In Memory of Michael: Who is Michael Ocone?

Michael John Ocone was born on September 2, 1975, in Point Pleasant, New
Jersey to Louis and MaryLou (Krah) Ocone. The youngest of the Ocone
children, Michael's brother, Anthony, is 4 years older, and his sister, Maria, is
two years older. Michael grew up in Wall Township. He attended St. Denis
School in Manasquan during his elementary years, and graduated middle
school from Oak Hill Academy in Lincroft. He then spent his high school
years at Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, graduating in 1993. During
middle and high school, Michael was an avid baseball fan and player, and
probably would have continued his baseball career into his college years, had
it not been for an ACL injury.

Michael entered Villanova University in 1993, and graduated with a business
degree in 1997. At Villanova, he made many friends and made a lot of
memories. Soon after graduating, Michael landed a job with PriceWaterhouse
Coopers, in New York City, where he excelled with his knowledge of finances,
business, and accounting. Michael successfully passed the exam to become
a Certified Public Accountant, and soon after was promoted to Manager at
PWC.

While still in high school, Michael met his future wife, Nicole Spagnolia. The
high school sweethearts tied the knot on September 23, 2000. After a
whirlwind two-week long honeymoon in Hawaii, they settled into their home
in Bricktown. Cassidy, a golden retriever puppy, was welcomed into Michael
and Nicole's home within a year. Soon after, the pitter-patter of little feet
was to be heard...Michael and Nicole's first child, Emily Rose, was born on
March 26, 2003. Nicholas Michael followed on July 25, 2005.

Michael had many hobbies, but probably none was closer to his heart than
fishing. He began fishing with his father while a child, and he continued to
cast the line with family and friends throughout his life. Some of his better
fishing memories was when he caught several sharks with his friend, John
Casagrande, was bobbing along the Atlantic Ocean on the Dorado with his
friend Brad Choppy, or when his son, Nicholas, caught his first Striped Bass
(a whopper, bigger than Nicholas) during the Summer of 2006.

On August 9, 2006, news came that would change all of our lives forever:
Michael had cancer. Nine months of intensive treatment would follow at
Sloan-Kettering and at local medical offices, ranging from chemotherapy to
radiation. Throughout it all, Michael never asked why, he never
complained...the situation did NOT define him. Rather, he handled it with
dignity and courage. During April, 2007, Michael, Nicole, Emily, Nicholas,
Maria, MaryLou and Lou spent one last vacation together in Melbourne
Beach, Florida. The family made a lot of memories, and took a lot of photos,
hoping that the vacation would not end.

Michael died peacefully on Tuesday, June 12, 2007, surrounded by his family
after his long and courageous battle with cancer. His obituary appears below:

Michael John Ocone, CPA, 31, passed away Tuesday, June 12, after a long
and courageous battle with cancer. Michael, a senior manager, worked for
PriceWaterhouse Coopers, New York, for 11 years. He was an avid
fisherman and boater. Michael enjoyed spending time with his family and
friends. He was a graduate of Oak Hill Academy, Christian Brothers
Academy, and Villanova University. Michael was a member of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He was born in Point Pleasant and
lived in Wall before moving to Brick in 2000.

Michael is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 6 years, Nicole
Spagnolia Ocone, and his two children, Emily Rose and Nicholas Michael; his
parents, Louis and Mary Louise Krah Ocone, of Brick; his mother-in-law,
Patricia Spagnolia, of Jackson, and his father-in-law, Ronald Spagnolia, of
Toms River. He is survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Anthony and Jill,
of Point Pleasant; and a sister, Maria, of Point Pleasant; and two godchildren,
Alex Jenkowski and Declan O'Grady. Michael will be missed by his large
extended family and many great friends.

Arrangements were handled by Orender Family Home for Funerals,
Manasquan. Interment took place at St. Anne's Cemetary, Wall. For
information about The Ocone Children Trust Fund, please click here.