Michael was my first ju-jitsu sensei, instilling in me a love and deep appreciation of the martial arts.  Thank you, Michael.

Remembering and speaking his name keeps him with us. I didn’t know Michael very well but the times we met and spoke will always be remembered with affection.

Michael this day is as hard as the day I heard you passed so many times I wanted to reach out to you this past year and it said me that you weren’t there. I know you’re at peace and I miss you until we meet again. Love you.
Denise

Soke was my teacher, friend and Mentor since last 1980s I loved him like a father/ he would always say more like an Older Brother because I’m not that old lol and then give me a light smack in the back of the head and laugh. 

He was an incredible Martial Artist , amazing human being and he meant the world to me. 

On the 22nd will be his Birthday and it will be so strange not to call him and wish him the best on this special day as I have for decades. 

You are missed Soke, more than words will ever express, but just know, your teaching and lessons are eternal and carry on through all of us, you trusted enough to teach. Your legacy is continued through the Honbu Dojo under the tutelage of Chris S, Ed S, Jorge E, the one and only Rocky and of course Frank B and all of us who continue to support your Memory.

God Bless and may you enjoy the peace you have earned through the unbelievable person you were. Love you Soke and Happy Birthday on the 22nd Feb.

Hanshi Tim Henry and Sensei Martha Henry Combat Jujutsu Canada 🇨🇦

I was 15 in 1976 when I was in Michael's class. I studied under him for a year. My mom and aunt received their black belt with Michael. Michael you are very much loved by us and so very missed Rest in sweet heaven. You were a beautiful sole then and always .
Love, Lizzy.

In the 1990s my father and I attended the Karate College in Roanoke VA. We loved the lessons we learned from Mr. Michael Depasquale Jr and from his father Mr. Michael Depasquale Sr. Every year we attended we always looked forward to classes with them. Thank you for sharing your expertise and gift of the Martial arts with all of us. My Condolences to the Depasquale family.

From the Holt family in Hillsboro Illinois.

I knew Mike from 1984 until 2023. He was a great friend and inspiration. I also remember his mom and dad, and they were great people, whom I also miss. Mike published many articles I wrote for his magazine Karate International Health and Fitness, and I was also a featured Guest Instructor at a number of Martial Arts University
programs in Radford University, Virginia, and in upper New York State. I will mourn his loss every day! He was a patriot and a wonderful human being. 

I'm so sorry to hear of Michael's passing, way too soon. RIP.  My mother Elfie was good friends with Michael's mother Josephine.  I enjoyed viewing Michael's facebook posts over the years. His dedication and attention to Joe was evident and lovely. God bless. 

He was a true martial artist who showed honor and respect and was willing to share his knowledge and life with others. I could count on him to personally respond to questions and to always offer encouragement and his best. I always looked forward to seeing him share his latest videos and tips and admired his dedication to visiting his friend/brother, Myron, and always bringing his favorite food. God Bless You! Michael DePasquale Jr.. | John 3:16 | Proverbs 3:5,6,7

We were so sad to hear about the passing of Soke Michael DePasquale Jr last week. He did a wonderful job doing child safety demos at Joan's Joy events through the years with his contagious energy and had such a positive impact on so many.   He also taught my sons for three years.   Sending love and prayers. Rosemarie D'Alessandro

Soke was my neighbor and karate teacher. I was very surprised that he passed so soon. Soke taught about being respectful and disciplined. He had a positive outlook on life despite his unfortunate situation over the last few years. I send my condolences and may he rest in peace 🥀.

I was fortunate to know Michael when I lived in 
River Vale.  My dog Bones and his Brookie were best of friends, and we often were out walking our dogs at the same time.  He was a kind and thoughtful man.  His untimely passing is very sad, but I will always remember him.  My condolences go out to his family and friends.  

I am so sorry for the loss of Mike. Mike was a long time friend of my husband Gary Goodell. I recently saw him on one of my walks thru the neighborhood. He was a wonderful friend. He will be missed. 
Thoughts and prayers to you Tony. 
Judith Goodell

I just "stumbled" onto the news of Grandmaster Di Pasquale's passing.
My belated condolences his family, friends, and students.
May he RIP.

Very sorry for the loss of a great man. My deepest condolences to his family. Soke was an inspiration to me and I will cherish the time I was able to spend with him for the rest of my life. 

Thank you Soke for being a part of my life. You are dearly missed,

God Bless,

Henry Agri

I've known Mike since the 3rd Grade. I last saw him at a high school reunion, I think our 40th.  Mike never judged people, even early on in grammar school when it was common to pick on classmates. When I last saw him, he had barely changed. He always looked fit to me.  He passed too soon and he will be missed.

Soke Michael DePasquale Jr. touched so many lives in the very best way. I’m grateful I got the chance to know him as a Martial Artist. Michael Sr. Came  to our dojo and we went to the dojo in River Vale as well. They both will be missed. My sincerest condolences to the family. May he Rest In Peace 🙏🏻
Student
Ni Dan
Kearny Martial Arts
 

In addition to being an exceptional Martial Artist, Michael was a Gentleman and a fine person. He always made others feel welcomed and genuinely cared for people.
He will be greatly missed. My heartfelt condolences and sympathy to his family and friends.





Oh, only for so short a while you
have loaned us to each other,
because we take form in your act of drawing us,
and we take life in your painting us,
and we breathe in your singing us.

But only for so short a while
have you loaned us to each other.
Because even a drawing cut in obsidian fades,
and the green feathers, the crown feathers,
of the Quetzal bird lose their color,
and even the sounds of the waterfall
die out in the dry season.

So, we too, because only for a short while
have you loaned us to each other.

The first time I saw Soke, he was on a raised stage in an auditorium packed full of Martial Artists being thrown by his father. The grand masters and energy in that big room was an amazing thing.  Years later when we moved to Old Tappan I was very happy to find that we had moved very close to his dojo. 

I will never forget how warmly he welcomed me as a dojo brother. I attended a few BB classes and would stop by to catch-up from time to time, talking in his office about Martial Arts, technology or his current project. His commitment and genuine passion in all things was so contagious that it never failed to recharge my spirit.  I would leave with some of the energy from that auditorium and remain appreciative to this day for what he brought into my life. 

We were also blessed that as our children grew old enough they were able to train with Soke, reinforcing their healthy attitudes toward life while keeping it real. Michael touched our children’s lives in a way that we will never forget and we are appreciative of that from the bottom of our hearts. 

Soke’s passing is a great loss to the community.  He touched the lives of so many people as an active member of the community, in addition to the parents and children he worked with. His actions showed how much he cared.

Our prayers are with the DePasquale family and please accept sincerest condolences. We love you Soke. RIP

The Kricheff Family,
David, Bernadette, Sarah & Seth


I first met Michael at the Bleshman School when their dojo was in the gymnasium there. He and his dad were the best instructors and friends anyone could ask for. I subsequently was privileged to be the family dentist for Michael, his mom, dad and brother Arnie. Michael and his family were not only amazing martial artists, they were brilliant human beings. Whether it was history, politics, music, pop culture ….  any subject , Michael could have an enlightened conversation with you and tell you facts you never heard before. And most importantly, Michael was a humanitarian who was always “giving back”, helping and educating others. 
 Michael will be sorely missed by all who knew him, especially me.

Soke Michael trained me for most of my childhood and was a tremendous mentor for me. I was fortunate enough to run into him as an adult at Best Buy a few years back and chat about how each of us was doing as well as updating him on my career path and my time in college. He was an amazing man and will be missed dearly. 

Rest in peace Mike 🙏🦋🌷
I have many memories of you  And you dad teaching my son not only martial arts, but confidence, morals,  and general  life skills. 

I will never forget that You taught the kids to make their bed every day to start the day right. 
I think of you  whenever I am temped to run out of the house before making my own bed…

I will also never forget bring an “extra” with my son and his friend in one of your many martial arts movies.  It was an experience to remember. 

Then we became neighbors.  You always stopped to say hello to us when passing on the street.    
You touched the lives of so many.  A life well lived. 


My condolences to the family.  He will be greatly missed.
Soke Kenneth Winthrop  Mi Yama Ryu Kempo JuJutsu


Dear Tony, Antonia and family,
What a heartbreaking time for your family. Michael was such a great guy, and he will be missed. Please know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time. 
Love, 
Lois and Tom 

What people might not know is that Brooke Shields's tutor while she was studying at Columbia University use to train with us. He then introduced Brooke to the family. I have found memories of this because often I was included as a family member.

So much great training to last a lifetime!

The level of training we all had at the Closter Dojo together set the bar for how a Dojo family should be!

Mike, I will miss and cherish these classes and times we had together. I know that your students will do their best to continue the training onwards into the future.

I deeply cherish all the private time our families shared together in your home with you, your brother Arnold, and your mom and dad. It was meant to be that your dad took me under his wing when my uncle lived right across the backyard from your family home!

Mike and I were students of Pascack Valley High School, 1967 - 1971.

Mike was a good human being as was his father from whom I learned some of my martial arts while a student of Bergen Community College, Paramus, NJ.   His father had his DoJo, in Cloister, NJ.

Bother Father and Son were kind, thoughtful and considerate.  I never heard Mike speak a bad word of  anyone or of anything while in HS.

I wish Mike Peace and enjoined with his family members who have already predeceased him!

Rest in peace Michael your next door newborn. Jimmulcahy

A huge loss to the world martial arts community.  Soke was a true gentleman.  I am blessed to have met him and to have studied and taught his system of Yoshitsune for many years.  My sincerest condolences to his family and students and many friends around the world.  RIP great master sir.

Soke Mike, 
You will be greatly missed by all in the Martial arts community.  My prayers are for your family and friends.  Rest in peace. 

Michael Samu 

No son ever loved his mother more than you Soke. 
I know you left us Sunday to spend Mothers Day with her again. God Bless

THANKS FOR GIVING US ALL THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND GROW AT YOUR AMAZING EVENTS SOKE.

Thanks Sensei for giving me my 1st teaching position under you at your MARTIAL ARTS UNIVERSITY

My thoughts and prayers are with Michael’s family. A great man, a great friend, great father and grandfather.

A great Grandmaster of his art and teacher to so many. May you rest in eternal peace Soke Depasquale🙏🏻.

Love you brother!
You'll be greatly missed. 
💔🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

Sincere condolences to the family of Michael Depasquale Jr.  For those of us who had an opporunity to train with him, this is absolutely stunning and a huge loss.  He was a model for behavior, attitude and spirit for all humans but particularly for martial artists.  He was truly cut out of a special piece of cloth.  Kind wishes and healing to Michael's loved ones and to all who trained with him and are feeling this loss.

To the family of Michael,

My sincere condolences- we were across the street neighbors from when we moved onto Tiffany in 1963.  I have fond memories of the entire family, but especially Michael,  and we all played together when we were younger.  He always had a smile on his face.
  May he rest in peace.

Marla O. Collins

OBITUARY

Michael J. DePasquale, Jr.

February 22, 1953 – May 14, 2023

Becker Funeral Home

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