Michael George Wunder

Michael George Wunder (Mike) passed away peacefully at home on Monday, April 24th, 2023. Mike was born in Munich, Germany on February 10th, 1962 to George and Elfriede Wunder, both predeceased. Mike is survived by his beloved wife, Melissa; his two daughters, Tori and Livi; and two sisters, Ann Armeno (Tony) and Linda Ackerman (Ben).

Mike initially earned an Associate’s degree in electrical engineering from Norwalk State Technical College and a bachelor’s degree in computer science, magna cum laude, from Sacred Heart University, receiving the medal of excellence in computer science. Mike’s youngest daughter, Livi, attended Sacred Heart University, just like her Dad. Mike returned later in life to the University of Connecticut for his MBA, ultimately graduating the same year that his daughter Tori also graduated from UConn. Tori eventually graduated from law school on the same weekend that Livi graduated with her bachelor’s degree. Mike was positively bursting with pride (and a little teary-eyed), driving himself and Melissa to watch Tori graduate in Pennsylvania and making the return trip that night to watch Livi graduate on Sunday in Connecticut.

Mike was an incredibly devoted, loving husband and father. He would do absolutely anything for his girls (including his dogs, Ella and Holly), going above and beyond every single day. There was nothing that Dad wouldn’t do or couldn’t handle. Dad got up every Saturday morning for over ten years to take Tori to horseback riding lessons in Bethany. When Tori bought her first house in July 2021, Dad told her: “This isn’t going to be like HGTV, Tor, we’re not going to renovate the entire house.” Dad proceeded to renovate every single room. When Liv was in college, Dad would pick her up any day of the week, any time of the day, and bring her home to watch movies and enjoy some of his famous chicken cutlets, Liv’s favorite.

Mike loved to cook, treating Melissa, his wife and best friend of 35 years, to delicious, sometimes “experimental” meals nearly every night. Mike and Melissa were a perfect match, they balanced each other out: Mike liked to save, and Melissa liked to spend; Mike liked to do laundry, and Melissa liked it done; Mike liked to fix things, and Melissa liked them fixed. Mike had a blazing sense of humor, and frequently reduced Melissa to fits of laughter with tears in her eyes, crying out, “you’re gonna make me pee!” Our family had a house on Highland Lake for years, where we spent many summers with family and friends boating, skating, and swimming in the (somewhat murky) water. The girls loved jumping off of the dock in the back yard, and Mike loved that it was the longest one on the lake.

Mike was an avid Yankees fan, attending games at Yankees stadium whenever he could and taking Tori and Liv with him every summer. He loved being back in Yankees Stadium for opening day each year. He loved poker, getting together with friends on Friday night every month or so for a poker tournament. He was so proud on the nights that he would win it all. Mike loved to ski, looking forward to the “Big Len Ski Trip” with his buddies every year.

Our Dad was “wunderful”. He was a genuinely good man, which is a very rare thing. Mike was loved by everyone he met. He was a force and he was full life. We all loved him so much. A man like Mike never truly dies.

Visitation will take place on Monday May 1, 2023 from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm at the West Haven Funeral Home at the Green.  At 12:30 remembrances and a brief prayer service will begin at the funeral home.  Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Milford.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Milford Animal Shelter 664 E. Broadway, Milford, CT. 06460.  

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