Michael Theodore Duda

Michael was born on August 27, 1944 in Adams, MA to the late Theodore (Ted) Duda and Madeline (Isabella) Duda.

Michael attended Notre Dame grammar school and graduated from St. Joseph high school in 1962, both in Adams, MA.

He enlisted in the Navy in 1965 along with his friend Peter Swift, and served in Vietnam under the navel support activity (Chu Lai) with an honorable discharge in 1969. Upon returning home to Adams, MA, Michael went on to graduate from North Adams State College in 1974.

His love of a good dining experience may have come from working in the food industry for many many years. Michael worked for Berkshire Frosted Foods, US Foods, Kraft, Alliant Food, and many other prominent companies in the food industry. While working in the food industry Michael met and became great friends with Mike Gellela and Billy Nelson. Michael was a lifetime member of the VFW and loved a good political debate as long as you shared the same view as him. He had a passion for numerous sports and was a long time member of the Berkshire Hills Country Club in Pittsfield, MA and The Cypress Woods Country Club in Naples, FL. When he wasn’t golfing, you could find him watching college football, especially if Notre Dame was playing. During baseball season he and his life partner Joyce Silber both loved watching and rooting for their favorite team, the New York Yankees.

His retirement years were spent with Joyce spending time in the Berkshires, and he never missed his annual trip to the Saratoga Race Track with their good friends Johnny and Carlene Butler of Adams, MA. In Naples, FL they enjoyed all types of cultural events and dining out with their good friends Cheryl and Rodney Bemis, and many other special friends from The Cypress Wood’s Country Club Community.

Michael’s interest in the Native American culture was how he garnered his nicknames, “The Rooster”, “The Big Cheese”, “The Chief”, and “The Man in Charge”.

Mikes love of travel pushed him to visit all 50 states, the Caribbean, Europe, the Far East, and to his final trip of a lifetime to Africa.

He is survived by his life partner Joyce Silber and her family Brenda and Rick Wilbur, Sandra and Jerry Lyon, Brian Bink, Chris and Kelsey Wilbur, Nick and Leigh Wilbur, and his great grandson Mason Wilbur.

Mike cherished his time with his furry friends, Oliver, Louie, and his beloved new puppy, Bandit.

He leaves behind his cousins, Sandy Gamari (Mike) CT, Sheila Kowalski (Norm) NY, Susan Davin NH, Mark Chittenden (Laurie) Adams,MA; his Godson, Matthew Chittenden (Barbara) of FL; his lifelong friends, Peter and GiGi Swift of Naples, FL; Johnny and Carlene Butler of Adams, MA; Michael and Claudine Gelella of PA; Billy and Christine Nelson of Palm Coast, FL; and his many friends and neighbors in The Cypress Woods Community. Predeceased by cousin Marty Chittenden.

Funeral Service will be 11:30 am Tuesday April 27, 2021 at Saint Agnes Church 7775 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples FL and burial will be the following day at the Sarasota National Cemetery.