Eugene George Michael

Gene Michael passed away a week after celebrating his 90 th birthday, marking a life filled with the love of family and friends.

A kind and thoughtful man, Gene was proud of his Lebanese heritage and grateful for the opportunities his parents provided him and his brothers to build a good life. He was a devoted brother, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin and friend who supported all with kind words, insights, and a steadfast belief that all things work out in time. Gene enjoyed spending time with family, especially his kids and grandkids. He was a great storyteller and easy conversationalist who always had time to share a story or two and discuss politics and current events. In later years, Gene spent winters in Florida with his brother Ken. He loved a good meal with family and friends alike, recounting childhood memories, and gathering weekly with friends for lunch or coffee in Connecticut and Florida.

Born on September 3, 1934, in Danbury, Connecticut as the eldest son of George Moses Michael and Linda (Khoury) Michael, Gene attended St. Peter School and Danbury High School. The first in his immediate family to attend college, he graduated with a B.S. from Fairfield University and an M.S.W. from Fordham University. Gene began his career working with community improvement agencies in Bridgeport, Connecticut in the 1960s, first as a social worker at Catholic Charities and as a community organizer with Action for Bridgeport Community Development (ABCD). He then served as Executive Director of the Greater Bridgeport Mental Health Council, and as Executive Director of the Southwest Connecticut Health Systems Agency. A social worker at heart with expertise in health planning, Gene later advised Mobil Oil Corporation on health benefit design, and was Senior Planning Advisor for Connecticut Hospice, where he continued to serve as a Board member after his retirement.

Gene is predeceased by his first wife Mary (Furtado) Michael, his second wife Kathleen (Mitchell) Michael, and his youngest son, Gregory Michael. He is survived by his sons, David E. Michael (and his wife, Hanh Michael, of Fairfax, VA, and their children Andrea Michael and Olivia Michael) and Douglas Michael (and his wife, Kimberly Childs, of Bar Harbor, ME, and their children Gabriel Childs Michael and Isabella Childs Michael); his daughter-in-law Wendi Michael of Trumbull, CT (and her children Zachary Michael, Ellery Michael, and Camryn Michael); his brothers, Msgr. Kenneth A. Michael of Greenacres, FL and Robert J. Michael (and his wife, Adriana Michael, of Sun Lakes, AZ, and their children Melissa Amooi and Megan Block); and several nieces and nephews. He also is survived by Lori Eller Fetizanan (and her husband, Pat Fetizanan, of Delray Beach, FL, and sons Jesse and Jake Eller), Scott Kendall, and Todd Kendall, the children of Kathleen Michael.

A private interment will be held at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Fairfield, CT by his sons and families. A Celebration of Life is planned for May 31, 2025, details forthcoming.