Monson stalwart passes away

Friends: Michael Kane lived, died with dignity

By Douglas Farmer and Jennifer Wroblewski
Staff Writer

MONSON — After many years of dedication to the Monson Public Schools and the surrounding community, Michael Kane has long since carved his signature into the town’s memory.
An avid woodcarver, fellow artisan Robert Anderson of Hatfield said that Kane could often be found with his apron in front of the television, making lovespoons or simple Christmas ornaments that he would give out to family and friends. And as a teacher and administrator for many years within the local school district, Kane has, according to those who knew him, left an indelible mark on their memories – encapsulated, perhaps, by the naming of the Michael J. Kane Gymnasium at Monson High School over a decade ago.
After a long, courageous battle with cancer, Kane died on Sunday, May 2, 2010 at the age of 72.
A funeral Mass was scheduled for today, Thursday, May 6 at St. Patrick’s Church at 10 a.m., with interment to follow at St. Michael’s Cemetery in Springfield. Memorial donations may be made to the Monson Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 31, Monson, MA 01057.
He is survived by his partner Terry O’Connor of Monson; his three children, Michael B. Kane and his wife Kathleen of Durham, Conn., Sean E. Kane and his wife Susan of Rehoboth, and Heather A. Owen and her husband Matthew of Orlando, Fla.; and his five grandchildren, Jake, Ian, Seamus, Brenden and Marie Kane.
He was married to Maureen Brown Kane for 37 years when she was tragically killed by a passing truck while walking on Cape Cod in 2001.
Ever the volunteer, friends and colleagues recalled ventures the elder Kane made from his home within days of his passing to Monson Savings Bank to sign off on a scholarship and to Memorial Hall to make sure the Monson Woodcarver’s Club had access to Memorial Hall downtown for their show on Saturday – all while receiving hospice services.
“Mike was an incredible inspiration for both Ed (Maia) and myself on the school committee,” said Jeffrey Lord, who served with Kane on that board in recent years. “I can honestly say he died with the same dignity with which he lived. He brought back credibility to the school committee after the debacle of a few years ago, and I’m glad he was here to steer that ship.”
On a somewhat more humorous note, Lord recalled several weeks ago when he had purchased a red 1967 Cadillac convertible and drove it to Kane’s home to show it off.
“My father lives far enough away that I couldn’t drive to see him, but I wanted Mike to see it and sick as he was, he came out grinning ear to ear. He later gave me an 8 x 10 picture of the car, but that’s the type of guy he was.”
It was shortly thereafter on March 20 of this year, that Lord drove Kane in the flashy car to the candidates night hosted by the Monson Democratic Town Committee, where he was presented with the “Democrat of the Year” honor. Ed Harrison, chairman of that committee, said when Kane’s name came up at a meeting early this year, he was the unanimous choice for the award.
“When somebody brought his name up, everyone said ‘Yeah, Yeah,’” remembered Harrison this week. “It was fortunate, in retrospect, that we were able to share our feelings with him while he was still alive.”
Also recognizing Kane at the Democratic Town Committee event was state Sen. Stephen M. Brewer (D-Barre), who recalled a friend of his own.
“I’ve known Michael for about 15 years and what I mentioned that night and what I think is appropriate to say is that a lot of people leave footprints on the shore as the tide comes in and washes them away, but Michael Kane’s footprints are going to be long lasting,” he said. “As Neil Diamond said, he was done too soon, as far as I’m concerned.”
Monson High School Principal James Peters said when he was hired as assistant principal in 1993, Kane became his mentor, and he has spent the subsequent years emulating the elder administrator. He said he traces his involvement with such organizations as the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletics Association to Kane, who was very involved in youth sports.
“I think he was truly recognized as a great educational leader in this area,” said Peters. “He was a godfather to one of my sons, so we were that close. Things didn’t always need to be spoken between us.”
His son Sean Kane remembers him as a devoted father of traditional Irish Catholic upbringing. Sean works in motor vehicle and consumer products safety, and has been heavily immersed in the cases surrounding the safety of certain Toyota vehicles and Firestone tires.
“I think one of the biggest things I took away from both my dad and my mom was the importance of serving others and I’ve tried to pass that on to my own children,” he said, confirming Lord’s story of his father traveling about to make sure the Monson Woodcarver’s Club show came off without a hitch last weekend.
“He was in pain toward the end, but the last thing he wanted was to be a burden to anyone,” said Sean. “He wanted to make sure everyone was taken care of before he left.”