Michael Francis Eyth's Obituary
Michael Francis Eyth, 76, of Fort Myers, passed away on November 29, 2021. He was struck by a car on November 20th while riding his bicycle to one of his many volunteer endeavors, and died from severe head trauma. He was born on December 22, 1944, to Frank Addis Eyth and Mary McCowin Eyth of Butler, PA.
After graduating from Butler High School, he attended Edinboro University and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. His strong drawing skills were used throughout his various careers; in page layout for a real estate paper he published, as a High School Art Teacher, designing the ads for his home furnishings store, kitchen designs and set designs for community theaters.
He married Peggy Hosford in 1973 and they raised their two daughters in Newport, RI. Michael opened a home furnishings store, New England Lifestyle, and a kitchen design showroom. When several of the mansions in Newport were converted to condos, he designed their kitchens and supplied the furniture and accessories for the model units. He worked with Pearson Yachts, providing custom cabinetry for the galley on one of their larger boat lines, the Portsmouth 43 Motor Yacht.
While in Newport, he helped start the Cliff Walk Society, a volunteer group that maintained the walkway and repaired the famous Forty Steps. Michael loved sailing with his family in his 35-foot Columbia, “Illusion” out of Newport harbor into Narragansett Bay.
When Michael closed his business, the family moved to Pennsylvania, and he went to work at Home Depot as a kitchen designer. He began to do volunteer work at the Shawnee Playhouse Community Theater and started a new career as a set designer. His carpentry and art skills, combined with his imagination, made wonderful and amazing theater scenery.
Michael loved traveling and climbed ruins and volcanoes all over Central America from Belize to Nicaragua. He journeyed on “chicken” buses, collectivos, dugout canoes, and horseback through the jungles, mountains, and rivers.
When he and Peggy divorced, Michael moved to Fort Myers, FL. He continued to follow his passion for theater by volunteering at the Laboratory Theater and Davis Arts Center. He also volunteered his time at the Fort Myers Regional Library restoring books, and at the Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center.
He is survived by his two daughters, Jessica Hosford of Hanson, MA, and Sarah Santangelo of Smithsburg, MD. He has three grandchildren, Lauren, Melissa, and Vincent Santangelo. His surviving siblings are Laura Eyth, Jennifer Carrabba, Pamela Eyth, Jeffrey Eyth, and Frank Eyth.
A Memorial Service will be held 6:00 PM, Sunday, December 12, 2021 at The Laboratory Theater of Florida, 1634 Woodford Avenue, Fort Myers, FL 33901.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Florida Bicycling Association, either by mail, PO Box 2452, Oldsmar, FL 34677 or via their website, https://floridabicycle.org/ in loving memory of Michael Francis Eyth.
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