​

Mike, the third of four children born to Vincent and Marilyn McGill, spent his younger years in Elmhurst, NY moving to Queens Village in the early 70’s just blocks from his future bride, Theresa Christman.  After they wed in 1986, they lived for a short while in Queens, NY before heading up to Goshen, NY.  Mike was thrilled to have his younger brother Danny and his wife Laura, (Terri’s sister), join them in “North Country” in the winter of 1994.  With sadness Mike lost his little brother that same summer. In 1997, after retiring as a detective from the NYPD and expecting their fifth child, Mike and Terri headed south to Virginia where Mike started a business. Three years later would find Mike and Terri moving back north to Warwick for a business opportunity at Telestar Communications. Mike would change jobs one more time to work for Swish Data; forced to stop working when undergoing treatment for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in 2017. 

 

Days full of service Michael would start and end each day kneeling in prayer.  After praying at 5 am Mike would without fail, cook his youngest daughter’s egg breakfast, careful not to break the yolk. Mike worked from home and was dedicated to his career, not to be disturbed by anything except lunch or the occasional snack.   On Tuesday mornings, bar none, Mike was off to the men’s fellowship meeting down at the local café.  He absolutely loved spending time with other men of faith.  He especially enjoyed attending the St. Stephen’s Men’s retreat at the Sacred Heart Retreat House in Newton, NJ of which Mike was a 12 year participant. Michael was a member of St. Stephen’s Parish in Warwick, NY, and the Knights of Columbus #4952.  

 

Michael had friends of all ages, races, genders, and religions without prejudice; fully grasping the Lord’s sole authority for judgment.  Mike seized every opportunity to share his faith - bringing to mind Joshua, a Jehovah witness who Mike would invite in for tea whenever he stopped by.  During one of his many stays as a patient in Cornell Weill Medical Center, Mike befriended a nurse.  They shared stories, music and most of all religion.  Recently, this nurse searched out and contacted Mike’s eldest daughter to express how fortunate she felt for having known Mike and to give her Mike’s self-made spotify list of favorite songs that he had given her during his hospital stay. 

 

Towards the end of Mike’s battle with AML the most important thing to him was receiving Holy Communion.  He was able to receive communion everyday through the kindness of our extended family, deacons and priest at St. Stephens.  Michael and Terri always talked about how lucky they were; blessed to have five healthy, amazing children, a beautiful home, tons of friends and the most wonderful family.

 

Michael enjoyed good food, drink, music and most especially good company.  It is in this spirit that The Michael McGill Memorial Golf Outing Committee was formed and invites all to the inaugural golf outing to honor the memory of a gentle man who lived his faith and graced our world with kindness, understanding and love.