Michael Carnevale was passionate about his beliefs, his love for his family (especially his wife Janine and their three-year-old daughter Lily), his friends, music and sports. He was known as a very detailed person, especially about music and sports. All were categorized for ease- of-use either on the sports field or in his job as college disc jockey.

Growing up, Michael’s teachers called him “the pied piper,” as he was always the leader in school and at after-school activities. One teacher said her image of Michael was always being surrounded by a crowd of friends at school and on the sports field.

“The same crowds would gather at our home for the neighborhood soccer, baseball and football games early on,” recalled his mother Jean. “And then there were the band practices! The noise did eventually evolve into what became some interesting music that arose through the floorboards.”

As an adult, Michael became a video photographer and editor, his dream job, at Cablevision. “The friends and people he worked with both at college and at Cablevision were the same amazing people who kept a vigil with us at the hospital during the days after his auto accident,” said Jean. “They shared many stories about how strongly he felt about issues and how over the years, he made it clear that if they wanted him as a friend, it would be only if they didn’t use alcohol or drugs. Everyone knew that you could always count on him being there for you.”

Michael, 27, died from his injuries sustained in the auto accident on October 31, 1999. Just two weeks prior, while traveling to a family funeral, he had an end-of-life discussion with his mother that included his wish to become a donor. His family was able to follow through with that decision, and Michael donated his liver, pancreas, both kidneys and tissue to his recipients.

Jean said: “Michael’s decision to donate his organs reflected who he was and how he lived his life. He left an indelible mark on each and every one who had the gift of having him in their lives.”