Michael “Mike” Orlowicz of Somerset, New Jersey previously of Skillman, New Jersey passed away on January 17th, 2018, at HealthPark Medical Center in Fort Myers, Florida, surrounded by his family.
Mike was diagnosed with acute leukemia seven years ago and underwent two stem cell transplants at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City and stayed at the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge in Manhattan while undergoing treatment. Over the years he continued to live his life with great courage, dignity and optimism.
He was born May 7th, 1952, in New Brunswick, and raised in Sayreville. He graduated from Sayreville High School in 1970 and from Rutgers University with a degree in Economics in 1974.
He met his future wife Deborah Wade in 1973 while attending Rutgers University. Mike served on the Rutgers Commuter Council and was instrumental in first bringing Bruce Springsteen to Rutgers where tickets to the concert were sold for 25 cents. He had a lifelong love of all genres of music from from classical to jazz to rock.
He had a successful career in the IT industry. Mike was formerly a Principal with Lawrence Associates, LLC. Prior to joining that company, Mike was the Director of IT Business Strategy Consulting at Immediant Corporation. He earlier spent over 20 years at AT&T Corporation in both Basking Ridge and Piscataway ending as a District Manager.
Mike always had a smile on his face and enriched the lives of all he knew with his calm demeanor, wise judgement and wry sense of humor. He was an avid reader and enjoyed traveling with his family whenever the opportunity presented itself including many trips to Europe and the Caribbean.
He is survived by his mother Alice, his wife Debbie, his children Christine and Andrew, and all eight of his siblings (Martin, Joe, Charlie, Frank, Steve, Cathe Morrow, Stephanie Bartz and Mary Bashore.
A mass was held on Monday, January 22nd at St Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church Skillman NJ.
Donations may be made in his memory to either the Leukemia and Lymphoma society, or to the New York City branch of Hope Lodge.
