Michael John Bailey

Newport, RI -Michael John Bailey, 81, of Newport, Rhode Island, died on April 12, 2023. He was the husband of Margaret (Fitzgerald) Bailey. Born in Paterson, NJ on January 2, 1942, he was the son of Earle and Elizabeth (Delaney) Bailey. Michael grew up in Hillsdale, NJ and attended George G. White elementary school and Tabor Academy in Marion, MA during his high school years. He attended Rhode Island School of Design, where he met his future wife, M. Jane Fitzgerald. They married and returned to Hillsdale, NJ to raise their two daughters Kelly and Michele. He worked with his father at the family civil engineering business for many years as well as being a brick mason and artist. Because of his lifelong love of sailing, he took his family on many summer vacations sailing in the Long Island Sound and New England, and has passed that love down to his children. Michael was a member of the Hillsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps for many years. He joined the Corps so that he could give back to the community for taking care of his own mother during her times of illness. Michael built and/or repaired many prominent spaces in Hillsdale in his capacity as a mason, including the ...[more]

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ebo in the center of town and the façade of Marsala's Hardware Store. He was also well known in Hillsdale and Newport, RI for his signs and artwork. Michael and Jane moved to Newport, RI in 1998 where Michael continued working as a mason and creating artwork and signage for several local businesses, including one of his favorite stomping grounds, The Corner Café on Broadway. His masonry can be seen locally in many Newport neighborhoods. Michael is survived by his wife of 61 years, M. Jane (Fitzgerald) Bailey, his children, Kelly Bailey (Eric), and Michele Bailey, his brother Earle W. Bailey III (Donna), his grandchildren, Betheny (Mather) Stinson (Eric), Charlie Flood, Tristin Flood, Terence Flood, Kaileigh Pfirrmann, and Reilly Pfirrmann. Michael also leaves his great grandchildren, Thea & Nora Stinson, as well as his beloved nieces, Elizabeth (Knoll) Glassberg (Harold), and Lisa (Knoll) Diana (Greg) and their children. He also leaves behind his dog Leroy. Michael is preceded in death by his mother, Elizabeth (Delaney) Bailey, his father, Earle 'Jack' Bailey, and his sister Beth (Bailey) Knoll. Services for Mr. Bailey will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the following organizations: Save A Lab Rescue: www.savealabrescue.org, check donations: Save A Lab Rescue, 165 Ellery Ave, Middletown, RI 02842 or RISPCA: www.rispca.org