Michael S. Dal Pozzo

I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.

Abraham Lincoln

This quote best encompasses who Michael was; from whence he came; what he was passionate about and what his life was a testament to. Born in the Land of Lincoln, Michael grew-up in Illinois, in a traditional midwestern family with midwestern values. A life-long Chicago Bears, Cubs and Bulls Fan, Michael was passionate about sports and gravitated towards collegiate competition (especially Big 10 Football). In his words: “they play with a passion and love for the game that most professional athletes lose when the game becomes their job.” Michael wasn’t just a fan; he was an athlete with a commitment to physical fitness that extended to his life and career tracks.

The first half of Michael’s life was about playing sports and pursuing knowledge. Michael had an insatiable thirst to learn and a love for history and anything tied to it. He was a voracious reader and seeker of information. When you first met Michael, he wanted to know everything about you and genuinely cared about who you were, what your experiences were, and if he could learn from and/or share knowledge with you. He received his undergraduate degree from The University of Illinois, his first graduate degree from George Williams College and his MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management. Michael took his education and began his career with a Big 6 accounting firm, followed by healthcare management in the field of exercise physiology and culminating in a career in healthcare finance and administration. The degrees and his career were impressive, but the most important gift he found from his education was in meeting a bright-eyed, always smiling, equally passionate woman from Revere, Massachusetts who a couple of years later would become his wife.

Michael met Dyan in graduate school in Wisconsin in 1981 and they were married in 1983. Michael said that when he married Dyan, he hit the “Revere Lottery” – NO MONEY but the prize of a lifetime!

Michael and Dyan moved back to Massachusetts in 1988 and in 1989, they bought their home on Whittier Road in Reading. This is where the magic happened. In November of 1990, Matthew was born and a Father-Son bound was forged. In February of 1994, Melissa was born and that event marked the moment that Michael’s ambitions pivoted from professional to personal; from corporate to family. Melissa stole her father’s heart from go and provided him with more joy than one man should be entitled to. They say that if you’re lucky, you get to experience a Father’s Pride and a Mother’s Love. Matthew and Melissa were the only lights in his life and no father could have been prouder of his children than Michael. It was beautiful to watch; it was beautiful to feel – it was pure love.

Over the years, Michael coached a number of his kid’s sports teams. As they grew into high schoolers, Michael transformed into the ultimate Reading Rocket Fan! The Dal Pozzo’s were a part of the Reading family that transformed Reading athletics into the powerhouse of the Middlesex League and onto the State Championship stage. They say the measure of a life well-lived is based on the legacy that one leaves behind. Matthew and Melissa are Michael’s greatest legacy and by any measure, he was a successful man. An adopted son of Reading that can be proud of him and his contributions.

Mike was a charter member of Poet’s Corner and will probably best be remembered for his daily walks with his dogs, Maizy and Nike. He made it a point to stop and catch-up with “the best neighbors in the world.” Michael was an avid golfer, who enjoyed his weekend outings and annual getaways with his golf buddies. His most cherished memories were his Myrtle Beach golf vacation with his son, Matt and the round of golf they and their family played at The Ocean Club in the Bahamas. He said life didn’t get any better than that.

In recent years, Michael and Dyan were fortunate enough to travel and explore the world with each other. From Canada to European countries like Italy and Germany, Michael and Dyan shared in bucket-list trips with friends and family that will never be forgotten. If a man is lucky, he finds a woman who is able to save him from himself. Dyan was that woman for Michael. He loved her and felt indebted to her for loving him and saving him and giving him more than one man should wish for.

Michael was the beloved husband of Dyan G. (Gale) Dal Pozzo. Devoted father of Matt G. Dal Pozzo of Pelham, NH and Melissa A. Dal Pozzo of Reading.  Cherished brother of Mark Dal Pozzo and his wife Mary Margaret of Hillsboro, IL.  Loving uncle of Danielle, Ben, Gabby and Alex. 

A visitation will be held on Friday, December 4, 2020 from 4-7PM at the Douglass, Edgerley and Bessom Funeral Home 25 Sanborn St. (corner of Woburn St.) Reading. Facial covering must be worn.  Due to the pandemic Michael’s funeral and burial will be Private.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Michael’s memory to Woburn Animal Hospital 373 Old Russell St. Woburn, MA 01801.  Michael was a registered organ donor.