Shoreline health educator, coach dies at age 68

Michael BonTempo Jr. Michael BonTempo Jr. Photo: Obituary Photo Photo: Obituary Photo Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Shoreline health educator, coach dies at age 68 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

NEW HAVEN — A former education association president, health educator and coach is being remembered for his smile and his sense of humor, according to his obituary.

Michael BonTempo Jr., 68, a New Haven native who lived in Meriden, died Feb. 2. He graduated from Notre Dame High School in West Haven and then from Southern Connecticut State College in New Haven, where he got both his bachelor’s degree and his master’s degree, his obituary says.

BonTempo served as the president of the Clinton Education Association for six years and was the health educator at Jared Eliot Middle School in Clinton for 32 years, where he started the Peer Puppeteers. He was known for his skills in teaching, public speaking and program development, according to his LinkedIn profile.

In October 2017, he received the All-Star Award in Prevention from the Connecticut Association of Prevention Professionals, of which he was a lifetime and founding member, according to his obituary. He also coached basketball, football and baseball.

“Michael will always be remembered for his smile and sense of humor,” his obituary reads. “Through his life and work, he had a positive impact on many people and multiple generations of families. He will be fondly remembered and dearly missed.”

Visiting hours are set from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Maresca & Sons Funeral Home, 592 Chapel St., New Haven. A Mass of Christian burial is set for Friday at 11 a.m. in St. Michael's Church, 29 Wooster Place, New Haven. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the ASPCA or Regional Hospice and Palliative Care.