As I refocus my efforts in providing content and tools to help IT managers achieve more success, I think the first post should be about my wife and best friend of more than 50 years – Dorine Louque Sisco.
CLICK HERE to open and scroll through the PhotoBook I created for family and friends after losing Dorine on July 29, 2020 after a month-long battle with COVID-19.
Losing Dorine unexpectedly took a huge toll on me. I could barely function for two years, isolated myself from friends and focused on taking care of our son. Eddie had to be hospitalized 7 times in 2021 and 2022, and I had a challenging back problem, , , it was a difficult two years. I’m just now starting to do real work again after a 3-year lapse.
Not wanting to give you a sob story but more of trying to explain how much Dorine meant to Eddie and me. She was our rock, , , always happy with a smile on her face and doing things simply to make life fun. She took care of the home front while I took care of the business side. My business would not have succeeded, and I would not have achieved the success I attained without Dorine’s support and encouragement.
Dorine, or “Do” as I often called her, was the most positive person I’ve ever known. Everyone loved her and she was so easy to get to know. Many of my IT Manager Institute training students met her at our class dinners, , , she was always the highlight of the evening.
Dorine was also the smartest person I’ve known. She didn’t have a college education, but she could do anything she set her mind to do and she could solve pretty much any problem or puzzle. She was very creative and loved painting, drawing, sewing, arts and crafts and decorating our home. She was fantastic in so many ways. And did I mention what a great cook she was? Her gumbo and lasagna was world class.
CLICK HERE to see a PhotoBook titled Art by Dorine and you will see a sampling of her artistic talent.
I miss Dorine terribly, but I love and appreciate the great times and experiences we had together for 50 years. Memories are never lost, and I’m in a good place now so I’m excited to start working again.
CLICK HERE to watch the video below if you are interested in the thoughts I put together and recorded for Dorine’s funeral, , , I think it sums up who she was and how much I loved and appreciated her.
Thank you for visiting, , , your comments and sharing this post are appreciated.
Mike Sisco, ITBMC 
Great article, Mike! ________________________________
Thanks Mark, , , appreciate you.
I am very sorry to learn about the loss of Do. May you get comforted. I kept wondering what happened to my loved Mike Sisco.
Thank you for your reply Masialeti, , , much appreciated. I hope you are achieving many successes and doing well.
Mike
I knew how much she meant to you. Even though I’d not met her, the way you talked about her during your foreign classes was an envy. I was worried about you you when for almost a year I didn’t see your regular newsletters. May her lovely soul rest peacefully in the bosom of the Lord. And welcome back, Mike.
Chief ML Efere
Nigeria
Thank you Chief Efere; I appreciate your kind words. I remember fondly the afternoon you and I spent at the Dubai Mall aquarium and walking through the tunnel with all the fish and sharks swimming around us. Hard to believe that was 13 years and over 40 Institute classes ago. I enjoyed your class (Institute #42) a lot, and the class dinner at the Armani Restaurant in the Burj Khalifa was special. Take care.
Mike
I just learned of the great loss you have experienced. My sincere condolences…I realized what a strong support Dorine was in your life and what valuable contribution she provided to your business’s success. I have been following your writings and web appearances since you started your great series in support of IT managers worldwide and what a surprise it was for me your absence these last few years! Now I appreciate the reason.
I look forward to continuing our virtual meetings and awaiting your thoughtful insights into professional IT management, I wish you luck, health, and strength. Keep safe and stroll on!
Thank you Vessel,
You have been following me for some time, , , much appreciated. I also appreciate the kind words and hope to re-energize my efforts to provide relevant insights and tools to help the IT managers of the world to whom I’ve dedicated much of my career to.
Best regards and success, , , hope you will stay in touch.
Mike
Mike – This is such a beautiful tribute to an amazing woman and the many ways she made the world a better place. Deepest condolences for this incredible loss and all that your family has had to navigate in the last few years. Grateful for the many people you and your family have touched. I’ve never stopped using the things I learned from you as I’ve progressed in my career, thank you. Wish you all the best as you re-engage with the important work you do.
Hi Renea,
Thank you so much for the nice comment. It’s rewarding to receive comments from my IT Manager Institute managers who met Dorine at one of our class dinners or who heard me talk about her and Eddie in the class. Makes my day!
You and Dex like so many others have become good friends after meeting in the Institute class, , , this has been very special and it also meant a lot to Dorine to be a part of it. Assigning a “paparazzi” photographer in each of the classes and capturing photos during the class and dinners make for some great memories. Thanks once again and hope you are doing well.
Mike – It was so nice to see your name pop up on my Linked in, but also so sad to hear about your lovely wife Dorine. I am very sorry for your loss and can appreciate how difficult life became without your rock. I pray you and Eddie are doing well and that your new business venture is super successful. You have a whole lot to offer people and we should all be considered bless to have your help along the way!
Debra Rosumny Umberger
Hi Debra,
What a pleasant surprise to see your comment, and thank you for your nice words of encouragement, , , we all need them from time to time. Eddie and I are doing well, , , we have had a very good year. He just turned 47 and we are looking forward to a nice Christmas.
Hope you are doing well and achieving many successes which I’m certain you are as sharp and talented as I remember you being.
Take care and Merry Christmas,
Mike