Michael T. Ahearn

1965 - 2021

Michael Thomas Ahearn, 55, of Northampton died peacefully Sunday, January 24th, 2021 after a brief illness. Mike was born on February 9, 1965 to Michael J. Ahearn, Jr., and Patricia E. (Miller) Ahearn.

When Mike was six months old, his parents purchased their beloved home at 20 Fort Street in Northampton where he and his brothers spent a wonderful childhood with their many neighborhood friends.

A 1983 graduate of Northampton High School, Mike attended St. Anselm College where he played on their Division II soccer team. Later, he graduated from the New England Institute of Arts and Applied Sciences, earning a degree in Mortuary Sciences in 1986.

He worked for several years at the former John F. O'Connell Funeral Home in Northampton, as well as the AA Mariani Funeral Home in Providence, RI and the Tripp Funeral Home in Pawtucket, RI. In 1995, he moved back home to his beloved Hamp, working for various local funeral homes before founding the Ahearn Funeral Home at 783 Bridge Road in Northampton, which was built from the ground up and opened, coincidentally, on his 35th birthday in 2000.

Mike served on the Boards of Directors for the Western Mass Independent Funeral Directors Association and the Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association, as well as the Cooley Dickinson Hospital Development Committee and, most recently, the Cooley Dickinson Charity Golf Tournament. Mike was a long-time youth soccer coach for the City of Northampton and was, until November 2020, the Assistant Golf Coach for Northampton High School.

He was a long-time member of the St. Patrick's Association and was named Marshal in 2004 for the Northampton contingent. Since 2001, he was very active in the Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade Association and was named the Gallivan Award winner in 2009 and served as its President in 2016.

An avid golfer, since the age of 7, Mike learned golfing from his father and grandfather, both Leeds boys, and has been an active member of the Northampton Country Club, a place, to quote his good friend the late Jim Durfer, that is "a social club with a golfing problem". He played and won countless matches on those hallowed greens and formed many, many lifelong friendships.

Mike was a longtime communicant of the former St. Mary's Church of Northampton and now the St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Northampton.

He was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Patricia in 2016 and Michael in 2020; and girlfriend, Kara Shanahan in 2015.

He leaves his wife Bridget Goggins, his brothers Patrick C. Ahearn and wife Molly of Alexandria, VA and Daniel F. Ahearn and wife Jenny of Austin, TX; and his former wife and dear friend Janet Ryan. Mike adored his nephews and nieces, Jackson and Aidan Ahearn and Rowan and Finley Ahearn. He grew to love as well, Hadley and Hayes Talbot and Sullivan, Finnegan and Murphy Burke, and Bridget's family, Pat and Denise Goggins, Molly and Jamie Talbot and Erin and Sean Burke.

There will be calling hours on Thursday, January 28th from 1-2 pm for those over 65 or immunocompromised. Open to the public from 2-6pm. The funeral will be private on Friday, January 29th but can be seen virtually at https://youtu.be/0qkrMHBQCOU.

COVID guidelines must be followed at all times, with no contact with the family being much appreciated.

While flowers are appreciated, donations can be made to the Cooley Dickinson Hospital Charity Golf Tournament or the Northampton High School Golf Team.

Ahearn Funeral Home

(413)587-0044