Michael Charles “Mickey” Pattavina

Michael Charles “Mickey” Pattavina – 93, Passed away on April 19, 2024 at the High Point House in Haverhill Ma. after a short period of declining health with his loving family by his side. Born June 20th, 1930, in Lowell and the only child to parents Marcella and Joseph Pattavina. His father Joseph passed away when Michael was three and he was raised by his single mother Marcy who worked tirelessly in the Lowell Boot mills to provide a better life for her son.

Michael was a lifelong resident of Lowell and graduated from Lowell High School class of 1948. Shortly after, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was part of the military campaign in the Korean war. Following his tour in the military, he would go on to attend Lowell Tech, Boston and Northeastern universities and graduate with a master’s degrees in both industrial engineering and business administration. Completed college with high honors while working a full-time job at Raytheon Technologies in Lowell as an engineer while helping raise and support his six children with his late wife Geradine (Conlon) Pattavina.

In the 1970’s, he co-founded Learning Foundations in downtown Lowell, which deployed some of the first known computers to assist children with learning disabilities helping them excel in math and sciences. He would later apply his education in business and work for the school system in Townsend Ma and then become the business manager at Lowell Vocational Technical high School in Tyngsboro where he would retire in 1985. At that time, Michael decided it was time to try his hand independently in business and opened the Gold Mart in downtown Lowell with his daughter and partner Mary Ellen and a short time later purchased the adjoining Princes Bookstore and ran those businesses for many years.

Traveling then became his passion and he went on to explore many countries around the world before ending up in the area he loved the most, Phuket Thailand. That is where he met his future wife with whom he would spend the final seventeen years of his life, seven by marriage. In his earlier days, he loved listening to music at home after a long day at the office while dancing around the house to soul music. His children thought this was hysterical, yet embarrassing to any friends who may have happened to pass by and get a glimpse of him through the windows. He even tried his hand at the bongos for a stint and would play them along to his favorite music. While growing up, he loved pranking his children and their friends with empty threats while getting a good laugh putting the fear of God in them. He also enjoyed packing the family into his station wagon and drive them over to the old Wamesit drive-in in Tewksbury. In the summer, he would move his family up to Little Island pond in Pelham where many wonderful memories were made. Later in life and up to the very end, he loved to tinker around building computers. And with success or failure, he enjoyed watching all the Boston sports teams, especially the Patriots. His personality was quick witted, charismatic and he had a great sense of humor. He was an engaging storyteller and would always add a twist here and there to make them more interesting.

He will be deeply missed by all that had the pleasure of crossing paths with him. Surviving him are his wife Sirirat Chaiboon whom family refers to as “Maui” and his six children, Cheryl DiCenso of Winthrop Ma, Michael Pattavina of Greenfield Ma, John Pattavina of Hampton NH, Mary Ellen Amicone of Magnolia Ma, Margot Lapointe of Troy N.H. and April Pattavina of Andover Ma. Seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren. His ex-wife, the late Geradine Pattavina and his late grandson, Robert McEnaney of Westford Mass.

Calling hours will be on Friday April 26, 2024, at the Mahoney Funeral Home, 187 Nesmith Street, Lowell from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. with burial immediately following at St. Mary Cemetery in Tewksbury. Please find us on Facebook or use this website to leave the family a message of condolence at any time.