Obituary of Michael P. Long

Michael P. Long, “Mike” as he liked to be called, of Essex, CT, passed away on November 21, 2021, from complications due to a stroke. Mike was born July 28, 1953, to Robert P. and Mary (Mills) Long in Meriden, CT. Mike grew up in Berlin and graduated from Berlin High School. He was a PK, “principal’s kid,” and was proud to have had his dad for a principal. Mike was a member of the marching band - always a drummer – and continued his love of music in college. He rooted for Michigan because they had the best marching band of any college football team. Mike attended Appalachian State University, Rhode Island School of Design, and proudly graduated from Central Connecticut State University with his Bachelor’s Degree. He began his early career at The Camera Shop where he pursued his love of photography, art, and art history, and made life-long friends. Mike moved to Middletown, where he lived for many years and began working for Allstate Insurance, which resulted in a 25+ year career with that company. While Mike lived in Middletown, he was introduced to Elizabeth Nocera by his dear friends Phyllis and Neely Bruce. That fateful introduction led to their marriage in 2003, and their happily-ever-after story. He had the profound joy of helping to raise and nurture Bennett and Aline Nocera into their adulthood and he reveled in their many accomplishments. Mike was a profoundly spiritual person and loved to sing, always willing to share his beautiful baritone voice. He was an active member of South Congregational Church, serving in many roles and eventually becoming vice-president and then president of the congregation. After many years together in Middletown, Mike and Elizabeth moved to Essex. He retired and went on to find his profound passion for environmental justice and equity. Mike joined the Sustainable Essex Committee and dove into that critically-important work with his heart and soul. He felt deeply that unless we begin to change our behavior, it will be too late to stop the tide of climate change, the enormous impact on the security of our future, and the damage to the well-being of the planet we call home. Mike believed the key to behavior change was through education and he was most proud of the Sustainable Essex Education Discussion (SEED) series that he developed. Working in partnership with other local organizations, Mike cultivated an amazing network of invested individuals and groups with his can-do approach who were also willing to actively support these efforts with the same passion for action. There is no doubt they will carry on with the same enthusiasm, drive, and belief in this work. He continued his spiritual work at the First Congregational Church in Old Lyme where he previously chaired the Stewardship Committee and annual stewardship drive, and most recenly served as Moderator of the CT Middlesex Association Church and Ministry Committee of the United Church of Christ, working with both ordained and lay leadership of the Middlesex UCC congregations. Mike’s limited mobility never stopped him from living and pursuing his many interests with passion, benevolence, humanity, grace, and always with a loving, huge heart. The family wishes to thank the extraordinary medical professionals on the neuroscience ICU at Yale New Haven Hospital who were an amazing team that cared for Mike through difficult circumstances but treated all of us, especially Mike, with dignity and kindness. Besides his wife Elizabeth, Mike leaves his treasured Bennett Nocera, cherished Aline Nocera (Kevin Cunningham), his brother Timothy and sister-in-law Kristen Castle Long of Berlin, his mother-in-law Joan Kratzert of Essex, his sister-in-law Anne Beaubelle of Norco, CA, his Mills and DeManche cousins, and many beloved nieces and nephews and their spouses, partners, and children. Mike was predeceased by his parents, his brother Christopher Long, his aunt and uncle Dorothy and Robert Mills, uncle Herbert “Sandy” Mills, cousin Betsy Mills, his brother-in-law David Beaubelle, and his brother-in-law Thomas Kratzert. A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, December 4, 2021, at 1 p.m., at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, 2 Ferry Road, Old Lyme, CT. A private, green burial was held on November 24, 2021, at Fountain Hill Cemetery, Deep River, in keeping with Mike’s wishes to leave behind as small a carbon footprint as possible. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sustainable Essex, Essex Town Hall, 29 West Avenue, Essex, CT 06426; The Ministers’ Discretionary Fund, FCCOL, 2 Ferry Street, Old Lyme, CT 06371; or to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Arrangements are in the care of the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home in Centerbrook.