The following obituary appeared on Hoyt Funeral Home’s website:
Michael James Havard, age 52, a New Canaan resident since 1995, died suddenly, on February 24, 2015, at Norwalk Hospital.
Born in New Rochelle, NY, August 14, 1962, he was the son of Marilyn Busic Havard of Southbury, CT and the late James E. Havard.
Mike was a devoted husband to his wife Judy, a loyal friend, and loving father to his three sons, Jack, Sam and Henry, all of New Canaan. The warmth of his smile and the level of his compassion touched everyone he met instantly. He was a real gem.
Regardless of what corporate setting he was in, he always looked for opportunities of service to those in need and to do good works. He was always so grateful for the opportunity and privilege to work for two charitable organizations founded by Paul Newman – Newman’s Own and Serious Fun for a combined 14 years as Chief Marketing Officer.
In addition to his passion to help others, he brought his brilliance as a marketer to leverage Mr. Newman’s good works and vision. He took his love of running and co-founded Team Hole in the Wall, running four New York City Marathons to raise money to send children with life threatening illnesses to Mr. Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang Camps around the world and he was training to run the Boston Marathon in April to mark the 10 year anniversary of that initiative. He built that marketing expertise for 9 years at Kraft Foods and most recently had been an executive at a local private equity firm. He held service related board or advisory roles at the New Covenant House Soup Kitchen, Volunteermatch.com and the Duke University School of Business Center for the Advancement of Social Enterprise. Over the years he was also a speaker and panelist at a number of cause marketing forums.
He earned his MBA from Georgetown University graduating with High Honors in 1989 and earned his undergraduate degree at Trinity College in Hartford, where he and Judy met.
Beyond all of these charitable works was his greatest passion: his family and friends. From family vacations to his favorite “nothing going on weekends” with Judy and the boys, Mike so enjoyed those times, especially if they also included a good run or tennis game. He also loved to mentor and coach with his friends—including the 8 year old Mighty Mohawks and the 11-year-old Championship Reds team to helping high school and college students with their future plans.
In addition to his mother Marilyn, he leaves behind his brother Chris and his family in Princeton, NJ, and Ed and his family in Charlotte, VT, many dear Havard and Mino cousins, aunts and nieces and nephews and Judy’s family, the Petersons.
Calling hours will be Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Hoyt Funeral Home in New Canaan and a mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Aloysius Church, Cherry Street, New Canaan, CT on Saturday Feb. 28, 2015.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Serious Fun Children’s Network or donations can be made to the Havard children’s fund, payable to Lampert, Toohey & Rucci, Trustees c/o Philip J Toohey 46 Main Street New Canaan, CT 06840.