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September 11, 2026
Michael C. Shale Sr. passed away peacefully on September 11, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family.
Michael was born in New York City in 1946, and grew up in New Jersey, going on to spend the majority of his life in the Garden State. The son of John and Patricia Shale, Michael also had an older brother John, and younger siblings Kathleen, Kristine, Kevin Shale I, and Kevin Shale II.
Michael was a proud high school graduate of The Delbarton School in Morristown New Jersey, and then went on to begin college at Villanova University. When the Vietnam War era began in earnest, Michael enlisted in the United States Air Force, and spent his time in the service primarily at Dover Air Force base in Dover Delaware. Michael earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Delaware and then enrolled at Seton Hall Law School.
Upon graduating law school, Michael pursued a distinguished career in public service, working for the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender. Initially working in the appellate division, a mere two years after graduating law school he worked on various complex, high-profile legal matters as they were appealed though the courts. It was during this time that Michael litigated perhaps his most consequential case of his career as he argued before the New Jersey State Supreme Court in the landmark 1975 case, State of New Jersey v. Krol. This decision reshaped New Jersey state law by establishing vital constitutional rights and due process protections for individuals acquitted by reason of insanity. To this day, the Krol ruling is part of New Jersey law, thanks to the efforts of Michael and his colleagues.
Bringing that sharp legal intellect to the trial courts, Michael then transitioned to the Somerset County regional office, where he spent the vast majority of his career as a dedicated Assistant Deputy Public Defender fighting for clients in Somerville for almost 30 years. Michael worked as a true courtroom litigator, striving tirelessly to defend those who could not afford to defend themselves, always pointing out that in America everyone - regardless of their situation - was entitled to a defense in a court of law and that all people are innocent until proven guilty.
Upon retiring from the public defenders office, Michael went on to work in private practice for a number of years until finally retiring from the law.
Michael was an avid golfer taking yearly trips to Scotland and Ireland where he made numerous lifelong friends. He loved golfing locally as well, getting to know many local courses, even making a hole in one at the famed Baltusrol Country Club.
Perhaps even more than the golfing and the work, he loved a good bar, a good cold Budweiser, and the company of good friends. He was a gregarious type who loved to sit back, have a few drinks and shoot the bull with his buddies.
Michael was a dedicated member of various social clubs where he volunteered for decades. Local clubs such as the Elks, the Moose, the Eagles, the V.F.W. and the American Legion were his favorite haunts. Among other activities, these locales were where for years he organized an annual corn beef and cabbage event on St. Patrick's Day to raise money for charity.
As family, we always knew if we were in the Somerville or Bridgewater area, we could cruise by a couple of these clubs, and his car was sure to be found in one of the parking lots. Michael truly loved all of these clubs, as they were always full of good friends, good stories, and good times.
A longtime resident of Bridgewater, New Jersey, Michael was a loving father, grandfather, and brother. He is survived by his children; Michael Jr. and wife Alyssa of West Milford New Jersey, Erin Fitzgerald and her husband Alan, of Vista California, and Devon Miller and her husband Todd, of Southborough Massachusetts. He is also survived by his brother Kevin of Dover Massachusetts and his sister Kristine of Reading Massachusetts. Michael was preceded in death by his first child, his beloved Regan Lefferts, of Aurora Colorado. Additionally, he was the grandfather of 8 loving grandchildren.
In keeping with Michael's wishes, services will be held privately by his family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Michael's honor to a charity that supports research in the area of ovarian cancer or the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
September 11, 2026
Michael C. Shale Sr. passed away peacefully on September 11, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family.
Michael was born in New York City in 1946, and grew up in New Jersey, going on to spend the majority of his life in the Garden State. The son of John and Patricia Shale, Michael also had an older brother John, and younger siblings Kathleen, Kristine, Kevin Shale I, and Kevin Shale II.
Michael was a proud high school graduate of The Delbarton School in Morristown New Jersey, and then went on to begin college at Villanova University. When the Vietnam War era began in earnest, Michael enlisted in the United States Air Force, and spent his time in the service primarily at Dover Air Force base in Dover Delaware. Michael earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Delaware and then enrolled at Seton Hall Law School.
Upon graduating law school, Michael pursued a distinguished career in public service, working for the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender. Initially working in the appellate division, a mere two years after graduating law school he worked on various complex, high-profile legal matters as they were appealed though the courts. It was during this time that Michael litigated perhaps his most consequential case of his career as he argued before the New Jersey State Supreme Court in the landmark 1975 case, State of New Jersey v. Krol. This decision reshaped New Jersey state law by establishing vital constitutional rights and due process protections for individuals acquitted by reason of insanity. To this day, the Krol ruling is part of New Jersey law, thanks to the efforts of Michael and his colleagues.
Bringing that sharp legal intellect to the trial courts, Michael then transitioned to the Somerset County regional office, where he spent the vast majority of his career as a dedicated Assistant Deputy Public Defender fighting for clients in Somerville for almost 30 years. Michael worked as a true courtroom litigator, striving tirelessly to defend those who could not afford to defend themselves, always pointing out that in America everyone - regardless of their situation - was entitled to a defense in a court of law and that all people are innocent until proven guilty.
Upon retiring from the public defenders office, Michael went on to work in private practice for a number of years until finally retiring from the law.
Michael was an avid golfer taking yearly trips to Scotland and Ireland where he made numerous lifelong friends. He loved golfing locally as well, getting to know many local courses, even making a hole in one at the famed Baltusrol Country Club.
Perhaps even more than the golfing and the work, he loved a good bar, a good cold Budweiser, and the company of good friends. He was a gregarious type who loved to sit back, have a few drinks and shoot the bull with his buddies.
Michael was a dedicated member of various social clubs where he volunteered for decades. Local clubs such as the Elks, the Moose, the Eagles, the V.F.W. and the American Legion were his favorite haunts. Among other activities, these locales were where for years he organized an annual corn beef and cabbage event on St. Patrick's Day to raise money for charity.
As family, we always knew if we were in the Somerville or Bridgewater area, we could cruise by a couple of these clubs, and his car was sure to be found in one of the parking lots. Michael truly loved all of these clubs, as they were always full of good friends, good stories, and good times.
A longtime resident of Bridgewater, New Jersey, Michael was a loving father, grandfather, and brother. He is survived by his children; Michael Jr. and wife Alyssa of West Milford New Jersey, Erin Fitzgerald and her husband Alan, of Vista California, and Devon Miller and her husband Todd, of Southborough Massachusetts. He is also survived by his brother Kevin of Dover Massachusetts and his sister Kristine of Reading Massachusetts. Michael was preceded in death by his first child, his beloved Regan Lefferts, of Aurora Colorado. Additionally, he was the grandfather of 8 loving grandchildren.
In keeping with Michael's wishes, services will be held privately by his family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Michael's honor to a charity that supports research in the area of ovarian cancer or the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
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