J. Michael Betz of West Haven, husband of Grace Billings, passed away on June 18 at the age of 78 after a long illness.

He was born on April 24, 1946 in Cincinnati, Ohio, son of John Lewis Betz and Dorothy Hendrixson Betz, eldest of their 4 children Mike, Patricia, Steven, and Antoinette.

The family moved to Connecticut when he was 7 years old.  He grew up in Simsbury, where he made many life-long friends - friendships that were renewed at Mike's 50th Simsbury High School reunion.

He graduated from University of Hartford and earned a Master's Degree from University of New Haven in Municipal Finance - later in life, he taught Municipal Finance there as an Adjunct Professor.

He worked for many years in municipal government finance, including as Controller, City of New Haven; Finance Director, City of Hamden; as well as positions in Milford, North Branford and North Haven.  He also worked in banking focused on Municipal Bonds.  As a young man he was a jack of many trades including driving a florist truck and a school bus, working in the Simsbury tobacco fields, and as a short order cook. Upon retirement, he enjoyed weekly golf games at Laurel View, walks in West Haven Savin Rock with his wife and dogs. He also utilized his love of cars and driving as an Uber and Lyft driver.

He loved sports, including baseball - playing catcher as a boy like his father. He was a fan of the Yankees and Knicks. He was an avid tennis player and passionate golfer, and was a 15+ year member of the Yale Golf Course and frequenter of many CT area golf courses in retirement. He was intellectually curious and a close follower of current events.

Besides his wife, he is survived by his three children, Adrienne Betz Oliver (Woodbridge) and her husband Rob; Kevin Betz (Nyack, NY) and his wife Jennifer; and J. Andrew Betz (Killington, VT);  his one remaining sibling, Antoinette (Toni) and her husband John; his five grandchildren, Liam, Seamus and Maeve Oliver; and Amelia and Jackson Betz; and his niece Philomena Duffy; and his former wife Susan Trifiro Kocielo, mother of his three children. He is also survived by his dog Rosie.

A memorial service will be held at the Hawley Lincoln Memorial, 424 Elm St. New Haven, Sunday June 30 at 11am.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mike's honor to: W.H.E.A.T. Pantry  https://www.wheatpantry.org or Doctors Without Borders https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org