During his time as media relations manager for D. Michael Collins’ 2009 and 2013 mayoral campaigns, Matt Zaleski once made the mistake of calling Collins a “former Marine.”
“One thing that Mike was very proud of was his service as a Marine,” Zaleski said. “He made the point to [tell me], ‘There is no such thing as a former Marine.’”
Last week, while visiting Collins in the hospital, Zaleski took his mentor by the hand and whispered in his ear: “Get well, Marine. You’ve got work to do.”
“It was a very emotional moment for me,” Zaleski said.
Zaleski met Collins in the 1970s, when Collins taught criminal justice at St. Francis de Sales High School, where Zaleski was a student.
Collins also previously taught at the University of Toledo and Lourdes University. As an educator, Collins would bring humor to the classroom.
“He actually did have a sense of humor and it came out in certain environments,” Zaleski said.
Zaleski said Collins taught his St. Francis students how to avoid being victims of crime, something Zaleski has carried with him for 40 years.
Zaleski looked to Collins as an inspiration throughout his adult life. The two met up to play racquetball and golf a few times and Collins even attended Zaleski’s wedding.
“He was a mentor and was looking out for me, I could tell,” Zaleski said. “Now I just hope he looks out for me from above.”
As a politician, Zaleski said Collins never stopped.
“He was always going,” Zaleski said. “He once told me, ‘I may not be the smartest guy in the room, but I’m going to be the hardest working in the room.’ That’s the way he was.”
Zaleski said Collins loved going door to door and talking to people.
“Mike was a guy who loved to get out and meet people,” Zaleski said. “He was 69 years old when he was running and he would outwork the 20-year-old volunteers.”
Zaleski said he last spoke to Collins on Jan. 29 and the two talked about whether or not he would run for mayor again. The two were making plans to work together in the future.
Zaleski said he hopes people remember Collins for his leadership.
“He had almost a watchdog mentality,” Zaleski said. “Don’t forget that this man spent 26 years as a police officer … kicking in doors and doing some of the most dangerous jobs.”
