By Ed Somers
December 20, 2006

Mayor, Conference President, husband, father, entertainer, and friend; all names that apply to Michael A. Guido. But the name that will always resonate for those who had the joy of knowing him was, “Your Friendly Mayor,” a self-given moniker that could be no truer.

During a moving funeral Mass in his city of Dearborn December 9, before thousands of well-wishers, his son Mikie said that to him and his brother Anthony, “Dad was just a regular guy.”

Guido, who served as mayor of Dearborn for 21 years, died at his home on December 5 surrounded by his family. He was 52 and left behind his wife Kari, and sons, Michael, 19, and Anthony, 14. Guido was diagnosed with cancer in February of 2006. He remained on the job every day, continuing to work long hours at city hall and around Dearborn, attending public events throughout his outpatient treatment.

In June of 2006, Guido was inaugurated in Las Vegas as the 64th President of The U.S. Conference of Mayors surrounded by his parents, family, and dozens of well-wishers from Dearborn – the city he loved more than any other. Despite the diagnosis of his cancer, Guido remained totally committed to the mission of the Conference of Mayors, leading numerous meetings and mayoral delegations, and laying the groundwork for the Conference’s bipartisan ’08 presidential election agenda.

To mourn and honor the life and legacy of Guido, a large delegation of mayors from across the nation, including many past presidents and Conference of Mayors staff, traveled to Dearborn for several days of memorial activities.

As Guido lay in state, new Conference President Trenton (NJ) Mayor Douglas H. Palmer and Executive Director Tom Cochran presented a special wreath on behalf of all the nation’s mayors. The entire delegation of mayors and staff participated in this special moment, joined by First Lady Kari Guido, her sons, and her family.

Then later that night, at the specific request of Mrs. Guido, the mayoral and staff delegation joined her and her sons for a private dinner to celebrate the life of Mayor Guido and the organization he so loved. Together, they cried, shared wonderful memories, and celebrated a life well lived.

The group reflected on Guido’s years of leadership – nobody understood the intricacies of telecom laws better than the mayor, or was a stronger defender of the rights of cities.

And no mayor could channel the voice and life-affirming spirit of Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong like Guido.

As mayor, Guido changed the physical face and space of Dearborn, initiating development projects that revived the critical downtown areas.

His drive to keep Dearborn attractive for families and young professionals in the face of competition from newer communities culminated in the construction of the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in 2001. It is the largest municipally-owned recreation center in North America and is capped off with a stunning professional theater.

Among the lengthy list of private and public development projects Guido directed, he was most proud of The Center, which he often said brought the community together in “body, mind, and spirit.”

He traveled his city’s neighborhoods and business districts every day, personally checking on conditions across the city, and stopping to chat with people. It was not unusual for him to spot a pothole while driving around and call city crews to fix it that day, or for him to get out of his car and personally pick up litter. He even would take a broom and sweep the sidewalk in front of businesses near city hall.

A professional entertainer early in life, he had a keen appreciation of all kinds of music, and was a favorite with Dearborn’s Friends of the Opera group and Dearborn Symphony Orchestra. But he also loved old TV programs, and could elaborately recount episodes of “Seinfeld” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and still made jokes referencing “The Beverly Hillbillies” and “F-Troop.”

He loved to perform marriages for people at city hall, and was famous for his hospitality, believing in treating everyone as if they were a VIP. No visitor left his office without some treat. His office was once described as a “Halloween paradise” because of all the candy in it.

The son of Italian immigrants, he always smiled when reporters from national news organizations would use the New Jersey way of saying “Guido.” He had fun with his Italian heritage, and he was proud of it. He was deeply patriotic and believed in American ideals, and was an unfailing supporter – and friend – of Dearborn’s many veterans.

During an interview years ago, he said he wanted his epitaph to be: “He loved the people of Dearborn, and they loved him.”

In closing his inaugural address at the Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting in June in Las Vegas, Guido gave these words to his colleagues. “It’s time for us to boldly move forward. Time to treat inaction as a failure. Time to truly put the needs of the many ahead of the needs of the few. At home, we make a significant difference. Together we can do the same for all Americans. I’m looking for dedicated, committed, and talented partners. My experience tells me I’m looking in the right place.”

The Conference of Mayors will continue in the mission laid out by “Our Friendly Mayor.”