In Memoriam
Michael A. Bettiol
June 6, 1957 – August 8, 2021
Michael A. Bettiol, 64, of Binghamton, NY, and originally from Oneonta, NY, passed away peacefully at Wilson Memorial Hospital in Johnson City, NY, on Sunday, August 8, 2021, due to unexpected complications from a very courageous, 5 year battle with metastatic colon cancer.
Mike was born in Sidney, NY on June 6, 1957, moving to Oneonta, NY at an early age.
He graduated from Oneonta High School, Class of 1975.
He worked at Custom Electronics and Medi-Coach in Oneonta before starting his dream job as a locomotive engineer with several northeast railroads.
Mike had a lifelong love of railroads, and was a founding member of the Leatherstocking Railway Historical Society in 1982, and served in several positions, including the organization’s 2nd president. Mike was also a local representative to the National Railway Historical Society, and served in several posts at the National level. He traveled extensively across America, most notably with good friends Millie & Bruce Hodges, in pursuit of new railroad adventures, and was an avid photographer of all things railroad.
Mike was an avid reader, and loved gardening and cooking, enjoyed eating at Binghamton area restaurants, following the American Space Program, and watching news on television. He loved texting friends and family breaking news as it happened. He had grand plans to open a commercial hydroponic farming operation, which was sidelined due to his health issues. He retired to the Binghamton area due to health reasons.
Mike was a dreamer, and had an extraordinarily positive outlook on life, regardless of the challenges it presented him. He approached every challenge with a can do attitude his entire life. He had a wonderful sense of humor, and always found something to smile or laugh about no matter how dire his health issues got.
Mike is survived by his Mother, Annaliese, Marietta, Georgia; sister and brother-in-law, Karen & Mark Galvin, Marietta, GA; brother David, Montgomery, TX; brother Danny, College Station, TX; Uncle and Aunt, Walter and Violet Bettiol, Otego; his omnipresent Aunt, Dorothy Forster, Milford, NY; Aunt, Betty Bettiol, Oneonta, NY; Aunt Francis Forster, Cooperstown, NY; eight nieces and nephews; and good friend and constant companion, Bruce Hodges, who headed up a team of caregivers and supporters during his illness. He is predeceased by his father, Arthur, who passed away in December, 2020, as well as both sets of grandparents, and very good friend Millie Hodges.
Calling hours for Mike will be held on Tuesday, August 17th, from 5 – 7pm at Bookhout Funeral Home, 357 Main Street, Oneonta, NY. Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, August 18th, at 11:00am at Bookhout Funeral Home, with Rev. Judith Thistle, officiating. Committal Services will follow in Oneonta Plains Cemetery, Oneida Street, Oneonta.
Many thanks to Dr. Rahul Seth and the entire Oncology Team at SUNY Upstate Medical University Cancer Center in Syracuse, NY, for their extraordinary care and compassion. They gave Mike several years of additional life which he enjoyed in relatively good health, as well as the Wilson Memorial Hospital ICU staff in Johnson City, NY, who valiantly tried to save his life after he had a major medical emergency on August 5, 2021.
Mike loved flowers of any type, but would also wish to have donations made in his memory to the Leatherstocking Railway Historical Society, PO Box 681, Oneonta, NY, which he worked so hard to get off the ground during the 1980’s.
To light a candle or send an online condolence, visit www.bookhoutfuneralhome.com
Arrangements are by the Bookhout Funeral Home, Oneonta.