Dauria III, Michael A.

Michael Anthony Dauria III of Bloomfield, CT, was a loving and dedicated father and

husband, a generous friend and a successful entrepreneur. He peacefully passed away surrounded by his family on Thursday, August 19, after a long illness. He was 56.

Michael was born in a Buick Riviera on Valentine's Day as his mother was being rushed to the hospital, and since that time, he continually surprised and delighted the people around him. As a child growing up in Farmington, he was a voracious reader who would memorize the dictionary and many Guinness world records. Later in life, this would provide him with an impressive vocabulary, make him a formidable opponent in trivia games, and render him absolutely pointless to argue with. After graduating from Farmington High School, he embarked on an adventure that would eventually lead him to his two passions – Kathleen (Smith) Dauria, the love of his life, and his career creating high-end kitchens and bathrooms.

Michael began his professional life as a union carpenter but was also skilled in several other trades. For a time, he lived in California where he worked for his uncle on a variety of large-scale projects.

In 1988, shortly after returning to Connecticut, Michael met Kathleen. They were married the following year. In 1993, they welcomed their son Michael Dauria, IV, and settled in Farmington where they would spend 18 years, and later moved to Bloomfield as “empty nesters.”

Michael valued his privacy and enjoyed quiet times with his family, but he was also a consummate host. He loved bringing interesting people together to enjoy good food, sample bottles from his wine collection, engage in lively conversation, and relax in the unique spaces that he created.

In the late 2000s, Michael joined Gilley Kitchen and Bath in Winsted, which later moved to West Hartford center. Michael felt that the kitchen wasn't just a place to cook – he saw it as the heart of the home where people gathered to connect with one another and build memories. With that as his guide, Michael worked with his team to bring his clients' dream kitchens to life. And it was not unusual for him to hear from customers who told him how much they still loved their kitchen years after it had been completed.

When Michael wasn't working, he loved to be on or near the ocean to experience the happiness he found when he was in “blue water.” He was especially drawn to the small out islands of the Bahamas where he sailed with his family as a child, and where he brought his own family year after year.

In addition to his wife and son, Michael is survived by his father Michael Dauria, Jr. of Farmington and his three sisters and two brothers-in-laws: Maria and

Robert Hodgson of Carolina Beach, NC; Marilee Driscoll of Manchester, CT; and Maura and Jesse Martinez of Manchester, CT; along with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and his nieces, nephews, and their children, of whom he was very fond. He was predeceased by his

mother Patricia Holmes of Simsbury.

Michael's family and friends will miss his razor-sharp wit, his outsized tenacity, and his generosity and kindness. They will miss how he would go out of his way to help others, his deep knowledge and expertise in all things construction related, and his never-ending supply of useful tools which included whatever was needed at the moment – be it a high-powered concrete drill, a heavy duty tow rope or snake tongs.

Friends and family are invited to pay their respects on Monday, August 30, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Ahern Funeral Home, 111 Main Street, Unionville, CT. A memorial service to celebrate Michael's life will be held Tuesday, August 31, at 10 a.m. at the Universalist Church of West Hartford, 433 Fern Street, West Hartford, CT.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Michael's honor to Oceana.org. Founded in 2001, their goal is to make the oceans more healthy and sustainable for

future generations to enjoy. In addition, Michael's family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff at Yale New Haven Hospital and Columbia Presbyterian Hospital for their compassion and tireless efforts in caring for him. They are true heroes.

To send online condolences to the family, please visit

www.ahernfuneralhome.com.