Michael Victor Ferrigon
Photograph of Michael Ferrigon from his high school football team, obtained from his obituary page.
Michael “Big Mike” Victor Ferrigon of Bloomfield, Connecticut loved to play sports - specifically football and baseball. He played as a linebacker for his high school team, as well as for the Connecticut Mustangs youth baseball program and the Wreck-N-Crew program. He was recruited by the University of Connecticut football team, but he decided not to attend. Michael instead chose to pursue certifications in electronic technology and microcomputers at the Baran School of Technology in East Windsor while he played semi-pro football in the Hartford area. He then furthered his technical education, obtaining a Commercial Driver’s License at the New England Tractor Trailer Training School.
Born on September 17, 1975, Michael was only 45 years old when he died from COVID-19 on November 18th, 2020. He was incarcerated at the time at Osborn Correctional Institute in Somers, Connecticut.
Photograph of Michael’s brother, mother, and father in front of a tapestry memorializing him, obtained from the CT Mirror.
Michael was beloved, his online tribute wall flooded with condolences and memories from those who knew him. Servant David wrote, “Big Mike is my baby brother..there are soooo many memories good and bad. I could go on and on and on.. ...Mike would give u the shirt off his back. He would also do anything to save me or get me out of trouble.”
Michelle Ferrigon, Michael’s cousin, posted a childhood picture of Michael on his tribute wall and wrote, “I choose this pic from back in the day because it is my favorite with you at the top like the true king that you are. You will be sadly missed.”
Childhood photograph of Michael and his loved ones, courtesy of Michelle Ferrigon, by way of Michael’s tribute wall.
Many tributes were posted by Michael’s relatives in England who treasured the times that they were able to see each other. One post from Juliette reads, “I have so many memories of a much younger Micheal. When he spent a year living with us in England. He was a delight from an early age always smiling and was such a well behaved child. Auntie Juliette will carry those memories forever. Rest In Perpetual Peace Michael. You’re now with your heavenly Father.”
Video of a commemorative slideshow for Michael and his funeral service on December 4th, 2020, obtained from Howard K. Hill Funeral Services on Vimeo.
Michael battled COVID-19 for over four weeks. In the morning of October 5th, Michael’s mother, Dorothea Ferrigon, received a call from the Osborn Correctional Institute saying that Michael was having “breathing problems” and would be transferred to the Johnson Memorial Hospital in Stafford Springs. There was no mention of the possibility that Michael had contracted COVID-19, and the family didn’t find out until a week later. Michael died on November 18th, 2020.
Michael’s brother, David Ferrigon, described his last conversation with his brother to reporters from The Connecticut Mirror. “I knew that this stuff was going around. I didn’t know it was heavy there, but I told him to be careful. This virus is nothing to play with,” he said. “I just told him to take precautions, and he mentioned that someone had gotten sick. I told him I loved him, which is something I never did, then we got off the phone.”
As of April 16th, the Osborn Correctional Institute reported that 557 of its residents had tested positive for the virus. According to an article from The Connecticut Mirror, Osborn had more deaths than any other prison in the Connecticut state system. There are numerous shortcomings that led to these especially devastating numbers, including the facility’s shortage of healthcare staff, its outdated infrastructure, and the decision of many of its staff members to not wear face coverings. An administrative directive requiring mask use was not issued until December 24th, 2020.
Michael had only a few months left in his sentence. He had just been transferred closer to his family after being incarcerated in Newton, and he had been placed on a waiting list for a halfway house that was also nearby.
Michael’s life was stolen far too soon. We mourn his loss.
This memorial was written by MOL team member Kira Grossfield with information from reporting by Dave Altimari and Kelan Lyons of the CT Mirror, a press release by the Connecticut State DOC, and Michael Ferrigon’s obituary page.