Michael Onorato

Michael “Mike” Onorato, age 88, passed away on March 15, 2023.

A resident of Bellingham for 30 years, Mike is survived by Marie, his wife of 60 years, his son John, and his granddaughter Ariann Gael, all of whom he loved very much. Mike also is survived by his daughter in law, Regina Lewis of Austin, TX; Susie Skerrett of Darien CT; Katherine Slinsky and her husband Richard of Darien, CT; Edward Skerrett of Kansas City, MO; as well as numerous nieces and nephews through marriage, some even across the pond.

Mike was predeceased by his Mother and Father, James John (also known as Jimmy) and Louise Onorato of Brooklyn, NY; also his sister and her husband Catherine and Walter Skerrett of Darien, CT.

Mike is an Italian New Yorker through and through. He told many tales of his exploits while working summers at Steeplechase Park on Coney Island, NY, which his father proudly managed for many years. Mike transcribed his father's diaries, which recounted their time at the park. Many volumes of this history were printed, a memoir to his childhood.

Mike is an inveterate academic. After earning his PhD at Georgetown University, Washington DC, he began his career teaching East and Southeast Asian History at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York. While doing his post-doctoral research, he taught at Ateneo Graduate School in Manila, capital city of the Philippine Islands. After that, he moved to Laguna Beach, California, where he taught Southeast Asian history at Cal State Fullerton from 1965 to 1992. During his tenure there, he was also Director of the Academic Advising Center for several years, where he exercised his love of service to others.

Michael and Marie retired to Bellingham, Washington, in 1993. There they became active members of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Also in Bellingham, Mike continued to live his life of service by volunteering for the police department, from 2001 to 2019. And as a member of the Kiwanis Club and the Knights of Columbus, Mike continued to be invested in service to his fellow humans.

Mike makes friends wherever he goes. He loves talking to people and learning about them, creating meaningful relationships and spreading kindness in every moment. During his life, Mike touched many people with his warmth, his unique Italian sense of humor, and his love.

Michael’s Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30am on Monday, March 20th, 2023. It will take place at the Church of the Assumption, 2116 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham. Committal will follow at Enterprise Cemetery, 7041 Vista Avenue, Ferndale.

For those unable to attend the services, they will be livestreamed on Father Moore's Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/catholicjeffreyhmoore

Please share your memories of Michael with us on his online Tribute Wall.