Vernon Gerard Michaud, our beloved father, passed away peacefully on March 26, 2017, after a courageous seven-year battle with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), a rare neurological disease. The disease became more of a struggle for him after the death of his dear wife, Trudy. Dad was a quiet and reserved man of many interests and talents. He held a connection to the world around him in both the physical and the spiritual. His personal interests included houseplants and gardening, cooking for others, carving walking sticks, leather crafting and beadwork, Native American art and heritage, donating blood as often as possible, travelling and exploring the world, reading, playing cards with friends, and supporting the Boy Scouts of America. Both Vern and Trudy had a generous nature and loved to shower gifts on those to whom they were connected and to those in need. Vern had a varied career. After spending time abroad in the military, his life’s work began as a draftsman, working his way up to design engineer for miniature cable and communications infrastructure. For many years he also worked double-shifts as a limousine driver in support of his sons’ college educations. He continued with this work long after his boys graduated for the sheer joy of meeting the people he drove, and to fund his and Trudy’s travel goals. Although he was a humble man, he was unique and easily recognizable in a crowd. His sparkling blue eyes, beret, and handlebar mustache were his signature features and truly expressed his character. The Christmas season was a special time for him, when he grew out his white beard and wore a red hat, becoming ‘Santa’ for the countless children that he encountered as he went about his daily routine. He was a deeply religious man rooted to the Roman Catholic faith. As a true testament to his character many friends and relatives requested his services as godparent to their children. They entrusted their children to him (and to Trudy) to benefit from his gentle love and guidance in this life and beyond if needed. Vernon was born on Aug. 16, 1943, the only child of Joseph ‘Guy’ and Jeanne Gagnon Michaud. He leaves his children Raymond (Lucy), and Michael (Dodi). He also leaves behind his niece Mary Mordecai Algiere, who went out of her way to oversee his well being and medical care for many years, and many other family members and friends who he has touched throughout his life. We give many thanks to his live-in caretaker Alla Grigoryan for her devotion to his welfare, and whom Vern also considered a friend, and to the many individuals at the Branford CT Hospice center who did a remarkable job to support both Vern and his family during a difficult time. All are truly appreciated.

 

His funeral procession will leave the North Haven Funeral Home 36 Washington Avenue, Friday morning at 9:30. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated in the Church of the Resurrection at 10:00. Interment will follow in St. Lawrence Cemetery. The visiting hours will be Thursday from 5 to 8 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Brain Support Network, P.O. Box 7264, Menlo Park, CA 94026. Vern lived his life in service of others, and he was well loved by all who had the opportunity to spend time with him. He will be missed dearly by all whose lives he touched. Because of the rarity of the disease that took him, Vern’s family has decided to donate his tissues to Multiple System Atrophy research in his memory. We hope that in doing this he will continue to help others in death, as he so loved to do in life.