Michael Sackin crooned to Dean Martin’s music all his life — until throat cancer robbed him of his ability to sing.

The 63-year-old Skyview Towers resident now talks through a voice prosthesis implanted in his throat, and although he no longer can sing along, he vows he always will be an avid fan of the late, great Martin.

It was Sackin’s lifelong love of Martin’s music and comedy routines that led him to his wife, Diana, seven years ago. They went on a blind date to see a Dean Martin impersonator in Ellwood City and fell in love.

Now recovering from a fifth throat cancer operation and removal of his larynx, Sackin will celebrate his sixth wedding anniversary with his wife by traveling via limousine to Martin’s birthplace in Steubenville, Ohio, to attend the Dean Martin Festival.

A proposal to send the couple to the event was chosen as the winning entry in the Pay It Forward contest sponsored by Hartman and conducted by the New Castle News .

The entry was submitted by Sandra DelPrincipe.

BIG SURPRISE

The Sackins learned about the trip Tuesday when Hartman and two New Castle News staffers went to their home to present the $2,000 prize money to DelPrincipe.

“Mike can’t believe what’s happening,” his overjoyed wife said. “We’re so thankful. I’ve never ridden in a limo. We’ll feel like kings and queens.”

The only person more thrilled and appreciative is Sackin himself. He saw Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra live in concert in Las Vegas many years ago, he said, and has always wanted to attend the tribute to his biggest music idol.

The news of the Steubenville trip came after more than five months of suffering last year when he was fed through a tube.

The Sackins avoided social and family gatherings during that time, so the sight and smell of food would not torment him.

Sackin, who loves to cook, makes his own pizza and spaghetti sauce, but was prevented from doing so while he was sick.

When he saw watermelon on sale at Sav-A-Lot this week, his mouth watered. He bought one because he loves it so much and didn’t have any last summer, Diana explained.