Michael Gandolfo Virga, 60, a resident of the Hudson Valley area for over 40 years and previously of Woodcliffe Lake, NJ, died at home, in peace, surrounded by his loved ones on Saturday, May 19, 2012.

Born in New York City on September 24, 1951, he was the son of Gandolfo and Elizabeth (Cleary) Virga. On November 3, 1973 at St. Mary, Mother of the Church in Fishkill, he married Kathleen Trojan, the love of his life, who survives at home.

Michael retired in 2010 after 36 years of dedicated service as a Spanish Teacher for Marlboro Central School District. Following his retirement, he supervised prospective teachers as a member of Marist College's Teacher Education Program. He owned and operated Virga's Travel Services of Hopewell Junction since 1977, and was an avid globetrotter, traveling the world from Europe to South America. As a worldly man, he was an acolyte of cultural wanderlust. In addition, he was a parishioner at St. Columba Church in Hopewell Junction.

Michael was devoted to his entire family, particularly his grandchildren, and was the center of his family's world. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his mother, Elizabeth Cleary Virga of Rhinebeck; his children, Heather Crowley and her husband Jerry of Fishkill and Michael W. Virga of Hopewell Junction; his grandchildren, Cameron, Hudson, and Olivia Crowley of Fishkill; his sister, Mary Tasman of Park Ridge, NJ; his brother, Charles Virga of Naples, FL; his mother-in-law, Barbara Trojan of Newburgh; his brother-in-law, Gregory Trojan and Janice of La Canada, CA; his brother-in-law, Bill Romito and his wife Toni of Poughkeepsie; his nieces and nephews, Joe and Kim Virga of Red Hook, Danielle Virga of Newark, DE, Robyn and Kamar Clifton of New Jersey, Robert and Katie Tasman of Baton Rouge, LA, Emily and Andrew Trojan of La Canada, CA; and countless friends and former students. Michael was predeceased by his father, Gandolfo Virga, his brother, Dennis Virga, and his sister-in-law, Barbara Romito.

Calling hours will be held on Wednesday from 4 – 8 pm at the McHoul Funeral Home, Inc., 895 Route 82, Hopewell Junction. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday at 12 pm at St. Columba Church in Hopewell Junction followed by entombment at Fishkill Rural Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, Michael requested that donations be made in his name to Hospice Foundation, Inc., 374 Violet Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 or to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Attn: Tony Tighe, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Room 516, Washington, DC 20506.

For driving directions, online condolences, or memorial donations, please visit Michael's Book of Memories at mchoulfuneralhome.com.