Michael A Ornato

Michael Ornato left us on February 10th, 2024, at his Marco Island Florida residence surrounded by his children Mike, Tim, Dan, and Jocelyn. Michael was the son of Michele' and Madeline Ornato of Scotch Plains New Jersey, who’s families emigrated from Italy. During his youth he took to athletics (football and baseball), and music (trumpet) and excelled at both. After graduating from high school in 1952, he enlisted in the Army and was selected to be a guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It was there they learned of his prowess on trumpet and offered him the job of bugler for ceremonial and burial duties at The Arlington National Cemetery.

After completion of his Army service, he was invited to join a dixieland group as the cornetist before going off to Ithaca College. The group embarked on a summer tour to Europe, where he met his future wife of fifty-eight years, Harriet Hunt Ornato, whom he married in 1956. During his senior year at Ithaca, he was voted captain of the football team and later inducted into the Ithaca College Hall of Fame All Decade team for 1950-1960.

In 1961, Michael started his coaching career by accepting a head coaching position in Waterloo, NY. After a successful stint in Waterloo, he moved closer to his parents and continued his winning ways accepting the head coaching job in Port Chester, NY. In 1972 he moved again and built a successful program of twenty-six years at Greenwich High School in Connecticut, later being inducted into the Greenwich High School Hall of Fame.

Michael had an outstanding career of thirty-five years coaching at the high school level and mentored many young athletes both on and off the field; many to become successful young adults, players, and coaches. Of all of Michael’s accomplishments, he was most proud of all the brothers he coached and the families he would associate with throughout the years. He is remembered as an excellent role model and character builder for the young men he mentored.

Michael said many times that he had a wonderful life and that the perfect game ends - in a tie!

There will be a church service on April 20th at 1pm at the Stanwich Church, 220 Taconic Rd, Greenwich Ct., 06831. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to The Avow Foundation: (239) 649-3683 www. avowcares.org.

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