Michael Occhi

Little Compton, RI - Michael Occhi, 45, of 10 West Main Road, Little Compton, RI, died Thursday, July 30, 2009. Born in Newport, RI, on December 17, 1963, he was the son of the late Ennio Mario and Dina Berti Occhi. Michael had received a bachelors degree in business from URI and a bachelors degree in education from RI College. He received a masters degree in English from RI College. Besides his mother, he is survived by his brother Joseph B. Occhi of Portsmouth, RI, his sister Maryann White of Little Compton, RI, nephews Mario, Matthew, and Michael Occhi of Portsmouth, RI, nephews William and Richard White of Little Compton, RI, niece Elizabeth White of Little Compton, RI , his uncles and aunts Don Luigi Occhi, Dante Occhi, Dante and Maria Berti, Vittoria Corsini, Augostino and Julia Riccoboni, and Elisabetta Berti, cousins Lillian Gamache, Susan Bielicki, Donato and Fausta Corsini, Monica Berti and numerous cousins in Italy, and his girlfriend Liyu Mei of Boston. Michael was a teacher at Central Falls High School for 14 years. He devoted many hours to the students that he worked with both in the classroom and with the countless extra-curricula activities he was involved with such as yearbook advisor, chess club and senior class advisor. He helped his students to develop a love of The Beatles and Emily Dickinson. He was loved and respected by his colleagues and all his students and will be severely missed. Michael was a gentle, thoughtful, selfless, and compassionate person. He would never hurt even the tiniest living creature. He was devoted to his family and friends never forgetting an occasion or missing events that were important to them. Michael was also a very passionate person. He had an intense love of animals, music, and literature. He had written a book of poetry and was just completing a second book. His funeral will be held on Thursday, August 6, 2009, at 9:00 am, from the Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am in St. Barnabas Catholic Church, 1697 East Main Road, Portsmouth. Burial will be in St. Columba Catholic Cemetery in Middletown. Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, August 5, 2009, from 4-7 pm in the Connors Funeral Home.June and July, and as my thoughts fall like seeds I pray for rebirth, watching the mist disintergrate into the night sky. Though the raspberries are gone, the vines still grow, with the idea of next year carried in every thorn, leaf and fuzzy hair, looking to root, find new ground to bring future crimson life to summer fields, and I drink my berry tea full of last years berries with you in mind, and as the vines instinctively carry the idea of all the years to come, I carry you with me forever, and with every new season I wont be able to stop the thoughts of you from growing.By Michael M. Occhi