by John BINDER
Michael J. Billoni knows the exact moment a miracle changed his life. It was Thursday,
September 17, 1992 at 4:00 p.m.
At that precise moment he was riding his 10-speed bicycle on the backroads of Point Abino,
Ontario Canada when a car, traveling at 65 mph with a drunk driver behind the wheel,
struck him from behind. He was thrown into the car’s windshield before the driver
took off, throwing him some 60 feet on a gravel road into a metal news box.
The bicycle helmet Mike was wearing saved his life. A series of miracles were responsible
for him being transported over the Peace Bridge late that afternoon and into the Erie
County Medical Center’s trauma unit. Immediately, the medical team, led by Dr. John
LaDuca began 17 hours of surgery for a multitude of near fatal injuries.
“I fully understand I am living today as a true miracle from God,” Michael says
with authority. “The doctors told my family I was minutes from death. After I came
through surgery, they were worried I would never recover to do much in life. Through the
grace of God and hours and hours of physical therapy over the past 8 1/2 years I have been
able to get on with my life.”
Michael was the vice president/general manager of the Buffalo Bisons when the accident
occurred.
Today, he is founder and principal of Billoni Associates, an independent communications
company. Last October, he authored and managed the publication of “Robert E.
Rich—Memoirs of an Innovator,” the biography of the founder of Rich Products
Corp.
Currently, he is working on projects for a variety of clients. His three favorites are
advising the Triple A baseball franchise in Fresno, California; handling the promotions
and publicity for Buffalo’s undefeated heavyweight boxer, “Baby Joe” Mesi;
and orchestrating the marketing efforts for the Billoni family business, Colvin Cleaners
and Colvin Draperies.
However, whether he is on an airplane traveling once a month to Fresno, at the gym
watching “Baby Joe” work out or at his mom’s house for the family’s
Monday Night Pasta dinner, Michael does not forget the divine intervention that saved his
life.
“My first memory of the accident was five days after it occurred,” he recalls.
“There were all kinds of tubes stuck into me, my left ankle and right wrist were in
casts from being fractured, my right shoulder was fractured, a bandage was around my head,
I had two black eyes and my back was a sad sight and extremely sore.
“I hurt a lot but my attention was on the ring finger of my right hand, where my
father (who passed away August 23, 1998) had placed a finger rosary during surgery. My mom
and dad were so happy to see me open my eyes. They couldn’t wait to tell me how many
people were praying for me. My dad said it was another miracle for the finger rosaries he
and a few of his friends gave out to everyone they met.”
Michael, who lives and works in Buffalo, is the oldest of Anthony and Josephine
Billoni’s three children. His brother, Paul, is president of Colvin Cleaners and
Colvin Draperies. He and his wife, Cyndee, reside in Kenmore with their children,
Christopher and Erica. The youngest brother, Anthony, works at the Creative Education
Foundation in Buffalo and stars on Channel 7’s Off Beat Cinema Show each Saturday
night. He and his wife, Kim, reside in Buffalo and they are expecting their first child in
July.
“I truly believe my life was saved for a reason,” Michael explains. “I
thank God everyday for my health and I now pray for others who are recovering from illness
or disease.”
While Michael keeps himself busy managing a variety of projects for Billoni Associates, he
has learned the importance of balancing time for his family and the community.
“The most important person in my life today is God with my family a close second. We
still continue a tradition my dad began of Monday night pasta at mom’s,” he
continues. “Being active in my community, the church and helping kids is also very
important to me.”
Michael may not be as visible publicly as he was when he led the Bisons but he certainly
hasn’t slowed down any. The big difference now is that he is much more focused.
John Binder is a freelance writer.