OBITUARIES 6 comments below
Dr. Michael John Brienza of Brooklyn and Shelter Island passed away on April 10, 2009.
Michael was born on May 2, 1969, to Dr. Gene and Linda Brienza of Brooklyn. He first came to Shelter Island at 8 years of age and developed a life-long love of the outdoors. He participated in the sailing program at the Shelter Island Yacht Club and became an accomplished sailor. At 12, he began power boating, which led to his love of water skiing. Michael was a fitness buff (he was a high school wrestler) and loved running and biking around the Island. His family often joked about his daily personal triathlon, a day on the water followed by a run and a bike ride. Michael was a devout Roman Catholic and attended masses at Our Lady of the Isle and St. Gabriel's. He worked at George's IGA as a teenager.
Michael graduated from Xaverian High School in Brooklyn, Adelphi University and New York University College of Dentistry. After graduating dental school, he completed a one-year general practice residency at Woodhull Hospital and a two-year residency in general anesthesiology at Brookdale Hospital. He entered general practice with his father in July 1997, and had many other affiliations including attending at Brookdale and N.Y. Methodist Hospital, where he was section chief in conscious sedation. Michael was a member of the American Dental Association, Second District Dental Society, Bay Ridge Dental Society (past president), N.Y. State Dental Society of Anesthesiology (president), was a Fellow of the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology and was board certified (by the NDBA).
Michael proudly served his country in the United States Naval Reserves. He attained the rank of commander and was given full military honors at burial. Michael received a number of commendations and awards for his service, including as an expert marksman. As a member of the 4th Dental Battalion and the Navy Dental Corps, he was responsible for ensuring the dental readiness of Marines and sailors deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere around the world. He loved his country, had a strong sense of duty and honor and fully enjoyed the camaraderie of his fellow servicemen.
At NYU, Michael was the American Student Dental Association first delegate, representing his classmates at meetings and conventions throughout the United States. He was also Staff Emergency technician and a member of ZIPZ fraternity. Michael was fluent in Spanish and while attending dental school often studied with a small group of foreign students for whom English was a second language. He maintained his friendships with its members, and became godfather to the first son of one member.
While in college, Michael further developed another one of his passions, the study of his Italian American heritage. After enrolling in a course, “The Italian American Experience,” Michael began investigating and writing about his own family background. Beginning in 1989 and at the invitation of his sociology professor, Dr. Sal Promiggia, Michael became a part of the celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and San Paolino.
Michael was beloved by his many friends and family, who will remember him for his sense of humor, warmth, intelligence and dedication to those he loved. He had a tireless work ethic and a curious, some would say “encyclopedic,” mind that always wanted to learn, teach and help others in any way he could, and still have fun doing it. He was engaged to be married in January 2010.
Michael is survived by his mother, Linda Brienza, father, Dr. Gene Brienza, sister, Jill, brother-in-law, Nick and niece, Zoe Michael.
Gifts in Michael's memory may be given to the Wounded Warrior Project, 7020 AC Skinner Pkwy, Suite 100, Jacksonville, FL 32256 or St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Lillian A. Healy
Lillian Augusta Healy (née Kroepke), originally from the Bronx and also a longtime resident of Bayport and formerly of Shelter Island, died on August 29, 2009. She was 84 years old.
Lillian was a graduate of New Rochelle College, and enjoyed traveling, boating and the beach. Her family and grandchildren were her greatest love. Holiday memories of her delicious apple pies and staying up all night on Christmas Eve with family and friends will be cherished, her family said, as will beautiful sunsets and Thanksgivings on Shelter Island, boat trips and glorious beach days, and the annual family reunions at Skytop.
The family extends its thanks to Lillian's many caregivers: Maria, Lana, Marta, Svitlana, Yaroslava and Marie; her speech therapist Patti; her friends and helpers Albert, Michelle, Roni, Annemarie, Agnes, Martine and Pascale; Carol and John, who brought therapy dogs Noah and Sandee, providing unconditional love and wet kisses when she most needed them.
The children and family and also extend their thanks to the wonderful people at Good Shepherd Hospice and deepest appreciation and heartfelt thanks to Bertha's ministry to Mom during her illness, and to the extended family of friends and supporters who have showered them with love and support through this time.
Lillian was the devoted wife of the late John F. Healy, to whom she was married for 38 years. She was the dearest mother of John (Annemarie), Thomas (Robin), James (Kathleen), the late Daniel, Paul (Susan), Anne Gauvreau (Robert) and Mary Impicciche (Anthony); beloved grandmother of Tracey, Jessica, Lauren, Meg, Michael (Kelly), Shannon (Daniel), Kerri, John Patrick, John Frances, Kimberly, Ryan, Nolan, Nicholas and Kristen and great-grandmother of Keeley and Addison; and loving sister of Robert and sister-in-law Patricia. Lillian will also be deeply missed by many dear friends.
Visitations were held last Sunday and Monday at the Raynor & D'Andrea Funeral Home, West Sayville. A funeral Mass was conducted on September 1 at Our Lady of the Snow RC Church in Blue Point, followed by interment in St. Lawrence Cemetery in Sayville.
The Shelter Island Reporter is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. The Shelter Island Reporter does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not The Shelter Island Reporter. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Service and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.
6 comments found
AtfyVVTWzkK : 5/3/2011
pIvc3I , [url=http://tsvyqezzttdj.com/]tsvyqezzttdj[/url], [link=http://sazfebnmpgzp.com/]sazfebnmpgzp[/link], http://fclksblijmww.com/
hjbBanLrEBG : 5/1/2011
5wm5Xy , [url=http://flxhessrqbtu.com/]flxhessrqbtu[/url], [link=http://howtoawkxfff.com/]howtoawkxfff[/link], http://eywzegqgyeoa.com/
tsKRkJDTpKwjlHmzZ : 4/30/2011
You've hit the ball out the park! Icnerdible!
: 3/31/2011
my God! i just heard about Michael's passing from one of my patients. my deepest condolences go to his family. i am deeply saddened....
It is a sad day : 8/27/2010
I just found this when looking for Jill, and am heart broken that Michael is no longer here and gracing the world with his wonderful humor and brilliance. Tom and I will toast his life this evening, and shed a tear for his beautiful family that misses him so very much. See you on the other side, dear Michael.
lschwab127@aol.com : 8/14/2010
I just heard about Micheal's death while reading NYU's Nexus Magazine. Michael worked for me in the late nineties for a brief period in my Brooklyn office in Greenpoint. He was an excellent dentist and had a bright future. He had a warmth that radiated as soon as he entered a room. I learned a great deal from his didactic knowledge as I hope he took something from my clinical experience. I wish his family my deepest albiet belated condolences.
Larry Schwab DDS NYU'74
