Last Wednesday,** September 14, 2011, my brother Patrick Michael Connolly died from a stroke. He was the founder of Shanghaiexpat. His death was very quick and likely painless. It comes as a totally unexpected shock to all of us who knew and loved him. He would have been 58 years old in November. His wife, mother, and family are having a very difficult time. Michael was his mother's first living child. Michael leaves behind his wife Margaret and their two sons, Aidan (will be four in November) and Ian (will be one in December).
Michael was a kind, creative, gentle, wise, loving, and intelligent man. Of all my five siblings, Michael is the closest kindred spirit to my own. Always my brother and friend, he was also at various times in my life my: counselor, consoler, house mate, spiritual guide, confidant, benefactor, buddy and mentor. He spent his life risking to do what he loved, and doing it well. He loved with a large and generous heart.
I'll miss him for the rest of my life.
Your best thoughts and prayers are appreciated for his family and friends.
Blessing,
Kathleen
**(according to my time zone USA)

Big, big, loss.

You couldnt find a more gentle, generous, nicer and fairer guy.

Worked with him for several years and learned a lot from Mike. He put up with my juvenile crap here for ages too, never judging, always the voice of moderation, forgive my pun.

This site will survive, and forever remind us of what a great guy he was.

My condolences to Margaret, the kids and his family in the US.

I would be very hard pressed to name a person who has had a bigger impact on more lives than Michael...

The world is a better place for his having been here, and a little sadder today for his leaving.

Condolences and prayers for his family.

My condolences to the family and friends. The words of the ones that had the pleasure to met him speak a lot of the character of Michael. RIP

Kathleen,
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Michael was a very sweet man and so devoted to his family. He will be greatly missed by the Shanghai community and all those who, like me, were so greatly impacted by his presence there. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

There are no words for these dark days.
Only know that we think of you and yours.

My sincerest condolences to his family and friends.

RIP.

Thank you Michael. you will be missed by many many people.

i met michael in real life just a few weeks ago, at a sunday morning coffee meetup. he struck me as a sweet, caring, thoughtful man. i'd told him that his site had been an invaluable resource for me even before i arrived in shanghai, but i couldn't quite find the words to convey just how valuable that was. i came away thinking that michael was one of that rare breed who gives something that can't possibly be measured and who likely gets very little in return. that kind of selflessness is rare indeed.

i'm glad i got to meet him. he was good people. one of the truly good guys.

my deepest condolences.

Oh, wow. I am so, so sorry to hear of Michael's passing. He was a truly decent guy and will be missed very much.

I first met Michael in 2004 but even after I left Shanghai we stayed in contact. I last saw him in April when we met up for lunch. Talk was of the usual problems in the forums but more importantly it was about family and his enjoyment of fatherhood. The times spent with Aidan and newly born Ian were giving him great enjoyment as the slowly grow into his new role in life.

I think a lot of people will be grateful for the role he played through this site.

Rest In Peace Big Man

What Michael started here helped so many people (me included) and will be helping many others for a long time to come.

Very sad, surprised and humbled ..

Condolences especially to his family and closest friends .. RIP.

johnny_tropicana wrote:Michael is in a better place, I know we will all keep his wife and children in our thoughts and prayers. Rest In Peace Brother.

I second this.


My sincerest condolences to his family and friends.

I am so sorry to hear of his passing and I hope that his wife and children take strength in the fact that he was a wonderful, generous man whose work has made the lives of many expats here easier, and he will be sorely missed.

May he rest in peace.

WOW...last time i met michael was when the sunday coffeee meeting moves to the Bazaar just a few weeks ago, we even had a short chat..
also talked to him a couple of times during wednesday mixers, last was in brownstone.

He is a nice person. Deepest condolences to the family

I never met Michael, but his work added a wonderful dimension to my understanding of Shanghai. I offer my sincere condolences to his family and friends.

I think the best thing anyone can say about a person is that their life made a positive difference in the world. Michael's clearly did.

To Michael's wife and children, be proud of the man who was your husband and father. He touched people's lives in a very positive way. Please help his goodness to live on by emulating his best qualities in your own lives.

NOOOOOOO! This is so shocking and sad I met Michael back in 2004, and even worked with him for a bit. Just like what everyone says about him, he is a wonderful human being that deserves to be living forever. I was going to see if I could meet him next month in Shanghai, sigh, I am still in disbelief. The thought of no more post from our familiar man of wisdom Michael is profoundly painful and will be very difficult to overcome. He will be missed dearly by all.

My deepest condolences to his beloved ones.

Wow. Just wow. So sorry to hear this and our condolences to his family. Michael was a very nice, friendly and extremely helpful guy. I believe you measure a person by the impact he had on others, and he has had a major positive influence on the expat community here for years.

Very sad, I never was honored to meet him in person. I grieve for his young kids, and Family. I am keenly aware of this having a 2 year old, and soon to be 8 year old, and being over 60. My thoughts, and prayers go out to them. perhaps we could take up a collection from the community to help them out?
I am out of the country until next month, but if anyone there could set something up, I would be more than happy to donate to help.

I lost my Dad suddenly when I was only nine, we was the kind of guy Michael was. I agree you do measure a person by the impact they have on others. Bad people are quickly forgotten.

Oh my God...never met Michael but always seem pleasant and helpful on this site.

Rest in Peace, and may he start an expat site in the afterlife waiting for us....

Very sorry to hear of this.

Shanghaiexpat.com stands as testimony to Michael. It is, I believe, the most active expat site in China.

I imagine (and I have heard previously) that most of that success is due to Michael's dedication.

Rest in Peace.

Rest in Peace Michael.

Condolences to his family and friends.

been a long time since my last post, pretty much due the fights over here, a forum which was started by a person that i dont know, but has helped a lot of people (including myself) to get advices, meet people, and many other uncountable things.

Rest in peace, may god protect your family.

Some may contribute now to make this place, a better place, without fights.

Kathleen, I'm proud of you, there are so many people love your brother in China and U.S.
Margaret, I can't imagine what you and your family are going through, you have a such a great husband.

I was fortunate to have met Mr. Michael Connolly in 2003 and since then my life and career changed a lot. I was invited to attend his thankgiving party every year. He had an aura of kindness surrounding him. I'm so sad today that I have such a great friend passed away.

May the soul of Michael, and those of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace.

Terrible news. This place won't be the same without him

Very sad news, he seemed to be an amazing guy. I wanted to go the one of the Sunday meetings, mainly to meet him. Unfortunately I didn't make it in time. Shanghaiexpat will always keep his memory alive. We are all grateful to him for creating it and working hard to make it better. I wish his wife and kids to be strong and get through this as smoothly as possible.