for drumming remained and he therefore played in several local area bands, in addition to being solicited for auditions with well-established bands back in the Los Angeles area, none of which came to fruition. Then, in 2000, he was approached to audition for the Boston-based, NuMetal band Gangsta B*tch Barbie; who had just landed a record deal through the Beastie Boys. Mick earned the job and immediately began rehearsal to record the band’s LP. Toymaker Mattel threatened legal action against the band for the use of the name Barbie, so the band changed their name to NULLSET. Mick worked as a Staff Accountant at a telecom company during this time and had to ask for two weeks off in order to travel to Los Angeles to record an album. In 2001, the band released their self-titled NULLSET record on the Grand Royal record label. The band would go on to do very well locally, performing many shows and were in regular rotation on the radio throughout the Northeast. However, the Beastie Boys filed bankruptcy on their label and dropped the band shortly after September 11, 2001. NULLSET continued playing together for some time and dis-banded in 2003. However, they would get together to hang, write & record, and play an occasional show.

From 2002 forward, he held positions at State Street Bank implementing Oracle Financials software, Sr. Accountant at Millennium Pharmaceuticals, and finally, at Alkermes where he held positions from Sr. Accountant to Director of Accounting. Mick also realized the opportunity of the gift of his tattooing skills which he learned in 1993. In 2002 he worked a nights & weekends gig at a tattoo shop 2 miles away from Millennium Pharmaceuticals. Mick continued building his skills & reputation as a tattoo artist right up until his disease ultimately stole his ability to ink. Mick took great pride in being a tattoo artist, creating custom art which highlighted personalities, honored people’s life events and milestones, and gave permanence to memories and legacies. He made many connections with people in that chair during ink sessions along the way, hearing people’s stories about the meanings of the tattoo they were receiving or just hearing about their interesting life stories. Through this artistic pathway of his life, many of these people became very good friends.
Mick accomplished many great things in his life, but he took the most pride in being a Family Man. He was a true man’s man, caring for and protecting his family right up until he took his last breath. He was a phenomenal human with a very specific presence about him, his inner and outer strength were incredible to see, before and after his rapid, extreme battle with ALS. He was thoughtful and caring in a seemingly quiet manner, yet somehow he always showed up with his love in big ways.
Mick is survived by his beloved Wife Erin (Fitzgerald) Palmesano, and their son Max; his former wife and dear friend Sarianne (Maki-Nisula) Palmesano, and their son Adrian; Parents Mike and Suzy Palmesano; Sister Peggy (Palmesano) and her husband Tom Pollizi; Nephew Ryan Pollizi, his wife Heather and their Son, Cohen; Niece Brittany (Pollizi) and her husband Justin Gmeinweiser; Nephew Justin Pollizi; Sister-in-law Bonnie (Fitzgerald) Smith, her husband Duncan Smith, and their children Liam and Chloe; Brother-in-Law Mark Fitzgerald, his wife Kristy and their children Brooke, Peyton, and Austin; Sister-in-Law Amy (Fitzgerald) Daley, her husband Brian, and their children Brandon and Caden. He is also survived by many beloved extended family members and so many unique, amazing friends.
Mick expressed his wishes to thank the following for the care he received during his battle: Erin Palmesano (Mick’s #1 and Best Friend, Wife & primary ALS caregiver), Sister-in-law Amy Daley (Mick’s secondary ALS caregiver who selflessly sacrificed A LOT of her time), Brother-in-law Brian Daley, Sons Adrian & Max, Parents Mike and Suzy Palmesano, Peggy Pollizi, Brother in-law Tom Pollizi, Dr. James Berry, MD, MPH, and his phenomenal, compassionate Clinical and Research Teams at The Healey Center for ALS at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Ron Hoffman, Founder and Director at Compassionate Care ALS (CCALS) and his amazing care team, Jen DiMartino, Executive Director at ALS One, John at Partners Home Care Physical Therapy, Home Infusion nurses Janice, Michelle, Sue, Jennifer, and Dan, VNA Care Hospice team for their warmth and compassion in his final days. He would also like to extend extreme gratitude to all of his Alkermes colleagues who continuously went above and beyond with their generosity and compassion, and all of our extended family and the multitude of friends, who sent so many positive gestures & energy his way.

Relatives and friends from all walks of Mick’s life are respectfully invited to greet the family during the visiting hours on Monday, March 14th, 2022 from 4-8 PM in the Keohane Funeral Home, 785 Hancock St., QUINCY. A funeral home service to honor Mick’s life and legacy will be celebrated on Tuesday, March 15th, 2022 at 11:00 AM at Keohane Funeral Home, 785 Hancock St. QUINCY. Services will conclude with interment in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Boston.

A Celebration of Life Service for Family and Friends of Mick in Upstate NY on Sunday, April 24th, 2022.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Mick’s name may be made to the ALS ONE organization at ALS ONE (Palmesano Strong). Donations may be made online via the web link, or there is a downloadable form to mail in a donation.