Michael De Santis

Michael Philip Thomas DeSantis was born January 12, 1953 to Joseph Anthony and Edith Emily (D’Amato) DeSantis in Irvington, NJ.

 

Michael enlisted in the US Navy in 1972. He met his lifelong friend, Keith Midbury, (54 yrs.) They both attended boot camp and Navy Hospital Corpsman (HM) training in Great lakes Illinois.

 

In 1975 Michael attended a year of training at the Navy Pharmacy Technician School.

 

Michael served on active duty as a Hospital Corpsman and Pharmacy Technician for 8 years.

 

After active duty, he joined the Naval Reserves and trained with them in Los Angeles, California until his unit was reactivated to active duty in 1991-1992 in support of Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

 

During that time, Michael served as Chief of the Pharmacy, Camp Pendleton Marine Base

 

At the time of reactivation, Michael was also working as a Pharmacy Tech at the VA Hospital in Long Beach, California.

 

Michael retired from the Navy Reserves as a Senior Chief Petty Officer.

 

Mike was stationed in Portsmouth NH; Ponce, Puerto Rico; Meridian Mississippi, Marine Naval Air Station, Tustin CA, Camp Pendleton, CA.

 

He was a life-long “biker” and in his earlier days could always be found on the road on his bike.

 

Michael, along with his wife were certified scuba divers. Spent many wonderful hours diving of Southern California coast and occasionally in Hawaii. He also loved to play the piano and sing.

He had a beautiful voice and sang in several choirs in Sacramento churches. He also loved singing happy birthday in Italian to anyone who was having a birthday.

 

Michael is preceded in death by his father Joseph Sr., mother, Edith and, brother, Joseph, Jr.

 

He is survived by his sister, Linda DeSantis, his niece Sandra Pomerantz and great niece Eva, and wife Kathleen DeSantis. Also by his stepdaughter, Ginger Kuroishi (Tim), stepson, Shannon Pauley, Grandchildren: Alyssa (Gordon), Danica (Ian), Colin, Miranda, Dane, Katalina (Justin); Great-grandchildren: Angela, Brandon, Zoe, Cora, Gordon (Lex) and Lilla

 

Family and friends are invited to the Viewing, Rosary and Mass at St Stephen the First Martyr Catholic Church at 11:00am and internment at Calvary Cemetery on July 29th, 2026 at 2:00pm.

 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Michael to the Sacramento Life Center, 2316 Bell Executive Ln. Sacramento, CA 95825