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In Memoriam

Nina Therese Massa - Class Of 1980

Nina Therese Massa

Nina Therese Massa, daughter of Gerald Ralph "Jerry" (1931-2011) and Marilyn (Kleimola) Massa, was born 4 February 1962, Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan.  She graduated in 1980 from Okemos High School and went on to attend Arizona State University, Tempe, Maricopa County, Arizona.  Nina was killed while riding her bike by a hit-and-run driver 7 September 1981, Tempe.  She was interred St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Lansing.

Arizona Republic (Phoenix, Arizona) Tuesday 8 September 1981

Deaths on Arizona streets and highways reached four by early Monday night when a 19-year-old bicyclist was killed in Tempe by a hit-and-run driver.

Investigators said Nina Therese Massa of 3217 S. College in Tempe was found dead at the scene shortly after a car struck the rear of her bicycle at Balboa Drive and College Avenue.

Authorities said Ms. Massa was riding south bound on College Avenue at 12:45 a.m. when the car struck her bicycle, throwing her into a telephone pole.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Wednesday 9 September 1981

NINA THERESE MASSA

2430 KEWANEE DR.

OKEMOS

Age 19, died Sept. 7, 1981 in Tempe, Arizona.  Born Feb. 4, 1962 in Lansing, Miss Massa attended St. Thomas Aquinas Elementary School and was a graduate of Okemos High School in 1980.  She participated in cheerleading, volleyball, basketball and softball while in high school.  She was the senior Home Coming Queen and was chosen as Student of the Month by the Okemos Kiwanis Club.  She was presently a sophomore at Arizona State University.  Surviving are her parents, Mr. & Mrs. Gerald R. Massa of Okemos; 2 brothers, Damian M. Massa, attending Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant; Darryl R. Massa, attending Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona; 1 sister, Lisa J. Massa, attending Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant; grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. Matt M. Kleimola of Ironwood, Mich. and Ralph C. Massa of Bessemer, Mich.; great grandmother, Mrs. Anton Massa of Norway.  The Mass of the Christian Burial will be held Fri. 11 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 955 Alton Rd., East Lansing with the Rt. Rev. Jerome V. MacEachin and Rev. Andrew Czajkowski concelebrant.