WymanTwp - J. Michael Tighe Jr., MSN, RN, 66, of Wyman Twp., passed away Wednesday evening January 27, 2021, at his home, after battling stage 4 metastatic cholangiocarcinoma. He was with his loved ones Christian and Brackett. Mike was born in Boston on February 28, 1954, a son of Joseph M. and Joan M. (Hayes) Tighe. He was raised in Dedham, MA. After graduating a year early from high school, Michael continued his education: Associate of Science, Computer Information Science from Dean College, MA., 1994; LPN from Mass. Bay Community College, 1996; Associate of Science in Nursing from Southern Maine Community College, 1999; and Master of Science in Nursing, Informatic Concentration from Walden University, 2010. Michael held a variety of employment positions including hair stylist with Lord and Taylor of Boston; Systems Manager and later Team Manager with Sun Life; Staff LPN with St. Joseph’s Manor in Portland, ME.; Staff RN with Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME.; Staff RN and then later Sr. Clinical Analyst IT&S with HCA Portsmouth Regional Hospital, Portsmouth, NH.; Online Adjunct Faculty with ITT Technical Institute, Grand Canyon University, and most recent York County Community College. Michael is also a published author having written two chapters in Online learning: A user-friendly approach for high school and college students (33-44) (59-68), Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield Education. Michael also enjoyed seasonal work as a bartender, server, and host, most notably at The Blue Water Inn, Valerie’s and Angelina’s restaurants in Ogunquit, ME.
Michael enjoyed his beach time in Ogunquit where he met his true soul mate, Christian. August 1, 1995 was the beginning of a “love-at-first-sight” romance. Only 3 months later October 21 did Michael and Christian make their life-long commitment to each other. When Marriage Equality passed in Maine in 2012, Michael and Christian were the very first gay couple to be married in Ogunquit. Michael never thought of himself as a trail blazer but instead always doing the right thing. Michael’s love for community and volunteerism was further developed when he was introduced to the Sugarloaf Community in 1995. Being a part of “THE Locker Room”, Michael was a commanding presence and quickly made many friends. Michael knew right from the start skiing was to be a major part of our lives forever. In 2015, Michael co-earned the Paul Schipper Iron Man Award with Bear Thompson, having skied 170 days. Michael also pursued to become one of the oldest Ski Patrol Candidates Sugarloaf has accepted in years, later to be awarded the Director’s Award in 2018/2019. Michael has said of all his awards and titles, being a member of Ski Patrol was his second proudest accomplishment, his first was Chris. For wherever Michael went, he was always known as “Chris and Mike”. Always a beaming smile, twinkling eyes, and on-the-edge ribbing, Michael loved life.
Michael was predeceased by his younger brother, Timmy in 1981; his mother Joan in 1982; his dad Joseph in 1998; and his beloved sister Brenda in 2011.
Michael is survived by his husband of 25 years, Christian A. Prudente of Wyman Twp. and his “little boy”, 7-year-old Boston terrier Brackett; awesome aunt and uncle John Tighe and his wife Grace (Franz) of Dedham, MA; brother Christopher Tighe and his wife Kathy (McGovern) of Myrtle Beach, SC; brother Dan Tighe of Norwood, MA; special “adopted” little sister Andrea (Foster) and her husband Bobby Mac Neil of Bellingham, MA; mother-in-law Theda Prudente of Newburgh, ME; brother Scot Prudente and his wife Elizabeth (Webb) of Bangor, ME; brother Todd Prudente and his wife Caryn (Kinney) of West Falmouth, ME; and many aunts and uncles and nieces and cousins. A celebration of Michael’s Life will be April 19, 2021. It will be held at The Rack, Carrabassett Valley, ME, at 4:00pm. Food and a cash bar will be provided following all Covid-19 protocols. Storytelling, music, a Block of the AIDS Quilt and fellowship will take place. Discounted hotel rooms provided by: Sugarloaf Mountain Hotel, 800-843-5623; and dog friendly Mountain View Motel, 207-246-2033. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to: Sugarloaf Charity Summit - Raising a mountain of money to Fight Cancer. Maine Cancer Foundation mainecancer.org EIN 01-0351077. GWRLT (Beach Plum Farm), PO Box 151 So. Berwick, ME 03908. info@gwrlt.org EIN 22-2736228. R. H. Bell Interfaith Chapel, 5085 Access Rd. Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947. sugarloafchapel.com EIN 01-6029248. Condolences and memories may be shared in his Book of memories at www.wilesrc.com. Cremation care has been provided by the Wiles Remembrance Center: Adams~McFarlane Chapel of Farmington.