Obituary for Michael Estabrook
Michael Wayne Estabrook, 74, passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack on Wednesday May 11, 2023 with his wife Patricia by his side.
Mike is survived by his wife Patricia (75); children David (47), Laura (45) and Robin (41); son-in-law Christopher Lynett (46) and daughter-in-law Michelle Estabrook (44); grandchildren Brooke (18), Connor (16), Avery (14), Brielle (11) and Brysen (6) and brother Todd Estabrook.
Mike is preceded in death by his parents Robert and Muriel and brother Kerry.
Mike was born on Staten Island, NY, grew up in New Jersey and was the son of a mechanic. Mike had two brothers and at the age of 15 lost his father, which meant he grew up quickly and became the role model for others. This instilled a life of passion and he aspired to be the best person he could be.
Mike had an unshakeable love for his wife of 53 years. They started dating when they were both 16, and he would often say how he had the best partner in the world (and he wanted everyone to know it). Their devotion to each other is nothing short of remarkable.
Second to his love for his wife, children and grandchildren was his passion for knowledge. He believed your mind is a muscle and needs to be worked everyday by learning new things. He graduated from college and quickly entered the workforce. Mike made a point to not let work define him so he continually went to school and earned two master’s degree, a degree from Harvard extension school and a Ph.D.
His extensive poetry collection and writings were often within arm’s reach. He was always found with a pen in hand, writing down his thoughts. Even up to his last moments, he asked his granddaughter for a journal so he could write what the doctors were saying and, of course, jotted down notes of endearment to his wife. He is a published poet and wrote incessantly. On his hospital bed, one of his last written poems was an ode to his wife:
I’m a happy man
my Girl spent her life
with me.
See you on the other
side Honey.
I love you always have
always will.
His love for the arts was so palpable it impacted those around him. From taking his son and daughter in-law to Shakespeare plays to taking his daughter and son in-law to the opera to making sure his grandchildren had books with every birthday he wanted everyone to experience what life has to offer. He was a frequent visitor to the MFA, the theatre and art galleries. His passion extended to genealogy, the volumes of books in his home is proof he was able to track back to the beginning of his family line.
He was taken from us too soon. Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers for Mike and the Estabrook Family.
Mike is survived by his wife Patricia (75); children David (47), Laura (45) and Robin (41); son-in-law Christopher Lynett (46) and daughter-in-law Michelle Estabrook (44); grandchildren Brooke (18), Connor (16), Avery (14), Brielle (11) and Brysen (6) and brother Todd Estabrook.
Mike is preceded in death by his parents Robert and Muriel and brother Kerry.
Mike was born on Staten Island, NY, grew up in New Jersey and was the son of a mechanic. Mike had two brothers and at the age of 15 lost his father, which meant he grew up quickly and became the role model for others. This instilled a life of passion and he aspired to be the best person he could be.
Mike had an unshakeable love for his wife of 53 years. They started dating when they were both 16, and he would often say how he had the best partner in the world (and he wanted everyone to know it). Their devotion to each other is nothing short of remarkable.
Second to his love for his wife, children and grandchildren was his passion for knowledge. He believed your mind is a muscle and needs to be worked everyday by learning new things. He graduated from college and quickly entered the workforce. Mike made a point to not let work define him so he continually went to school and earned two master’s degree, a degree from Harvard extension school and a Ph.D.
His extensive poetry collection and writings were often within arm’s reach. He was always found with a pen in hand, writing down his thoughts. Even up to his last moments, he asked his granddaughter for a journal so he could write what the doctors were saying and, of course, jotted down notes of endearment to his wife. He is a published poet and wrote incessantly. On his hospital bed, one of his last written poems was an ode to his wife:
I’m a happy man
my Girl spent her life
with me.
See you on the other
side Honey.
I love you always have
always will.
His love for the arts was so palpable it impacted those around him. From taking his son and daughter in-law to Shakespeare plays to taking his daughter and son in-law to the opera to making sure his grandchildren had books with every birthday he wanted everyone to experience what life has to offer. He was a frequent visitor to the MFA, the theatre and art galleries. His passion extended to genealogy, the volumes of books in his home is proof he was able to track back to the beginning of his family line.
He was taken from us too soon. Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers for Mike and the Estabrook Family.