Michael Samuel Gatling

Michael Samuel Gatling, 62 years of age, died at St. Mary’s Hospital, May 7, 2020, after a brief illness. He was born in Waterbury, CT on April 5, 1958. Michael, “Dynamite Mike”, as he was known by his friends and family, was a congenial person, friendly and given to hospitality. It was not a strange thing to visit Michael and find others, whether family or not, residing in his home. If questioned, his answer was, “They don’t have anywhere to go right now, so they’re staying here until they find an apartment.” It didn’t matter how little he personally had; his heart was too big to say, “No”. Michael also had a playful manner, often teasing his siblings, other relatives and friends; his favorite target being his sister, Cynthia, to whom he was especially close.

He was educated in Waterbury public schools, graduating from Webster Elementary School, then attending and completing the auto mechanics certification program of the Waterbury Board of Education’s Alternative Program. He loved working on cars and had a special affinity for large, older automobiles. He often saved family members from the expenses of a costly mechanic just agreeing to service and then successfully repairing their cars.

Michael met and married his high school sweetheart, Sharon “BooBoo” Washington at an early age. He often said, “I love my wife. That’s MY wife.” They remained together through sickness and health until Sharon’s passing on February 3, 2020. We often joked this year, saying they couldn’t stand being apart. If one was hospitalized, the other soon followed. Now, he has soon followed Sharon’s passing.

Michael leaves to mourn his passing, his four daughters, Kelly Washington, Cheryl Washington, Tammy Washington, and Melissa (Tony) Washington; his son, Edward Minnifield; two brothers, Frederick Douglas Gatling and Maurice Jeffrey (Sandra) Gatling; four sisters, Judith Sharon Gatling, Deborah Lee Gatling, Rosalind (Dennis) Morrison, and Cynthia Roberta (Cedric) Beasley; and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by, as previously mentioned, his wife, Sharon Gatling; his daughter, Sandy Gatling; his mother Eliza Gatling; his brother, Ronald Stephen Gatling. Michael was greatly loved and will be greatly missed.