Michael Paul De Santo

Michael Paul De Santo, known to all who loved him as Mike and to his grandchildren as Papa, passed away on July 2, 2026, at the age of 92, in Jacksonville, Florida, the city he had called home for more than seven decades. Born on June 6, 1934, in Brooklyn, New York, Mike lived a life defined by resilience, ambition, and an unwavering devotion to family and community.

Mike's early years in Brooklyn forged the toughness and determination that would carry him through a remarkable life. As a teenager, he worked on the docks, labor that built in him a physical strength and work ethic he carried for the rest of his days. When he was only seventeen, Mike enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He relocated to Jacksonville, where he embraced a new chapter in life filled with family, hard work, and new opportunities. His service as a Marine instilled in him a discipline and sense of duty that shaped every chapter that followed.

In 1952, Mike arrived in Jacksonville, Florida, where he would build a life beyond anything his Brooklyn beginnings might have predicted. While playing softball, he was approached by a life insurance manager who saw something special in the young man and recruited him to sell life insurance. Mike proved to be a natural. Before the age of twenty-five, he had purchased his first house, on Conga Street, and was well on his way to building a distinguished career. During his time in the insurance industry, he earned numerous accolades and recognition over the years. In the beginning of his career, Mike worked a territory in downtown Jacksonville, where he walked his assigned route collecting small investments and payments from local clients, building the foundation of his work. During his time at Lincoln National Life, Mike achieved national recognition as the #1 producer seven times. In acknowledgment of his outstanding accomplishments, he was honored with a trip to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his name was permanently etched on the company’s wall, solidifying his legacy of hard work and excellence.

In 1961, Mike married Faye Harrison, and together they welcomed two daughters, Michelle and Melissa. Mike and Faye shared a love of activity and competition, beginning with bowling before discovering tennis. Mike became a fiercely competitive tennis player for decades, eventually turning his attention to golf. Anyone who ever visited Mike's beach condo could not miss his proudly displayed collection of thousands of sharks' teeth, gathered over countless walks along Ponte Vedra Beach, each one a small testament to his love of the outdoors and the Florida coast he made his own. Through it all, fishing remained his greatest and most enduring passion, one he pursued well into the age of ninety.

Mike's success in the insurance industry afforded him the opportunity to see the world with his cherished partner, Debbi Barry. He traveled to six continents, dined with a king in Asia and an island chief in the South Pacific, and brought home stories that captivated everyone who heard them. Yet for all his worldly adventures, Mike remained deeply rooted in Jacksonville. He was proud of the community he helped build and was recognized for his civic contributions, including receiving the Tree of Life Award from the Jewish Federation. A strong believer in service beyond his professional life, Mike was actively involved in giving back to the Jacksonville community. He organized fundraisers and contributed generously to local hospitals, schools and organizations, leaving a lasting impact through his compassion and commitment to helping others.

Above all else, Mike loved his family more than life itself. He cherished watching the Gators play football, spending time with friends on the golf course or the water and gathering with the people who meant the most to him. With his love of good food and community, Mike became a well-known and valued presence at restaurants throughout Jacksonville, where he built lasting friendships with owners, staff, and fellow patrons. In appreciation of the relationships he formed, several establishments honored him with “Godfather” tables, and some created signature dishes named after him, a lasting tribute to his presence and impact within the local dining community.

Michael is survived by his daughters, Michelle De Santo Spence and Melissa Gibbons; his grandchildren, Michael Spence (Desiree Spence), Chad Gibbons (Kylie Gibbons), Erica Laird, Rachel Rowe (Braddock Rowe) and Danielle Spence; his great-grandchildren, Colette Laird, Avery Spence, Laine Spence, and Reese Gibbons; his sisters, Rosemary Mintchwarner and Joan Gross; and his nieces and nephews Tommy Leach (Tammy Leach), Danny Leach, Bobby Leach, Michael Mintchwarner (Natalie Mintchwarner) and Christina Kopecki. He is preceded in death by his mother Philomena Scarfo, his dad Angelo De Santo, Faye Harrison De Santo, Aunt Tina and Uncle Frank.

Mike lived with the quiet confidence of a man who had earned everything he had through hard work, courage, and love. May he rest in the peace and grace of God, his extraordinary journey now complete, his legacy carried forward by the family and community he built with such pride.

A memorial service celebrating Michael’s life will be held on July 11th, 2026, at 12:00 pm at San Jose Catholic Church. Family and friends are invited to gather in remembrance and honor the life of a beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend.

Following the service, those who wish to attend are invited to join the family for a graveside service and final farewell at the cemetery.

A reception will immediately follow at Epping Forest Yacht & Country Club from 2:00 pm–6:00 pm.