Obituary of Dr. Michael Joseph Packevicz

Dr. Michael Joseph Packevicz, Jr., age 52, beloved husband of Anne Wolfe Packevicz, took his last breath on earth and his first in Heaven on Saturday, September 17, 2016 at his home in Trumbull. He was born in New Haven on January 18, 1964, the son of Barbara Belmonte Carroll and Michael Joseph Packevicz of Branford. Mike grew up in Branford, attended high school and graduated from Choate Rosemary Hall. At Choate he distinguished himself as captain of the football and track teams, president of the student council, and was honored by both students and faculty with the top two senior prizes, the Seal Prize for outstanding contribution to the school and the Aurelian Honor Society Award for leadership, scholarship and character and the Seymour St. John Award for greatest contribution to athletics. Mike was a National Merit Scholarship Commended Scholar and member of the Cum Laude Society. After graduating with a B.A. in History from Yale College, where he sang in the Living Water Christian a capella group, Mike responded to God’s call on his life to teach English in China with English Language Institute/China (ELIC). He taught at Yangzhou Teacher’s College from 1989 to 1991, served for seven years as an English teacher and coach at Cheshire Academy back in Connecticut, and then returned to China with his wife and children where he taught English, trained teachers, and served as the Curriculum Director for ELIC in Beijing until 2013. Mike earned an M.A. in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) from UConn and a Ph.D. from UConn’s Neag School of Education. Upon returning to Connecticut, Mike joined the staff of Yale-China Association as Director of Health Programs from 2014 until his passing. Tributes have poured in from around the world, attesting to Mike’s impact on so many people. He is remembered as a big man with a big laugh that filled the room with enjoyment and a big heart that filled the people around him with warmth and compassion. Mike’s Christian faith was the foundation of his life and glorifying God by sharing his unconditional love was his life mission. He loved to spend time with his family, cheer on his children at soccer and basketball games, sing with his father in the Connecticut Yankee Chorus, and simply sit with friends over a good meal, a strong cup of coffee, or a good glass of wine. Hospitality, compassion, deep and meaningful conversation, and laughter were the hallmarks of this man after God’s own heart. He will be deeply missed by his wife, children, parents, siblings, and all who were privileged to know him. In addition to Mike’s loving wife Anne of 23 years, he leaves four cherished children, Isabel, Gabe, Nate and Tommy, parents Barbara Carroll of New Haven, Michael Packevicz Sr. (Sharon) of Branford, two sisters, Lynda Potter (Kevin) of Madison, Jen Packevicz of North Guilford, mother-in-law, Kathy Wolfe of Davenport, IA and nine brothers- and sisters-in-law as well as many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a son, Michael Joseph Packevicz, III. Friends may greet the family on Thursday, September 22, 2016 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Calvary Evangelical Free Church, 498 White Plains Rd., Trumbull. A Memorial Service and Celebration of Mike’s life will be held on Saturday, September 24, 2016 at 4:30 p.m. at Black Rock Congregational Church, 3685 Black Rock Turnpike, Fairfield. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Mike Packevicz Memorial Education Fund at Christian Heritage School at 575 White Plains Road, Trumbull, CT 06611. To leave an online condolence, visit www.caringbridge.org/visit/mikepackevicz or www.abriola.com