Obituary of Richard McMichael

RICHARD BRYSON MCMICHAEL 81, devoted Yankee fan, avid reader, and baseball coach Richard Bryson McMichael, 81, of Bernardsville, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 19, 2012. Mr. McMichael was born in Newark and attended West Orange High School. During high school, Mr. McMichael was an outstanding baseball pitcher, eventually garnering professional tryouts with the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants, and Philadelphia Athletics. He also played in the Essex County League as a pitcher and outfielder. His lifelong devotion to the Yankees was a product of his parents' meeting in 1924 at Yankee Stadium when his dad caught a Babe Ruth home run ball. Over the years, Mr. McMichael worked primarily as a salesman in such fields as foundry contracting, liquor, and containerized steamship freight. In his later years, he was employed as a private driver for various individuals in the Somerset Hills. Prior to his business career, Mr. McMichael was a private in the United States Marine Corps, where he earned an Expert ranking with his Rifle Sharpshooter Badge. He also was an avid reader and library devotee, finishing off at least a dozen books each year. For many years in his former residence of Roseland, he was a devoted baseball coach, working his way through Little League, Pony League, Babe Ruth, and summer ball with both of his sons and innumerable other young men whom he treated as his other sons. He is survived by his wife of 57years, Judy Bonn McMichael; his sons Robert of Basking Ridge and Scott of West Orange; his daughters Bonnie Richards of Tiverton, Rhode Island, and Julie McMichael of Newton; 5 grandchildren; and 1 great-grandchild. A brief memorial service will be held at the VA Chapel at Lyons the week of August 20th; for more information, contactrmcmichael@hotmail.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Wounded Warrior Project at support.woundedwarriorproject.org.