Michael “Mike” F. Donlin
Michael “Mike” F. Donlin, 35, of Jamaica Plain formerly of Peabody, MA died tragically, Monday, April 3, 2017 from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident enroute to work. Mike was the loving husband and soul mate of Marisa (Pease) Donlin formerly of Carmel, New York. Mike and Marisa have two sons, Liam Thomas age 7 and Noah Kai age 5.
Michael graduated from St. John’s Preparatory School, Danvers, MA in 1999. He attended Trinity College, University at Melbourne Business School in Australia for one year. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Management from the Carroll School of Management in 2003 at Boston College. He went on to receive his Master of Science in Nursing in the field of Acute Care Nurse Practitioner from Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health in 2007.
Michael was a Nurse Practitioner at VA Boston Healthcare where he treated his patients with mindfulness and compassion – two traits that he excelled in and was committed to. He had the ability to quickly, deeply, and honestly connect with patients, families, and team members.
Michael accomplished a lot during his short life and was awarded several honors. Among them: 2012, Dept of Veterans Affairs, Systems Redesign Academy as Flow Improvement Expert; 2013, Excellence In Government Award from Federal Executive Board; 2014, Fellow in Hospital Medicine from Society of Hospital Medicine; 2014, Brigham and Women’s Hospital Medicine Residency Nursing Award from Brigham and Women’s Hospital; along with several published articles and grants.
Mike believed that life was for living and that things happen for a reason. Among his many adventures – from as far as Australia and riding his bike across country, to as close as the park across the street playing tag with his boys, Mike saw the light and fun in actually living. Many a nights you could find him playing his guitar or piano and then teaching Liam and Noah.
Through his personal work with Prita, his spiritual teacher, and her compassionate groups, Mike further deepened his faith in the human spirit and his love for himself and others. He would get so lit up witnessing the ah-ha moments of the people around him. Mike lived by a simple yet powerful belief; “We know that a gentle love flows through everything. Our purpose is to find it, feel it, create it and love it.” His cherished tattoo of the hawk on his back served as a reminder of his profound connection to the spirit world which guided his intuition, and led him to save his sister Katie from tragedy.
Mike had a profound ability to be in the present and to share that space with everyone he met. Mike was the beacon of light to many in their darkest times and touched everyone with his open heart, clear understanding and spiritual connection. He was a compassionate caregiver throughout his career in medicine and had willingness to provide a kind and gentle spirit to family and friends in need. Mike had an amazing place in his heart for all. His sense of adventure was contagious, his laugher left you wanting more, his hugs were simply the best and his love for his family was fierce.
In addition to his wife and children he is survived by his parents, John (JD) & Barbara Donlin of Peabody, MA. His sister Kathleen (Donlin) Ray, her husband Matthew Ray, parents of nephews Brendan and Conor Ray, Duxbury, MA. In-laws Gail S. Pease and Tom E. Pease of Carmel, NY and Marisa’s aunt Debbie Reynolds of Bloomfield, CT. Numerous aunts, uncles and cousins and countless friends and co-workers.
All are welcome to attend a celebration of Mike’s life at theThe Larcom Performing Arts Theatre, 11 Wallis St., Beverly, MA on Sunday, April 30th at 1:00pm. To support Marisa and their boys in this time of need and for the future financial necessities through life, contributions can be made to the “Michael Donlin Family Fund” c/o Eastern Bank, PO Box 1716, Duxbury, MA 02331. Online donations can also be made to this fund through PayPal with link: paypal.me/michaeldonlinfund
Guestbook Entries
“JD” and family. I’m so sorry to hear of the tragic loss of your son. You are all in my prayers and I wish you peace during this difficult period of time. God Bless. Diane Becquart
Mike was a caring nurse, a clinical leader, and a warm and friendly colleague. He will be missed.
Your passion, creativity, and independent spirit will be dearly missed. From those of us who worked with you, our thoughts and prayers are with your family.
Dear Marisa,
I am so sorry for this stunning loss that has left you to take care of your boys without Mike. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
In sympathy, Patti Lavernoich, Harmony on the Sound Chorus
My heartfelt condolences.
I will never be able to find the right words to say what we are feeling. We will take with us so many wonderful memories of Mike and share those cherished words with our kids. He was able to do so much, touch so many, and be full of more life in 35 years then most do in a lifetime. Love to all
Meagan, Chad and the boys
Please accept my deepest, heartfelt sympathy. Mike was a beautiful soul and an amazing clinician and colleague, he is deeply missed here at the VA Boston. We are thinking of all of you at this time.
`May you always feel his presence~
With Love~
Kristen Wirtanen RN
I have never met Michael and yet I am sad. That is because I have heard so many wonderful stories about him and his caring nature from my friend Nora over the years. He is the type of person that has a ripple effect. You experience or hear about what he has done and it makes you want to be a better person. I can only imagine how far those ripples have extended and will continue to extend.
Dear Marisa,
Please accept our deepest sympathy. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Patsy and Joe Nusser
(Caitlin’s parents)
Dear Marisa,
We knew you as a little girl strong and independent and it’s that strength that will carry you and the boys forward. Love and prayers to you, Liam, Noah and your family.
With love,
Peter & Maura
Dear Marisa, Liam, Noah, JD, Barbara, Katie and family,
I met Michael when he was a kid skating on Hoods pond and immediately noticed what a composed, confident and fun-loving young man he was, I saw how he interacted with his Dad JD and thought to myself what a great son.
The last time I saw Michael was at his Grandmothers Birthday party at Winter island and as I watched him playing on the beach with Liam and Noah, I observed the genuine love he clearly and easily shared with his boys and thought to myself what a great father, and how his life had come full circle since I had first met him.
I know there are no words to ease the pain you are suffering so I won’t even try, a few years back I discovered the poet Mary Oliver and she wrote some lines that I feel encompass Michael as a person and the life he lived.
“When it’s over, I want to say: all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.
When it is over, I don’t want to wonder
if I have made of my life something particular, and real.
I don’t want to find myself sighing and frightened,
or full of argument.
I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.”
Michael did not simply visit this world he got his hands dirty in it, lived and loved in it, and that is why we miss him so much.
“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam”
“May his soul be on God’s right hand”
Kevin Leahy
Though we hadn’t spoken in years, Mike and I were good friends in high school, and this news hit me hard. He was a great guy, full of joy, insight, and intelligence. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Dear Marisa and family,
I have come to know your Mom recently working with her through church and having read these beautiful words about Michael feel as if I have known him, too….of course my heart goes out to all of you. Loving, caring people like Michael never really leave us, they just “live” with us on a different level. I pray that one day your boys will be old enough to understand and that you have faith enough to believe that today. Wishing you all strength and peace, Laurie Bell
Marisa I am so sorry for your loss. I am keeping you and your family in my prayers. Accept my deepest sympathy.
Marisa my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Please accept my sincere condolences.
Hello, My most sincere condolences go out to everyone who was loved by Mike, and those who loved Mike. I never had the pleasure of meeting Mike, but after reading his Obituary, I get a real sense of who he was, and how much he loved his family. Tragedy struck my family when my Son, Rory, was killed by a drunk driver back in 2005. I miss Him, and have learned how to live my life by keeping his memory alive. That’s my passion today. I hope you do the same. I was a part of Mike’s family as well, well his VA family that is. I truly wish I would have met Michael, I would have been a better person for doing so. Again, My Deepest Sympathies to All. God Bless Mike, Marisa, Liam and Thomas.