Michael Walsh Obituary

Michael Joseph Walsh, 59, passed away on January 23, 2025 at Charlton Memorial Hospital.
Born in New Bedford, the son of Thomas P. Walsh and the late Patricia A. (Morse) Walsh, Mike grew up in New Bedford and was a 1983 graduate of New Bedford High School, where he played baseball and football. He attended Southeastern Massachusetts University (UMass Dartmouth) and Bridgewater State University, where he earned both a Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 1990 and a Master of Arts in Teaching degree in 1994.
Mike was a beloved son, brother, cousin, friend, and mentor to many.
Mike's 30+ year career as an educator started at Bridgewater State College where he taught a Freshmen Skills course. He was a teacher in the New Bedford High School History Department for 6 years starting in 1996, as well as the faculty advisor to the Amnesty International Club and the Civil Rights Team. During that time, he also taught courses at Newbury College. He then became the Assistant Director of the Upward Bound program at Southern Vermont College in Bennington, Vermont. Returning to Massachusetts, he became a teacher with the Collaborative for Educational Services, teaching History, Biology and Life Skills at the Plymouth County Correctional Facility. The next chapter in his teaching career took him to Guangzhou, China, where he taught History and English as a Foreign Language at Xiangjiang High School, and then to Shanghai, China where he taught World History, Geography, and College Writing at the Vermont International Academy. He then accepted a teaching position in Salaya, Thailand at the Mahidol University International Demonstration School (MUIDS), where he taught World History, Sociology and Psychology and was the Coordinator of the New Staff Mentoring Program, helping new staff members to get acclimated to the school and Thai community. Mike was happiest when teaching in Thailand and was a valued member of the MUIDS faculty. He loved his students, and they loved him back. All of Mike's overseas classrooms were decorated with flags, banners and signs of his beloved Boston sports teams, a love he sought to instill in his Chinese and Thai students. Returning to the United States in 2022, Mike became a Recruitment Counselor at Bristol Community College and most recently was an Education Support Professional at Dartmouth High School.
Mike also loved coaching, and he coached baseball, softball and football at New Bedford, Apponequet and Wareham High Schools. As an athlete, Mike excelled at baseball, particularly at the position of catcher, and his love of that sport lead him to cofound the Southeastern Massachusetts Baseball Association, of which he served as the Association's first President, the league Commissioner, as well as the player-manager of the Whaling City White Sox and the New Bedford Knights. Mike also played for the American Legion Post 1 team under legendary coach Manny Lima, and played Teener League and Whaling City Little League baseball (Danny's Auto Body), as well as youth football for the Lancers.
Besides China and Thailand, Mike's travels took him to Australia, Ireland, Newfoundland, and other far-off places, and he once rode his motorcycle across the country. While his true passion was teaching, Mike was also a prolific writer, family genealogist, and avid kayaker, often found paddling the waters of the Westport River, Plymouth Harbor, Mattapoisett River, and many other area waterbodies.
Mike loved the City of New Bedford and its rich history, and in the mid-1990's, he and his cousin Doug Walsh cofounded the Ricketson Commission to advocate for construction of a monument honoring the 19th century writer/poet/lawyer/abolitionist Daniel Ricketson, a New Bedford native who built "Brook Lawn," an 85 acre estate where Ricketson would host other literary giants such as Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Amos Bronson Alcott. Ricketson's estate would later become the city park known as Brooklawn Park.
Mike is survived by his father Thomas P. Walsh and companion Jane Stott of New Bedford, and his brother Shaun P. Walsh and wife Karen of Marion. He was predeceased by his mother Patricia A. Walsh and his brother Steven M. Walsh of Fall River. He is also survived by his niece Sarah K. Walsh and partner Ben Hurchala of Westbrook, ME, niece Hannah Walsh Feitelberg and husband Ben of Fall River, niece Caroline M. Walsh of Marion, niece Kate Walsh Grenia and husband Aaron and grandniece Stevie Rose of Miami, FL, his nephew Brendan Walsh and wife Jess Russo and grandniece Jordan of Matthews, NC, his aunts and uncles, Ronald and Madeline Walsh, Patsy and Bob Crabbe, Nancy Bennett, Helen Moniz, Chester Morse, and his many cherished cousins.
In accordance with his wishes, he will be cremated. Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, February 2, 2025 from 1:00 to 4:00 at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park Street, New Bedford, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick Scholarship Fund (Michael J. Walsh), PO Box 4021, New Bedford, MA 02740.
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