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Old Dominion University Princeton University University at Albany University of Massachusetts

FUNERAL HOME

Chas. Peter Nagel Funeral Directors

352 East 87th Street

New York City, New York

MICHAEL MCGOVERN Obituary

McGOVERN--Michael Harry.

Renaissance man, world traveler, graduate of SUNY Albany, University Massachusetts Amherst and Princeton. Lover of French mystery novels, Star Trek, physics and Indian food. He will be missed terribly by all who love him. Family will receive friends on Friday, March 20th, 5pm to 8pm at Chas. Peter Nagel Funeral Directors, 352 E. 87th St., NYC. Memorial Mass at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 230 E. 90th, NYC, Saturday, March 21st at 10am.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by New York Times on Mar. 19, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for MICHAEL MCGOVERN

Sponsored by Charles McGovern, Michael's father.

25 Entries

Guy Rauscher

March 13, 2025

I remember Mike as a gifted physicist, country music enthusiast, great friend, connusiuer of classical music, jogging partner, lover of my violin playing, ambitious, and lover of life. An inquisitive person.

THOMAS MCILVAIN

May 8, 2019

I am still feeling the loss of my friend and colleague Michael. I am also cognizant of his very young daughter losing her father. Mike gave a lot to the world, but I think he had so much more to give. So very much more.......

Tom McIlvain

April 18, 2016

I am a very scant user of Facebook. didn't realize today 'til I saw his page. Very shocked and saddened. He and I had planned to reconnect for dinner, renew our friendship etc.

so sorry him having to leave behind a little daughter. apologies for this missing the mark on ideal condolence language. Its just that right now, frankly, I'm focused on how sad I am that he's gone. and gone way too soon, to coin a phrase. WAY too soon.

I will perhaps post again in this book when I'm able to offer better comfort to others, such as his family. I'm reeling just a bit myself right now. this is the best I can do.

I'm very sorry for the people who knew him best; those that will, and have, missed him the most.

Robin Augustine

February 26, 2016

Michael rented a room from me and we got along really well. His superior intellect made life interesting. He was very funny and we talked about anything. I miss him terribly. He loved my cats and spoke to them often. They have all passed over the rainbow and I like to think he is with them. So sorry for your loss He has been missed so much.

John & Monica McGovern

January 19, 2016

Charles, our deepest sympathy on Michael's passing. May he have eternal peace. God Bless.

Dr. Teresa M. Stewart

November 3, 2015

I am so sorry for you loss. Will keep your family lifted in prayer as they mourn the loss of their loved one.

Shalini Gupta

November 3, 2015

Mike was a very interesting and fun guy with whom to talk. I'm sorry for your loss.

Mary Nugent

November 3, 2015

So very sorry for your loss, cousin Charlie, Michael's children, and to all his friends and family.

Teresa Roach

November 3, 2015

He will be missed. Prayers for his daughter and family.

Peg McAusland

November 3, 2015

My heart hurts for all of you who love him and will have to go on without Mike. May his soul rest in peace.

John Tigner

November 3, 2015

I worked very closely with Mike for a number of years at SAIC in McLean VA. He was a valued colleague and one who was always a pleasure to work with. Please accept my condolences in your tragic loss.

Joy Beckler-Wren

July 29, 2015

The brother of one of my dearest friends in this lifetime he was. I remember at different times visiting with him when he was visiting his sister. Then we had an exchange of FB conversation over art, traveling and a little bit on life. Smart man---deep thinker. What I remember the most is how he really saw my art in a way that gave me new insights by his observance and viewpoints. I appreciated it. Thank you for that, Michael.

June 18, 2015

I will remember Mike as a supportive fan of my violin playing and coming to hear me when I played a Concerto or a sonata( Cesar Franck). He was an appreciator of the arts and excelled at Physics. He was a good friend to a number of us.A group of us at SUNY Albany shared chicken wings and drink at the local restaurant on occasion. One summer he visited my family, along with two other friends. We shared a meal and took a walk in the woods, taking in the beauty and serenity of nature. I visited him in New York City one winter and spent some time with him and his parents.He will be missed.

Guy

Patrick Glanville

June 12, 2015

Even though it was over thirty years ago, I still recall vividly the first time I met Mike in Albany, NY. We were both freshmen and looking for a class in the Physics building. We became fast friends in the fall of '83 and would become roommates for the next three years.

Hanging out in our dorm room and discussing philosophy and Star Trek with our friends was a favorite pastime. I'll never forget those Christian missionaries that tried to convert us; they quickly gave up.

I recall fondly the long late night runs from the downtown campus. It was just Mike and I at first; but as time went on more of our friends came along.

There was that unforgettable night in the SUNY observatory. I recall it being bitterly cold and that we almost died of laughter. We kept making jokes about the planet Uranus. Dr. Story was not amused.

Mike had many fine traits, but the ones that stick out the most were his inquisitive nature and great intellect. That explained not only his love for Physics but also his desire to explore other cultures.

I did love Mike like a brother and it pains me that he is no longer here. I do regret not keeping more in touch him in the last few years.

Mike was a great person and friend.

Eric Young

June 9, 2015

Mike and I shared in a wondrous adventure way back in 1989 when we went cross country to visit the national parks and see the country by car. A fisty day oddessey filled with highs and lows. You cannot be much closeer to someone than spending hour upon hour in a car and most of the rest of the time together from Niagara Falls, to the Badlands to Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Grand Canyons and much more. There are too many awesmoe memories of beautiful places, unique and interesting people, and the long hours we spent talking about everything, to list here. But the times we shared are permanently etched in my brain.

We reconnected a couple of years ago, by his efforts, not mine, and began to get to know each other's lives again. It was always amazaing to talk with Mike because he knew so much and experienced so much. I was on my way to North Carolina and hoped to visit him on my way. I had contacted him about getting together and seeing each other for the first time in fifteen or more years. I was disappointed that I did not get a response. I returned to home to an e-mail telling me of his passing.

I was mad at myself for feeling annoyed that he had not got back to me about the trip but even sadder that such a kind soul was no longer on this planet.

I will always cherish the cross country trip, the times in SUNY Albany when we hung out in his room and talked about science, school, and life into the wee hours of the morning, and most of all just having known him.

May his spirit live on in all he touched.

Ron Soave

June 9, 2015

Mike,
You told me over and over how you regretted missing my wedding, and now it is my turn to regret missing your memorial. I was so overcome with grief that I had the date wrong, and I will carry that mistake around forever. I have not been able to express my thoughts because of that mistake, but I will now. My brother, my Doc McGovern, I will carry that burden, but what I will also carry are the memories that I have of you and the magical experiences we went through in our time at Albany.

With all the text books, PhD professors, linear accelerators and radio telescopes, it was you, my friend, who taught me the most. You taught me to look at the world as a challenge, as a trek to be explored, as a reality to be examined for its possibilities. It is your gift as a physicist that will be most often remembered, but I remember the passion and love you had for archaeology and what you taught me could be learned from the discipline and discovery that science held.

I remember, 2 years after graduation, you coming to my house in Northport, NY and commenting that that the tide marks on the sand made perfect sense because of a Supermoon that had occurred that week. You saw what I missed when it was right in front of me. You saw ALL of what was in front of you, not just the what, but the why, and you taught me to not just look at the world, but to actually see it. When you visited me at Los Alamos, I remember us exploring the incredible beauty, you pointed out a million details I hadn't noticed, and I remember wishing you'd never go.

I will forever remember, years later, being in New York City, thinking I saw you in a crowd, pointing and saying to Lynette I think that's Mike McGovern. She pointed in the other direction and said no, THAT'S Mike McGovern!" and by some miracle, with 9 million people around us, it was. I will always remember the dinner and evening we all shared, and all I remember were the smiles.

I remember the love you had for Amy, your mom and your dad (and his break-dancing skills). When we reconnected years later, I was so overwhelmed by the love and devotion you had for your beautiful Tara. Each picture I saw, each word you wrote to me about her, I could see that with her in your arms, you were a better man. Mike, I know wherever you are that you will always have your arms around your little girl. Last weekend, June 6, was a date we talked about for getting together. That day, like most every day, you were in my thoughts, and through what I learned from you over the years, in my actions.

You challenged me, you helped me, you guided me, and, ultimately, you made me better. I can only imagine the sorrow and loss your family feels, and from the bottom of my heart my sympathies and love are with them. You know how passionate I was about the first law of thermodynamics, Doc, and if I'm right about that, we will meet again. Until then, know that your energy lives on in all who knew and loved you.

Ad Astra, my friend oh, and and 10 o'clock, your reference frame.

Darlene Nestman

May 24, 2015

We reconnected on facebook after many years, we spent hours on the phone talking about our childhood and the wonderful memories we had on 78th street. he was always our quarterback, I knew he would grow up to be a wonderful man. Miss you Mike. So sorry for the Mcgovern family for their loss.

Gitanjali Pande

May 24, 2015

Mike was one of my first friends when I came to study in the U.S. back in 1990. I will never forget how gentle and highly inquisitive he was. I don't know what I would have done without his support & encouragement during my "culture shock" years in the U.S. We became very close and he came to visit me in India and met my family and always had this amazing wonder and respect for all things new and different. A man way ahead of his time in many ways. I did not see much of him these past few years but I have the fondest memories of our wonderful adventures, happy times together and his endearing smile. You deserved so much more out of your life Mike ...rest in peace. My deepest sympathies to your loving family with whom I have spent such precious moments. My heart goes out to them for this immeasurable loss. My sincerest and deepest condolences, Amy, Charles and Harri.

May 16, 2015

What an extraordinary man...I see now how you, Amy and his mother, must miss him terribly. Again I am very sorry for your loss and the shock that loss was. I add my prayers to those of Steve Kelly and others. I am so happy you and he had so many wonderful times together. Tony Fasano

May 10, 2015

Charlie,
You have me greatest sympathies. I pray for you and your family each day.
Steve Kelly

May 7, 2015

You will be dearly missed, Michael. You left us too soon.

Ed Westby NY,NY

May 1, 2015

Renaissance Man, indeed, But under that sobriquet we must include that Mike was a Laerned Man, a Loving Man, a Generous Man, a Spirited Man with a polished, at times slightly demonic, sense of humor. While there's a sad thread to all of this, what would have been the saddest thing of all, was if the multitude of family and friends around him never had the opportunity to truly share a part of his life. For it was, indeed, the life of one of God's most special creations.
Rest in peace, Michael Harry McGovern.

Syl Michael Morrone.

Des Towey

May 1, 2015

I can still see his wry smile and look of eager anticipation whenever I would relate the "inside story" of some of his father's boyhood exploits. He couldn't get enough of Charlie's "glory days".

Thomas Jandl

March 20, 2015

Michael was a great friend. May his early passing remind us to look kindly onto others, always.

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