USGTF Master Golf Teaching Professional
2008 USGTF PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
2010 INDUCTED INTO THE USGTF HALL OF FAME
"WGTF Top 60" Golf Instructors providing Top-Quality Golf Lessons
Mike is listed in the top 60 teachers of the World Golf Teachers Federation
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Miguel Angel Perez
May 8th, 1937 - February 9th, 2024
Loving husband, devoted father, beloved grandfather, great grandfather and uncle, Mike Perez passed away quietly on February 9th, 2024, at the age of 86.
Mike was a remarkable story of courage and perseverance. Born in Cuba to Julian and Celia Perez, he served time as a political prisoner under the regime of Fidel Castro.
Mike grew up in Cuba and loved to fish with his father as a child. He was a AAA baseball player but the communist revolution in 1959 cut that dream short.
His activities with the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization and vocal opponent of dictator Fidel Castro, found him arrested multiple times, and after the botched Bay Of Pig’s Invasion by the United states in 1961, he was thrown into prison.
The Knights of Columbus helped him escape Cuba in 1962, and he was granted political asylum in the US. While Mike rarely spoke about his time in Cuba during its fall to communism, he never stopped being proud of his Cuban heritage.
He was 26 when he arrived in the United states, he was alone, he could not speak English, had no money and not a single possession.
Mike was relocated to a Catholic group home in Chicago for foreign students. He found work as a busboy at the historic Palmer House Hotel and began English lessons with a young woman of German/Norwegian descent, Dianne, who would become his beloved wife of 61 years. He was honored to be sworn in as a citizen of the United states in 1969.
Mike worked his way from a busboy who couldn't speak English, to operations manager for the Zenith electronics manufacturing plant in Melrose Park IL; as well as a television technology patent holder, before retiring in 1998 after 35 years.
Mike may have retired from Zenith, but he never retired from work. He took up golf in his 30s only after winning his first set of clubs, but quickly took to the game. Mike attributed his “baseball wrists” to helping him quickly excel in golf. Following the encouragement of his wife, Mike made his passion for golf a second career by earning his United States Golf Teaching Federation certificate in 1995. He became a USGTF Master Teaching Professional in 1999. Mike served as the Director of Golf Instruction for the Renwood Golf Course for several years and was the current Manager of Golf and Head Golf Professional/Instructor at the Grayslake Golf Course and served in that role for the last 10+ years. Mike won several regional tournaments during his golf career but his proudest achievement as a player was his 1998 qualification to play on the PGA Tour.
Mike was honored as one of the top 60 USGTF/WGTF Golf Instructors in the world in 2006; Named multiple times to the USGTF annual list of top 100 golf instructors; Selected as the 2008 USGTF Golf Instructor of the Year and was a 2010 inductee into the USGTF hall of fame.
Second only to his family, was his passion for teaching and encouraging sport. He was especially fond of teaching and coaching youth, whether it was his time coaching youth baseball and softball in the 1970s, or later introducing and teaching golf to youths. For more than 25 years Mike conducted golf clinics for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the YMCA, area high schools, youth programs, for Spanish foreign exchange students and for Latino kids who, like him, never imagined the game of golf could be for them.
Despite all his achievements he was most proud of his family, Mike was dedicated to his wife and family more than anything else.
Miguel Perez is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years Dianne (Simonson); his son Joseph (wife Diane); his daughter Jacqueline Stanley (husband Algywn); His son John (wife Debbie); multiple grandchildren and great grandchildren; his sister Hilda Pulido (husband Humberto) and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Julian and Celia.
Services for Mike will be private at his request.
In lieu of cards and flowers the family asked for donations to be made in his name to the Grayslake Park District Youth Golf program so his passion of bringing youth to the sport may become a legacy.
Donations can be made at:
https://web2.myvscloud.com/wbwsc/ilgrayslakewt.wsc/donation.html
(then select Grant in Aid program)
Or... mail to the Grayslake Park District, 240 Commerce Dr, Grayslake, IL 60030
Competes in USGTF and WGTF Events
Frequently competing in USGTF and WGTF Events
Experience
Over 30 years of experience

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