Michael C. Sudol Jr.

Michael C. Sudol Jr., of Metuchen, NJ, died peacefully at his home on March 7, 2026, after 89 remarkable years. He died following a short battle with pancreatic cancer.

Born on Jan. 12, 1937 in Passaic, New Jersey to Michael C. Sudol Sr. and Mary A. Ryzowitz, Michael was raised in Wallington, NJ and was the valedictorian of his 1954 graduating class at East Rutherford High School. He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston and graduated with a degree in chemical engineering. He was a member of his college's Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.

Upon graduating, he briefly worked for E.I. DuPont and Co., in Newburgh, NY, then Schering-Plough in Union, NJ as a chemical engineer. Michael then embarked on a 33-year-career at Merck & Co., Rahway, NJ, as a patent law attorney. While working at Merck, he obtained a juris doctor from Seton Hall University School of Law and rose in the Merck ranks to become the director of international litigation for intellectual property. He specialized in patent prosecution and litigation and was instrumental in defending pharmaceutical drug patents owned by Merck. He retired from Merck & Co. in April, 1997.

Michael served for three months in the U.S. Army's chemical corps at Fort Dix, N.J. followed by more than five years in the U.S. Army Reserves.

While his job required much travel to the likes of Canada, Germany and Switzerland, he developed a passion for travel long before that. Michael traveled all over the world, documenting his trips in photographs and doing it mostly by train, which was his other longtime past-time. He visited countries in five of the seven continents – his favorite country being Switzerland. Michael likely embarked on every major rail line in the U.S. as well as international railways and also amassed a collection of model trains. He especially loved riding Amtrak's Northeast Regional line from New York to Boston or Washington D.C. He was also an avid hiker and skier, only deciding to give up the sport at the age of 82 after skiing with his grandson.

His two passions only took a back burner to his family, of whom he was especially devoted. Michael was married to his loving wife, Carol, for 63 years. The two met at a hot dog roast at Fairleigh Dickinson University and married in 1963. They settled in Metuchen in 1968, which they called home for the next 58 years, and raised their two daughters there.

Michael also enjoyed spending time with his family at the beach on Long Beach Island. He and his grandson shared a love of train travel, mapping out directions, riding bikes together at the beach and eating fudge and clam chowder.

Michael also believed strongly in giving back to his community by serving as a Metuchen Zoning Board member for four years and an AARP tax volunteer at Metuchen's Senior Center for at least 10 years. He was a longtime member of the Jersey Central Railroad Club, Miramar Ski Club, Appalachian Mountain Club and a parishioner at St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral, Metuchen.

Michael was a quiet, reserved man but shared his witty, dry sense of humor with his family. He was a steady presence and thoughtful advice-giver to his family.

Michael is survived by his beloved wife, Carol; his sisters, Monica Weinfeld, of Huntington Beach, CA, and Madeline Pavel, of North Arlington, N.J.; his daughters, Wendy Sudol, of Englewood, CO, and Karen (Sudol) Faverzani, of Holmdel; his son-in-law, Bill Faverzani, his 11-year-old grandson, William; and eight nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited for a visitation on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, from 3-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m., at Costello-Runyon Funeral Home, 568 Middlesex Avenue, Metuchen.

The funeral will take place on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at 9:45 a.m. at the funeral home followed a Funeral Mass will at 10:15 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral, Metuchen. The interment will take place in St. Michael's Cemetery, South Hackensack.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National Railroad Historical Society at https://secure.nrhs.com/forms/giving