Obituary for Michael F. Tone
Michael F. Tone
August 8, 2022
Michael Francis Tone 76, of Syracuse passed away peacefully on Monday. Michael was born on January 10,1946 in Syracuse NY. He proudly served in the US Air Force in Vietnam, returning to Syracuse after the war. He graduated with a degree in history from Syracuse University. He retired from Bristol Myers Squibb where he worked as a purchasing manager for many years. Mike was many things. Growing up he had to prove himself the man of the house. He was also a big brother. He later became a loving husband, a caring father, and devoted grandfather. He was a committed friend. He was a great mentor. Mike embodied all the roles while radiating a calm and peacefulness that was always contagious and magnetic. He was kind, caring and empathic. He viewed, received and accepted people as they were, without judgement. Mike’s sage wisdom, that came from his own knowledge and complexity, was freely and simply offered. And that wisdom has inevitably been woven into the life view of everyone he crossed paths with. Many knew Mike as their first, last, and perhaps their only stop for caring and thoughtful advice when an important life decision was looming. He was that “go to” person for so very many. Michael was a true patriarch for his family, and beyond. He resolved to be, and truly was, the best father and grandfather he could be. As his three children always said, he made them feel very safe. They remember him lovingly as “a duty driven family man with a killer combover!” So what does Mike look like to those he loved to serve? When asked, this is how his grandchildren described him: He always really listened to me. He understood what I was saying He was compassionate. He always helped us see the bigger picture. He was open minded; never judgmental He had empathy and wisdom. He was clever. He was what a man should be-a “textbook Man” The world was a better place for Michael Tone having been here. And it is a lessor place for his passing. Michael was predeceased by his brother Martin Tone and mother Lillian Nichols Tone. He is survived by his loving wife and best friend of 48 years Gail Tone; his daughters, Jody Tone and Erika Tone; his son, Karl Tone; five grandchildren, Wesley, Collin, Natalie, Mason, and Maya. He also leaves behind many loving family and friends who will miss him deeply. A graveside service will be held at a later date at Woodlawn Cemetery with military honors.
August 8, 2022
Michael Francis Tone 76, of Syracuse passed away peacefully on Monday. Michael was born on January 10,1946 in Syracuse NY. He proudly served in the US Air Force in Vietnam, returning to Syracuse after the war. He graduated with a degree in history from Syracuse University. He retired from Bristol Myers Squibb where he worked as a purchasing manager for many years. Mike was many things. Growing up he had to prove himself the man of the house. He was also a big brother. He later became a loving husband, a caring father, and devoted grandfather. He was a committed friend. He was a great mentor. Mike embodied all the roles while radiating a calm and peacefulness that was always contagious and magnetic. He was kind, caring and empathic. He viewed, received and accepted people as they were, without judgement. Mike’s sage wisdom, that came from his own knowledge and complexity, was freely and simply offered. And that wisdom has inevitably been woven into the life view of everyone he crossed paths with. Many knew Mike as their first, last, and perhaps their only stop for caring and thoughtful advice when an important life decision was looming. He was that “go to” person for so very many. Michael was a true patriarch for his family, and beyond. He resolved to be, and truly was, the best father and grandfather he could be. As his three children always said, he made them feel very safe. They remember him lovingly as “a duty driven family man with a killer combover!” So what does Mike look like to those he loved to serve? When asked, this is how his grandchildren described him: He always really listened to me. He understood what I was saying He was compassionate. He always helped us see the bigger picture. He was open minded; never judgmental He had empathy and wisdom. He was clever. He was what a man should be-a “textbook Man” The world was a better place for Michael Tone having been here. And it is a lessor place for his passing. Michael was predeceased by his brother Martin Tone and mother Lillian Nichols Tone. He is survived by his loving wife and best friend of 48 years Gail Tone; his daughters, Jody Tone and Erika Tone; his son, Karl Tone; five grandchildren, Wesley, Collin, Natalie, Mason, and Maya. He also leaves behind many loving family and friends who will miss him deeply. A graveside service will be held at a later date at Woodlawn Cemetery with military honors.