Michael A. Civitello

September 10, 1952 – October 25, 2025

Michael Civitello was a world-class funny man, and beloved brother and friend. He was a contributing editor to the National Lampoon magazine and is best known for his parody of the Nancy Drew teen mysteries. He also ghost-wrote speeches for politicians in New York City and Washington, D.C. His most rewarding position was as a special education teacher in Hamden.

Michael was a brilliant Hamden native who received an excellent education at Alice Peck and Dunbar Hill elementary schools, Sleeping Giant Junior High, and Hamden High School, where he was in the class of 1970.

Michael then made history twice at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York: he was in the first class of freshmen men at the previously all-women's college, and he was also half of the first brother-sister team to graduate from Vassar because his sister was a senior when he was a freshman. Michael made many friends across classes at Vassar, because he began with the class of 1974, took some gap time, and graduated in 1976.

Michael leaves behind his best friends for life and Dream Team caretakers, also from HHS 1970: Jane Gagliardi, J. Burleigh Morton, and Andy Strenio; and also Attilio Granata. Michael will be much missed by his sister, Linda Civitello.

Family and friends are invited to visit at Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home, 2300 Whitney Avenue, Hamden from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Monday November 3rd. Burial will follow in Beaverdale Memorial Park, New Haven. To send a condolence, please see obituary at www.beecherandbennett.com.