Michael K. Wall

Michael was born on January 21, 1951 in Paget, Bermuda to Elizabeth and Walter Wall. He was their oldest child and only son, soon followed by two younger sisters, Doreen and Marilyn. He spent an idyllic childhood in Bermuda; he loved boating, fishing, and listening to rock and roll music. He started playing guitar as a teen, hoping to follow one of his idols, Eric Clapton, and joined a band, as their bass guitarist. His enthusiasm for guitars and music never waned even as he got older. As a young adult, after a full day of work, you could find Michael on his boat, puttering around Hamilton Harbor at sunset, sipping his drink of choice, a White Russian.

At 27 years old, Michael started work at World Courier, a worldwide shipping company, and stayed there for 45 years. He had many roles within the organization, but mostly in Information Technology (IT), with the mission of facilitating logistics for organ transplants and clinical trials around the globe.

During his life in Bermuda, Michael had a son, Justin. Then at age 39, World Courier moved their headquarters to Connecticut, taking Michael with them.

Shortly after arriving in the U.S., Michael had dinner one night at the Holiday Inn at JFK Airport. There he struck up a conversation with the restaurant manager, a spitfire from Long Island. Two years later, he and Robin were married.

Robin and Michael’s life together was a busy one. And no one was more surprised than Michael when he found himself raising four children in Connecticut. But family life suited him. He cherished the big family Christmas and Thanksgiving celebrations each year. And while he may not have always seen eye-to-eye with his children, he never wavered in his love for them.

Michael spent most of his working life in IT, which was a great fit for someone who was meticulous about details. He liked spending hours tracing his and Robin’s ancestry. He preferred everything just so and kept detailed records; sometimes it was a struggle to get him to throw anything out.

Though Michael lived in the U.S. for half his life, he never lost his Bermudian accent or his taste for codfish and potatoes, and Christmas cassava pie. A permanent green card holder, but not a U.S. citizen, every election Michael bemoaned his ineligibility to vote, claiming taxation without representation.

As his health faltered in recent years, Michael enjoyed more quality time on the sectional sofa. He was never more content than when his butt was planted in the cushions and watching his beloved Arsenal football club (soccer) while eating Hershey’s Kisses.

Michael is survived by his wife of 32 years, Robin, of Monroe, CT; his sisters Doreen and husband Charles, and Marilyn and husband Anthony, of Bermuda; his mother, Elizabeth Waterston of Bermuda. He leaves behind his children Justin and wife Fiona of Bermuda; Samantha of Bryn Mawr, PA; Mandy of Washington, DC; Aaron of Boston, MA; Lindsey of Boston, MA; and grandchildren Brittney and Danielle of Bermuda.

His family will remember him as a soccer-loving expat, always with a gentle quip, and a never-ending craving for chocolate. He will be greatly missed.

A memorial service for Michael will be held Sunday, September 29, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Spadaccino and Leo P. Gallagher & Son, Community Funeral Home, 315 Monroe Turnpike, Monroe, Connecticut 06468.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Michael’s memory can be made to Halfway Home Animal Rescue: https://halfwayhomerescue.simdif.com/