Michael J. DiRuzza Sr.

Michael J. DiRuzza of Barre and Harwich, MA was called home by the Lord on Saturday, August 1, 2026. He is survived by his devoted wife of 58 years, Norma DiRuzza; his heartbroken children Michael DiRuzza Jr. and his wife Marie, and Kristen Quido and her husband Christopher Jr.; and his 6 loving grandchildren, Emily Read, Elizabeth DiRuzza, Anthony DiRuzza, and Kyle, Brandon and Alex Quido as well as his siblings, Mary Burnett, Linda Chiasson, Peter Simeone, and Paula Miarecki and their spouses and children. He is predeceased by his mother Bertha Simeone, step-father Gildo Simeone, and father Pasquale DiRuzza.

Michael graduated from Mahar Regional High School in Orange, MA and received a bachelor’s degree in teaching from Worcester State College then a Master’s in Biology from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

For the duration of his 39 year career, Michael worked at Quaboag Regional High School in Warren, MA where he taught biology for 9 years before becoming Principal. After more than a decade of administrative work, he found that he missed teaching, and returned to the biology classroom for the remainder of his career. His family often encountered past students of his, who reflected fondly on their time in his classroom or noted that his firm direction and counsel as Principal kept them on the right path. They were always thankful for what they learned from “Mr. DiRuzza”.

Personally, his life changed for the better when his Aunt Eleanor hosted a birthday party, where he met Norma for the first time. They bonded over their shared love of classical music. They were soon married and had two children together, Michael Jr. and Kristen. Mike had a penchant for carpentry and spent his summers building the home in Barre where they raised their family and lived for 30 years.

After retiring from teaching, they moved to Cape Cod so he could pursue his other passion, fishing. When he wasn’t fishing, he spent over 15 years of his retirement applying his carpentry skills as a regular volunteer at Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod. He made lasting friendships with fellow builders as part of a group dubbed “Charlie’s Angels” named for group founder, Charlie Christie. Together, his team contributed to the construction of over 70 homes on Cape Cod, touching the lives of many families in need. While on the Cape, he enjoyed teaching his grandchildren to fish, spending many a morning over at Saint’s Landing in search of sand eels, striped bass and quahogs, and afternoons at Cliff Pond in Nickerson State Park.

Mike was a highly intelligent man, who never stopped learning. He enjoyed science, history, gardening, building, tinkering, living off the land and cooking. He was witty and sarcastic, as well as loving and sentimental. He enjoyed crossword puzzles, playing cards, witty puns and verbal sparring. Ever the teacher, he was known for delivering detailed directions on how to do something. He could recount the chilling details of a technical medical surgery or gruesome wartime encounter from history in one moment and then want to watch the sappy love stories on the Hallmark Channel the next. A cancer survivor, the treatments and procedures made it difficult for him to continue to do all the things he loved about living. His final days were filled with love and shared memories, recounting better days and the many accomplishments that defined his very full and fulfilling life and lasting legacy.

A funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at St. Joan of Arc church in Orleans, MA at 11 am, 61 Canal Rd. Orleans, MA 02653. Family and friends will gather in community at the church hall following the funeral mass.

In memory of Mike, please consider supporting the work of Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod to continue Mike’s legacy. Donations can be made in his name online at www.habitatcapecod.org.