Michael Walsh

Obituary of Michael B. Walsh

Michael Brian Walsh, 67, of Northampton, MA passed away peacefully with his wife by his side on April 22, 2020 at Cooley Dickinson Hospital after a courageous battle with COVID-19. Son of the late George R. Walsh and Eunice J. (Brown) Walsh, he was born in Nuremberg, Germany on February 2, 1953.  He was raised in Wantaugh, NY and Yarmouth Port, MA and graduated from Dennis-Yarmouth High School, then earned his Nursing Degree in Fayetteville, NC.  His nursing career began at Cape Fear Valley Hospital, and then he went on to work for the Veterans Health Administration for 34 years in both NC and MA.   A champion for Veterans healthcare, he held several positions with increasing responsibility at VA Central Western MA, coordinating the facility’s Joint Commission and other surveys, and serving as Quality Manager when he retired in 2015. Michael had a great love of family. Spending Thanksgiving weekend at the Cape with his family and Christmas with his wife’s family was most important to him.  It was his precious Granddaughters Riley, River, Daisy, and Grace that each stole his heart in their own way.  He loved nothing more than spending “Uppa” time with them, taking them to movies, parks, for walks, for manicures, hosting tea parties, attending school and preschool events, dance recitals, and the like.  They were the highlights of his life in his later years. Mike’s love of singing began in high school Chorus.  Selected as one of three students from D-Y High to join the Concordia Youth Chorale, they spent the summer traveling all over Europe singing in Cathedrals.  His deep Bass voice brought him to sing with various choruses and groups over the years such as The Bear Hill Boys, Hampshire Chorale Society, and Full Contact Singers.  In 1992 he was selected for The VA National Medical Group Chorus and Orchestra that traveled to New York City and performed at Carnegie Hall, following year they performed a Christmas Concert in Washington, DC. Mike had great passion for his Scots heritage and traced his roots back to Coldstream, Berwickshire in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland.  He studied Scots Gaelic.  He enjoyed all things Scottish including a good Single Malt “to be shared with good friends”.  Gaining a vast knowledge of Scottish Single Malts, Mike used his knowledge to host whisky tastings and dinners.  He loved sharing his knowledge and mentoring others.  He served on the board of the Western Mass Highland Games from 1999-2008.  He enjoyed attending Highland Games festivals, especially the New Hampshire Highland Games at Loon Mt. Michael was a genuine, sincere, kind man with great compassion. He helped others whenever he could.  He donated through the Combined Federal Campaign and was involved with Hampshire County United Way for years, including on their board. He volunteered his time with Habitat for Humanity building homes. Michael had a great love for cooking and grilling.  He loved the City of Northampton, the people, the restaurants, especially Fitzwilly’s, Northampton Brewery, and Florence Pie Bar where he would be every Friday morning because “Friday is Pie Day”.  Michael will be missed by all who knew him, including his loving wife, Sherry (Atwell) Walsh, his children Dan Walsh of Greenfield, Shauna (Atwell) Wagher and her husband Adam of New Braintree, Kathleen (Walsh) Castano and Raymond of Yarmouth; his brothers Kevin Walsh of Hyannis, Timothy Walsh and his wife Jody Blackwell of Somerville, and Geoffrey and his wife Betsy Fogarty of Trumbull, CT; his granddaughters River and Daisy Walsh, and their mother Melissa Osborne, Riley and Grace Wagher, and Eliana and Vivian Castano. In addition to his father, he was predeceased by his sister Sharon Walsh of Hyannis. A private burial will be at the convenience of the family.  A larger celebration will occur in the future when it is safe to gather. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts www.foodbankwma.org or the New Hampshire Highland Games & Festival www.nhscot.org. Beers and Story Funeral Home is in charge of all professional services

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