Michael Lazzaro Obituary — If you’ve landed here looking for the Michael Lazzaro obituary, you’re not alone. This name belongs to several remarkable men — a classical pianist who devoted his life to music and dance, a young sheriff’s deputy who battled cancer with unbelievable courage, a lifelong union trucker, a decorated Chicago police veteran, and a devoted family man from New Hampshire. Each one lived fully and was deeply loved.
This article brings together what’s known about these men — their stories, their families, their final days, and how you can honor their memory. Whether you’re searching for service details, trying to leave condolences, or simply trying to understand who Michael Lazzaro was, you’ll find what you need here.
Who Was Michael Lazzaro?
A Name Carried by Remarkable Men
It’s not unusual to search for someone by name and find several people. That’s exactly what happens when you search “Michael Lazzaro obituary.” At least five different men by this name have passed away between 2016 and 2023, each with his own story, his own family, and his own profound impact on the people around him.
None of these men should be reduced to a brief death notice. They were fathers, sons, husbands, neighbors, colleagues, and friends. And each of them deserves to be remembered properly.
Understanding Why You’re Searching for This Obituary
You might be a family member looking to confirm service details. You could be an old friend who just heard the news. Maybe you’re a colleague, a former student, or simply someone who grew up knowing one of these men. Whatever your reason, finding the right Michael Lazzaro obituary online can feel overwhelming, especially when multiple results come up at once.
This guide will help you find what you’re looking for and give you a fuller picture of who these men were.
The Lives of Michael Lazzaro — A Compassionate Overview
Michael James Lazzaro (1955–2019) — The Maestro of Music
Michael James Lazzaro was born on August 20, 1955, in Houston, Texas, the youngest son of John and Camilla Lazzaro. From the very beginning, music was his world.
He started playing piano at age seven. By the time he was ten, he was already performing as a church organist — a remarkable thing for any child to do. That early start set the tone for an entire life dedicated to the craft.
He went on to earn a Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, one of the most prestigious music conservatories in the country. There, he was honored with the William Kurzban Prize in Piano and was elected to the Pi Kappa Lambda Musical Honor Society. He wasn’t just talented — he was exceptional.
After graduation, Michael was appointed to the piano teaching faculty at the Cleveland Institute of Music’s Preparatory Division. He later performed as a piano accompanist with the Cleveland Ballet, the Houston Ballet, and the Houston Grand Opera — institutions known for demanding excellence.
But his greatest contribution came at The HARID Conservatory in Boca Raton, Florida, a nationally recognized academy for classical dance. Michael was a founding faculty member and served as its Principal Pianist and Music Director for 30 years. He believed wholeheartedly that dance was the physical expression of music. He didn’t just play the piano — he shaped the artistic souls of hundreds of young dancers.
He was also a devoted member of the Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church Choir, and he loved his Italian heritage deeply. His second passion, after music, was gourmet cooking. He mastered family recipes and then adventured into Chinese and Indian cuisines, because that’s the kind of man he was — always hungry for more beauty in the world.
Michael passed away on January 5, 2019, following a valiant battle with cancer. He was 63 years old.
A funeral service was held on Saturday, January 19, 2019, at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home in Houston. Visitation began at 9:30 AM, with the service at 10:30 AM and burial to follow.
He’s remembered by his sister Virginia, his brother Stephen John, and a wide circle of nieces, nephews, and cousins who cherish everything he was.
One of his former students, now an Episcopal priest, wrote about him: the word that came up again and again was “seen” — Michael had a gift for making people feel seen, respected, and challenged. That’s a rare kind of teacher.
Michael Anthony Lazzaro (1993–2023) — The Deputy Who Fought to Serve
Michael Anthony Lazzaro was born on April 11, 1993, in Troy, New York, the son of Michael and Cheri Rankin Jr. and Stacey Lazzaro and John Heffern. He grew up with a deep sense of purpose and a calling toward public service.
He began his law enforcement career as a corrections officer in Rensselaer County, New York, spending three years there before relocating to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Once there, he pursued something he’d always wanted — becoming a Patrol Deputy for the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office. He treasured the work. Serving and protecting his community wasn’t just a job. It was who he was.
Outside of work, Michael loved being with the people he cared about. He was learning to hunt with his buddies. He enjoyed time with his partner Loren, his kids Pike and Presley, his siblings, and a massive extended family who adored him.
In March 2019, Michael was diagnosed with angiosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. He fought it. And for three years, he won — remaining cancer-free and continuing to serve as a deputy. But the cancer returned, and on April 14, 2023, Michael Anthony Lazzaro passed away at Sentara RMH Medical Center in Harrisonburg, Virginia, surrounded by his family. He was 30 years old.
His funeral was held on April 22, 2023, at Kyger Funeral Home in Harrisonburg, with interment at Edgewood Cemetery in Grottoes, Virginia. A memorial was later held in New York as well.
In lieu of flowers, his family asked for memorial contributions to the Lazzaro Kids Trust Fund at First Bank & Trust Company in Harrisonburg — a fund created to support his children, Pike and Presley, as they grow up without their dad.
He was a member of the American Legion, Post 927, and the Vagabond Club of Green Island, New York. He leaves behind the love of his life, Loren Collins, his two young children, and a community of first responders who called him brother.
Michael H. Lazzaro (1938–2019) — A Proud Union Trucker
Michael H. Lazzaro was born on February 3, 1938, and he lived the kind of life built on honest work and loyal love. He spent his entire career as a trucker for Teamster Local No. 25 in Boston, Massachusetts — a job he was proud of from the first day to the last.
After he retired, Michael and his wife Maureen settled in The Villages in Florida, where they enjoyed golfing together and watching football and baseball. Simple pleasures. The best kind.
He passed away on January 28, 2019, at age 80, under the peaceful care of Cornerstone Hospice. Per his wishes, no formal services were held. His family asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Cornerstone Hospice in The Villages.
He’s survived by his wife Maureen, three daughters — Beth Leger, Donna Omobono, and Michelle Leclair — and five grandchildren who got to know the warmth of a man who worked hard so they’d have it a little easier.
Michael J. Lazzaro Sr. (1921–2019) — A Chicago Legacy
Michael J. Lazzaro Sr. lived to 97. That alone says something about the man. He was a lifelong resident of Chicago, a retired Chicago Police Department officer, a devoted husband, and a proud father and grandfather.
He passed away on July 21, 2019, leaving behind his son Michael Jr. and daughter-in-law Helen, his son Charles and daughter-in-law Randi, and his daughter Barbara. He was also a cherished grandfather to multiple grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and a devoted member of the Moose Lodge and American Legion.
A visitation was held on July 24, 2019, at Nelson Funeral Home in Park Ridge, Illinois. Private interment followed at Lake View Cemetery in Rib Lake, Wisconsin. The family directed memorial contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
One tribute from a longtime friend described him as witty, fair-minded, kind, and honest — qualities that friend called “sufficiently rare to make his death a loss all the more deeply felt.” That’s a tribute worth earning.
Michael R. Lazzaro (1956–2022) — A Quiet Strength in Hampton, NH
Michael R. Lazzaro was born on June 26, 1956, in Keene, New Hampshire, the son of Roland and Valerie (Shine) Lazzaro. He was raised in Keene and made his home in Hampton, NH, where he passed away on August 2, 2022, at age 66, after a lengthy illness.
His obituary was handled by Remick & Gendron Funeral Home in Hampton. A tribute wall was created by his family to make it easy for friends and loved ones to share memories of him.
He was remembered as a man of quiet strength — the kind of person whose absence is felt long after they’re gone.
How Each Michael Lazzaro Touched the Lives Around Him
A Musical Legacy That Spanned 50 Years
Michael James Lazzaro didn’t just perform music — he lived inside it. Former colleagues and students wrote about him as someone who made classical music feel alive, emotional, and deeply personal. One guest artist who worked alongside him at the Houston Ballet remembered him as an inspiration — not just for the dancers, but for visiting teachers too. His joy was contagious. His knowledge was encyclopedic. And his love for his students was, by all accounts, the truest thing about him.
Fifty years of performing. Thirty years at one conservatory. Hundreds of students whose understanding of music and movement was shaped by the man at the piano. That’s not a career. That’s a calling answered fully.
Protecting a Community in Uniform
Michael Anthony Lazzaro’s colleagues at the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office didn’t just lose a deputy when he passed — they lost someone who embodied why you put on the badge in the first place. He moved hundreds of miles to pursue the job he wanted. He fought cancer twice and came back to work in between. He learned to hunt with his friends because he loved being part of something with the people he trusted.
First responders from across the region — including HFD, RCFR, and HPD — showed up for Michael’s family in his final days. That kind of support tells you everything about the mark he left.
The Quiet Pride of a Working Man
Michael H. Lazzaro drove trucks for decades and never apologized for it. He was proud of his union, proud of his work, proud of his family. There’s dignity in that. The tributes left on his memorial page — brief, warm, full of love — paint a picture of someone who showed up every day and made life a little better for the people around him.
Funeral and Memorial Service Details
How to Find Specific Service Information
If you’re looking for funeral or memorial service details for a specific Michael Lazzaro, here’s where to look:
For Michael James Lazzaro (Houston, TX, 2019), services were held at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home. The obituary is hosted on Dignity Memorial’s website.
For Michael Anthony Lazzaro (Harrisonburg, VA, 2023), the funeral was held at Kyger Funeral Home. The obituary appears on Legacy.com via the Albany Times Union and also on the Daily News-Record’s website.
For Michael H. Lazzaro (The Villages, FL, 2019), no formal services were held. The obituary is hosted on Baldwin Brothers Funeral & Cremation’s website.
For Michael J. Lazzaro Sr. (Chicago, IL, 2019), services were held at Nelson Funeral Home in Park Ridge, Illinois.
For Michael R. Lazzaro (Hampton, NH, 2022), the obituary is hosted at Remick & Gendron Funeral Home’s website.
How to Send Flowers or Leave Condolences
Most of these obituaries include options to send flowers directly through partnered florists. You can also leave written condolences through the online guestbook on each funeral home’s website or on Legacy.com. A few short, heartfelt words mean more than you might think to a grieving family — even months after a loss.
How to Honor the Memory of Michael Lazzaro
Leave a Message on the Online Guestbook
Every one of these memorial pages has a guestbook. Don’t underestimate how much it matters. Families revisit these pages — sometimes years later — to feel close to the person they lost. A memory, a specific moment, even just your name and a sentence about who he was to you — that’s a gift.
Make a Memorial Contribution
For Michael Anthony Lazzaro, the family specifically asked for contributions to the Lazzaro Kids Trust Fund at First Bank & Trust Company in Harrisonburg, Virginia. This fund supports his two young children, Pike and Presley, who are growing up without their father.
For Michael J. Lazzaro Sr., contributions were directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
For Michael H. Lazzaro, the family requested donations to Cornerstone Hospice in The Villages, Florida.
Plant a Tree or Dedicate a Star in His Name
Several of the memorial platforms — including Legacy.com and Dignity Memorial — offer options to plant a tree or dedicate a star in the name of the deceased. These are small, lasting tributes that families genuinely appreciate. If flowers feel too fleeting and a donation feels too impersonal, a planted tree is something that grows.
How to Find the Right Michael Lazzaro Obituary Online
Best Resources for Obituary Searches
The most reliable places to find an obituary online include Legacy.com, Dignity Memorial, and the website of the specific funeral home that handled services. Local newspaper archives — like the Albany Times Union or the Houston Chronicle — also publish obituaries and often keep them archived indefinitely.
If you know the approximate year of death or the city where the person lived, search for “[name] obituary [city] [year]” to get more specific results.
Tips for Narrowing Your Search by Location or Date
When a name is common, adding location or dates to your search makes a big difference. Try “Michael Lazzaro obituary Houston 2019” or “Michael Lazzaro Virginia 2023” to pull up the right person faster. You can also search within Legacy.com’s name directory, which groups all results for a given name by publication and date.
Frequently Asked Questions About Michael Lazzaro Obituary
Which Michael Lazzaro obituary is the most searched? Based on available records, the most widely covered is Michael James Lazzaro of Houston, Texas (1955–2019), whose obituary was published via the Houston Chronicle and hosted on Dignity Memorial. Michael Anthony Lazzaro of Harrisonburg, Virginia (1993–2023) also received significant attention, particularly from the law enforcement community.
What did Michael James Lazzaro do for a living? He was a classical pianist and music director. He spent 30 years as the Principal Pianist and Music Director at The HARID Conservatory in Boca Raton, Florida, and performed with major ballet and opera companies throughout his career.
How old was Michael Anthony Lazzaro when he died? He was 30 years old. He passed away on April 14, 2023, after a second battle with angiosarcoma.
Where can I leave condolences for the Lazzaro family? You can leave condolences on Legacy.com, Dignity Memorial’s website, or the relevant funeral home’s obituary page. A guestbook link is available on most of these pages.
What is the difference between an obituary and a death notice? A death notice is a brief announcement of someone’s passing — usually just the name, date of death, and service information. An obituary is a fuller tribute that includes biographical information, personality details, family relationships, and sometimes personal remembrances from friends and colleagues.
How long after death is an obituary typically published? Most obituaries are published within a few days to two weeks of the date of death. The timing depends on the newspaper’s schedule, when families submit the information, and whether services have been finalized.
Can I find old obituaries online for free? Yes. Legacy.com hosts a large archive of obituaries that are searchable for free. Dignity Memorial, funeral home websites, and local newspaper archives also keep obituaries online, often indefinitely.
What does “preceded in death by” mean in an obituary? It means that person died before the individual being memorialized. For example, if an obituary says Michael was “preceded in death by his parents,” it means his parents passed away before he did. It’s a traditional phrase used to acknowledge family members who are no longer living.