Michael Anthony Parise

Michael Anthony Parise (Mike) passed away peacefully at the age of 80 with his family by his side on May 22,2022 in Forsyth County, GA. He was born to Anthony and Rose (Pirino) Parise in Newark, NJ.

Mike grew up in Newark and attended Seton Hall University before entering the United States Air Force. He excelled in the Air Force earning the rank of Sergeant serving with distinction in Biloxi, Mississippi. With a natural aptitude for all things electronic and mechanical, Mike served as a radar technician during the Vietnam War. Just before leaving the Air Force, Mike married Gaye Valente whom he had met while attending Seton Hall. After his discharge, Mike and Gaye returned to New Jersey where he helped found a successful independent electronic repair company before landing a job with Digital Equipment Corporation, a pioneering company in the field of computing. After a long career with Digital, working in both New Jersey and Georgia, Mike worked at a subsidiary of Kodak that was innovating in the field of digital dental x-rays.

Known for his giving personality Mike could be counted on for his willingness to help others without a second thought. The same mechanical skills that served him so well professionally served many of his friends and family when they needed help. Never one to accept that he couldn’t fix a problem, even when Mike didn’t know exactly how to do something he was an expert at interpreting instructions so that with the right book he could fix just about anything.

Never afraid of hard work, Mike was known not only for his job in electronics but also occasionally doing tree removal work and always working around the house or in the yard. He had a passion for learning, enjoyed listening to music as well as playing the guitar and piano, and loved spending time with family and friends.

Mike and Gaye raised four exceptional children, including his two oldest children who were adopted from South Korea in the early 1970s.

He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years Gaye Valente Parise, and his three sisters Nancy Parise, Tina Pannachio and her husband Joe Pannachio, and Rosemary Parise. He is survived by his four children Nancy Hanson and her husband Evan Hanson, Brian Parise, Linda LaMarca and her husband Danny LaMarca, and Tony Parise and his wife Kim Longshore. He is survived by his six grandchildren Sarah, Catherine, Lilly, Reverie, Lucas, and Rocky, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Interment will be June 16th at 11am at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Ga.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Alzheimer’s Foundation.