Michael Anthony Istvan

Michael A. Istvan, Sr., 66, passed away on October 18, 2025 after a long battle cancer, surrounded by family and love. A man of great heart and sharp humor, he was a generous soul who carried both light and darkness with disarming honesty.
Born in Yonkers on November 21, 1958, he was the son of the late John W. and Barbara (Chillo) Istvan. Mike was a fighter from the very beginning, defying odds with the same stubborn vitality that would define his entire life. He was a Marine, a painter, a craftsman, a hunter turned animal whisperer, and a father whose rough edges framed a tender core.
Known to many in his family as "Spike," Mike served proudly in the United States Marine Corps, earning the rank of Sergeant. There he continued to hone the handyman trades taught to him primarily by his father, John Istvan: painting, plumbing, repair. His career spanned decades, from his early years at Witco-Chemprene to leadership roles at various painting businesses throughout the Hudson Valley. He believed that every surface deserved care, every project deserved pride, and every colleague deserved a fair shot.
Those who knew Mike knew his generosity. It was a generosity that could be impulsive, even reckless. But it always came from the heart. He was the type to hand a friend or a child a few dollars just because he could. Once he even treated his son's entire karate class to an impromptu day at SplashDown Water Park. Feeding stray animals without hesitation and helping anyone in need who crossed his path, he gave without counting the cost. His kindness, like his laughter, arrived unfiltered.
Mike loved nature and the creatures within it. In his younger years, he hunted. In later years, he couldn't bring himself to pull the trigger. And as he distanced himself from hunting, the animals drew nearer. Animals of all types, tame and wild, recognized something gentle in him and felt safe in his presence. It was a rare gift he carried quietly. But now and then he could be seen by people passing through the woods where he once lived feeding deer and raccoons by hand.
He was a man of stories, often vivid and unapologetically colorful. A man of rituals (beer, cigarettes, music, late-night laughter), he was an unforgettable character that even death can't stop you talking about. He was a flower that bloomed brilliantly, even if he couldn't grow comfortably in every garden. To remember him truly is not to sanitize him into some Hallmark image, but to celebrate the whole man: raw, flawed, full of heart, and funnier than anyone in the room.
Behind the antics lived someone who wrestled with solitude. He kept his distance from many people in later years, not from indifference but from a deep-seated anxiety he fought to numb for decades. Yet his love for others, especially his partner Beverly, never dimmed. He loved her deeply, and she stood by him with a compassion and grace that spoke louder than any rumor or misunderstanding.
Mike is survived by his son, Dr. Michael A. Istvan Jr., and his daughter, Elizabeth Higgins. His children-as well as his beloved partner, Beverly, and his extended family (the Last of the Mo'Beacons)-will carry his memory in laughter, in stories, in quiet acts of generosity, and in the subtle ways he shaped them.
Additional survivors include his grandson, Michael A. Istvan, III; his siblings: Barbara Goebel & her husband William, John Istvan, Joe Istvan, Darlene Joyce, Larry Istvan, and Carmine Istvan & his wife Lisa; and his former wife and friend, Dorothy Jones. He also leaves behind a host of nieces & nephews along with their families and many other relatives & friends.
Mike was predeceased by his parents as well as two nephews, Billy Goebel and Randy Velilla, III.
Calling hours will be held from 11:00am - 1:00pm on Thursday, October 23 at the McHoul Funeral Home of Fishkill, Inc., 1089 Main Street, Fishkill, NY. A funeral service will begin at 1:00pm, followed by interment at St. Joachim Cemetery, 325 Washington Avenue, Beacon, NY.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to UNICEF by visiting www.unicefusa.org.
For online tributes, visit www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.