Michael J. Deacy Obituary
Michael Joseph Deacy, 64, passed away on May 9, 2025, at Notre Dame Health and Rehabilitation Center in Norwalk, CT, after a 7-year battle with a rare disease, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). Michael was born in NYC and raised in the Woodlawn section of the Bronx. He was the son of the late John and Frances (Monaghan) Deacy.
Michael attended St. Barnabas followed by Bronx High School of Science ('78) and Bernard Baruch College ('84) where he earned a BBA/MBA in Operations Research and had a 30-year career in the technology field. He earned his PMP certification in 2018.
Michael is survived by his wife, Maureen (Gould) Deacy and two daughters, Mairead and Siobhan and his future son in-law, Charles Gaglione. Michael and Maureen married in 1986 and moved from the Bronx to New Rochelle, NY and in 1991 to Wilton, CT where they raised their family. Michael played an integral part in the community and in his daughters' lives from coaching their soccer teams from kindergarten on, attending many girl scout dances, served on the WSA Soccer Board, taught CCD at Our Lady of Fatima and volunteered his technology services at the School Sisters of Notre Dame and his final, selfless act, of donating his brain to the Mayo Clinic via Curepsp.org, in order to help science and medicine to learn more about PSP in hopes of a cure someday.
Michael had a rock-solid religious faith that carried him through the difficulties and struggles of PSP. He handled the awful disease with grace and strength that was a true inspiration to all that knew him. He never, ever said a bad word about anyone and always saw the good in all. His kind, gentle nature, and infectious laugh has been enjoyed by so many people. When PSP took his ability to talk, laugh and smile, he managed to communicate with everyone with his "famous" thumbs up response or his special clenched heart-hands to convey to his wife and daughters' his love for them, every time he saw them. Michael impacted so many people by his courageousness, that has given others hope, when all hope seems lost.
In addition to the loves of his life, Maureen, Siobhan, Mairead, his siblings, nieces, nephews, playing the guitar and turtles, his other loves in life consisted of music, many genres, including, but not limited to, Rock-n-Roll; Irish, Blues and Big Band. He enjoyed the outdoors and activities such as skiing; biking; gardening and swimming in the ocean. He and his wife loved to travel and enjoyed the simplicity of hanging out with each other in front of a fire or watching the ocean while enjoying a martini and listening to their favorite tunes. He loved surrounding himself with family and friends.
Michael is also survived by his loving family, Mary (Deacy) and Nicolas Havouis of Paris, France; John Deacy and predeceased wife, Jen Gormley, of Norwalk, CT, Eileen Deacy and George Benack of Millwood, NY; Kathleen (Deacy) and Dr. Jimmy Bowers of NYC, NY, and Patricia (Deacy) and Geoff Hawkins of Manhattan Beach, CA; his mother-in-law, Maureen (Fitzgibbon) Gould Udo, residing at Notre Dame Health and Rehabilitation Center in Norwalk, CT; his in-laws; Kerri (Gould) and Richard Reynolds of Bellevue, WA; Scotty and Kay Gould of Toms River, NJ; Jennifer (Vittorio) Gould of Bronx, NY and predeceased in-laws, Gary Gould and Colleen Gould.
Michael is also survived by 4 nieces; 12 nephews; 3 grand nieces, 3 grand nephews and 1 grandpug.
Michael was a kind, gentle, extremely intelligent, humble man with a quiet, very funny sense of humor. His devotion to his family and his Catholic faith meant the world to him. He truly lived his life as a Christian and his faith in God never wavered.
We wish to extend our heartfelt appreciation to family and friends who showed up in so many ways, especially during these last several years, as he continued to suffer with PSP. He was always so appreciative of everyone, and we know he went straight to heaven and will continue to watch over all of us. He knows that Maureen and his girls will continue to receive the love and support of their family and friends which will enable him to rest easy.
The family would like to extend their sincerest gratitude to all those that provided wonderful, compassionate care, love and support throughout the years of his disease who made his day-to-day life more manageable. The caregiving journey started at home, in 2021 with Nicole (Woros) McErlain for 18 months, followed by RVNA of Ridgefield, CT for one year. Michael, Maureen, and Mairead, had the spiritual journey of a lifetime, in 2023, when they were treated to unbelievable care, support and love, that cannot properly be put into words, when they travelled to Lourdes, France with the Order of Malta. Finally, the last 15 months of his life, where he received such wonderful care from the entire Notre Dame Health and Rehabilitation Center staff as well as Constellation Hospice staff for nine months.
His family will receive friends on Monday from 4 to 8 PM at the Magner Funeral Home, 12 Mott Avenue, Norwalk. A Roman Catholic Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Church, 229 Danbury Rd, Wilton, CT. A celebration of life luncheon will immediately follow and will be announced during the mass.
Memorial donations, in his name, may be made to: Notre Dame SSTV Capital Improvement Fund, 76 West Rocks Road, Norwalk, CT 06851 or Curepsp.org.
