Eaden “Mike” Michael Whiteman III, of Monroe, passed away surrounded by loved ones on Saturday, April 8, 2023, at Yale New Haven Hospital. He was 66-years-old.
He is survived by Jami Whiteman, his wife of 44 years, his two daughters and their families, Meggan Buckwell, husband, Christopher, and son, Wyatt, 1.5, of Cambridge, Mass., and Crista Whiteman and her son, Camden, 9, of Monroe, and his dog, Fern, as well as his sisters, Martha Whiteman Bohlin of Dover, Mass., and Suzanne Pepe of Greenwich, and 14 nieces and nephews.
He is predeceased by his parents, Eaden Michael Whiteman, Jr. and Catherine Doyle Whiteman, and two sisters, Pamela Callahan and Nancy Whiteman.
Mike lived his life to the fullest and was happiest when he was with his beloved family and friends, especially his grandsons. He was quick-witted, always ready with a joke or a wisecrack. His playful energy will be greatly missed by those who loved him.
Mike was a skilled woodworker and spent his life honing his craft. He started his career in residential carpentry, building many beautiful homes, including his own family’s home in Monroe, before moving into commercial work, including at St. Raphael’s in New Haven where he had been working for the past two decades. He always said he could “fix anything except a broken heart and the crack of dawn.”
Mike was a lifelong boater and outdoorsman. In his later years, he enjoyed log splitting, woodworking, watching NASCAR, and eating ice cream.
Mike grew up in Fairfield, where he met many of his lifelong friends, and then lived much of his life in Monroe. He loved to be involved in his community: he brought his carpentry skills to the building of the Kids Kreation playground at Wolfe Park in Monroe, coached softball, baseball and hockey for his daughters and grandson, and held bicycle drives, personally delivered the bikes to children in Appalachia through St. Jude church.
For many years, he set up an elaborate Christmas light display outside the family home to bring joy to those around him.
To honor Mike’s memory, a memorial service will be held from 12-3 p.m. on April 22, 2023, at Spadaccino and Leo P. Gallagher & Son Community Funeral Home in Monroe. We invite anyone who knew Mike to attend and remember how he touched their lives.
The family wishes to make sure the loved ones left behind in this wake of loss are cared for. So, we humbly ask that in lieu of flowers, gifts be made to a fund to support Mike’s wife of 44 years, Jami Whiteman.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.spadaccinofuneralhome.com for the Whiteman family.
