F. Michael Byrne

Frank Michael (Mike) Byrne, a standout high school and college athlete from Ardsley, N.Y., died Dec. 23, 2025, in Orlando, Fla., after a lengthy illness. He was 73.

Michael was born in Tarrytown, N.Y., on May 24, 1952, to Frank and Jane (Minich) Byrne. The eldest of seven siblings, he grew up in Ardsley and was known to all as a kind and loving man, a “gentle giant.” He excelled in football, basketball, and baseball, with countywide recognition in all three sports. He was awarded a full-ride football scholarship to the University of Minnesota, where he was a letterman and starting defensive end, graduating in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education.

In 1979, Michael married his first love, Paula Theresa Young of Ardsley, N.Y., with whom he had a son, Matthew Paul. Both preceded him in death, as did his father, Frank, and his brother-in-law, Jack Degnan.

Talented and charismatic, Michael was drawn to a career in sales, the majority of which time was spent as a fundraiser for Quality School Programs, a division of Reader’s Digest. Successes in this company led to many sales awards, travel vacations, and lifelong friendships.

In 1998, Michael married his best friend and lady love, Bonnie (Stephany) Kirkland. They lived in Yonkers, N.Y., packing in travel, work, and loads of fun. Michael headed up the men’s ministry at Strait Gate Church in Larchmont, N.Y., forging many friendships and alliances, and was affirmed as a deacon and elder. In 2004, Michael and Bonnie relocated to Orlando, where Michael continued working in sales and fundraising.

Drawn once again to God’s work, Michael established and led the men’s ministry at The River of Life Christian Center in Orlando for several years. He next served as a prayer warrior and disciple of The Life Center Church in Eatonville, Fla., until his health no longer permitted him to do so.

Among his many professional accomplishments, Michael was an avid Toastmaster, having been a charter member of a Yonkers club. He served Apopka (Fla.) Foliage Toastmasters ardently.

In 2022, he was named to the Ardsley High School Sports Hall of Fame, a prestigious honor that he humbly and gratefully recognized, acknowledging the people who helped him along the way.

His wife, Bonnie, loved him dearly and found him good company, as he was always able to make her laugh. Because of his jovial disposition, socializing with his family, friends, and acquaintances was his passion. He often repeated his tag line: “I like people and people like me.”

Michael was deeply loved and admired and will be terribly missed by his wife; his mother, Jane Byrne; his mother-in-law, Clo-Mommy; siblings Danny (Patty), Gerry (Sue), Isabel (Bernie) Milano, Noreen Degnan, Eddy (Pat), and Kathleen (Philip) Canfield, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Bonnie would like to offer a special thank you to Michael’s dear friend Jim Bible, who supported her in caregiving, as well as good friends Doug Johnson, Wells Greeley, and Ken Hughee, all of whom kept in touch with Michael regularly and lifted his spirits.

A celebration of life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 26, 2026, at Harry P. Leu Gardens in Orlando.