Michael J. Lawlor

Lawlor, Michael J., age 68, of Glen Rock, New Jersey, passed away on Friday, March 25, 2016. He is survived by his wife, Emily (nee Marotta); his nine children, Michael (Sheryl), Matthew (Jenelle), Timothy (Justine), Jessica (Adam), Genevieve (Calder), David (Danielle), Brian (Elise), Aileen (Cesar), and Caitrin (Christopher); and his grandchildren, Matisse, Michael Dane, Eden, Addison, Tolkien, Emmett, Athos, and Finley. He is also survived by his stepchildren, Meredith Volpe, Elizabeth Maier (Jared), and Paul Volpe; his step-grandchildren Lucas and Greta Maier; his sister, Camille Engelhardt (Don); and his former wife, Gael Lawlor.Michael was a Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam and a 20-year veteran of the New Jersey State Police. He was employed for 10 years with the NJ Department of Banking and Insurance and nine years with the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office. Mike was subsequently employed as a process server for DGR Enterprises. Mike was a licensed massage therapist, a published poet, and an accomplished musician. He collected antiques and oddities, played poker with his buddies every Thursday night for over 20 years, and was a reasonably believable storyteller. He offered his time as a reader for a child care program in Paterson and as a Little League Baseball coach in Sussex-Wantage. He was a lifelong fisherman and runner, and he loved acting in community theater productions for many years, where his warm humor and love of characters found a natural home. After retiring, he and Emily enjoyed trips throughout the United States and China, as well as Italy, where they spent five weeks working on farms and travelling the country.Those who knew Mike will remember his even-tempered nature and the ease with which he made others comfortable. They will recall his trove of colorfully-related anecdotes, the contentment he found in simple pleasures, and the respect he inspired through his thoughtful and unorthodox spirit. His children will remember their father's card tricks and bad puns, his clucky impersonations of his mother, "to make a long story short," the way he dutifully finished leftovers at dinner, his adoption of a baby red squirrel, his summer jogs in full sweats and arm weights, his horde of antiques in the basement, his Irish folk songs, his stories in the kitchen, his burning crusade against litterbugs, his uncanny knack for finding a good deal on a used car, his wrangling with the old rototiller in the garden, his Trivial Pursuit cards scattered throughout the house, and his meditative way of playing an acoustic guitar. They are grateful for their father's calm patience and trust, his level-headed honesty, and for imparting upon them the wealth to be found in kindness and generosity. Viewing hours will be held on Monday, March 28,2016 from 2-4pm and 7-9pm at the Morrison Funeral Home 86 Bartholdi Ave Butler, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Doctors Without Borders USA, P.O. Box 5023, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5023 in his memory. SERVICES Visitation Monday, March 28, 2016 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM The Morrison Funeral Home 86 Bartholdi ave. Butler, New Jersey 07405 Visitation Monday, March 28, 2016 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM The Morrison Funeral Home 86 Bartholdi ave. Butler, New Jersey 07405