Michael Joseph Walsh

Michael Joseph “Joe” Walsh, 91, was born on January 19, 1932 and died on October 30, 2023. He was the fifth of ten children born to parents, Michael Walsh and Bridget (Canavan) Walsh in Pittsburgh, PA. In addition to his parents, Joe was predeceased by his siblings – John, Mary, Tom, Eugene, Martin, Jimmy, Charlie, and Paul.

Joe is survived by his wife, Patricia Walsh, of Sarasota, FL, daughter, Linda Walsh (Kurt Stiefvater) of Glen Allen, VA, and a sister, Betty Bochneak of Los Angeles, CA. Also surviving Joe are grandchildren, Darin Stiefvater (Allison Bartlett) of Williamsburg, VA, and Reed Stiefvater of Telluride, CO, one great-grandchild, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Amid the Great Depression, Joe grew up in a large close-knit Irish Catholic family that taught him the importance of self-reliance and ambition. He began working at the age of 9 selling newspapers on the corner in urban Pittsburgh. He served in the US Army for 3 years and then earned a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. Joe spent much of his engineering career at the Westinghouse Corporation designing electrical control systems for major industries – particularly devoting himself to projects such as nuclear energy, naval warships, mass transit, and nuclear propulsion-type rocket engines.

Joe spent many leisure hours watching sports, particularly his beloved Pittsburgh teams – the Steelers, Pirates, and Pitt Panthers. He also enjoyed playing tennis, golf, open water swimming, highly competitive bridge games, reading mysteries, and he was an avid gardener at one time. He enjoyed traveling with his family and after moving to Florida – a lot of time on the beach. Joe had a special enthusiasm for playing in the sand and water with all of the children in the family who shared in his playfulness and joy.

Joe’s family will remember him and admire him for his wonderful smile, his infectious enthusiasm, his keen intellect, hard work, humility, quiet confidence, and especially his love for his family.

A viewing will be held for the public at Robert Toale & Sons Funeral Home at 170 Honore Ave in Sarasota from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 3. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at Incarnation Catholic Church on Saturday November 4 at 10:00 a.m. with burial following at noon.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmsrobartsfuneralhome.com for the Walsh family.