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Michael J. “Misch” Mischler of St. John, Virgin Islands, left this earth on Dec. 18. Misch was born June 4, 1967, in New Haven, son of the late William E. Mischler, Sr., and Mary Jane McNulty Mischler.

He is survived by his brothers Joseph A. (Carol) Mischler and Peter J. Mischler; and his sisters Mary C., Barbara A. (Jamie), and Ellen M. Mischler, all of Branford. He is also survived by his niece Lindsay Mischler; his nephews Joshua P. Mischler and Liam J. Mullen; great-nephew Trevor W. Curtiss; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was predeceased by his brother William E. Mischler, Jr.

Misch lived a very colorful and adventurous life. He lived in Hawaii for a short time, traveled to Europe and Southeast Asia, and worked on a private yacht in the Mediterranean. He drove cross country to Alaska to work as a commercial fisherman for many seasons. He worked for Gozzi’s Turkey Farm, raising turkeys and working their fishing boats. He was also a painter and worked for many local painters in Branford and on his own. He had a deep affection for the water and everything it had to offer for work and play. Through this he discovered St. John, where he eventually moved permanently in 1992. He started his own painting company, which became quite successful with his “museum quality” work.

He enjoyed live music and local bands and was a talented artist. He loved to ski, bowl, play pond hockey, and all water sports, including boating and sailing. He was a good, kind, gentle soul with an infectious laugh, a memorable smile, and sparkling blue eyes. St. John was in his blood but Branford was in his heart. He had cultivated an enormous circle of friends, whom he treated like his family, on both coasts as well as on the islands. He will be remembered for his sense of humor, his spontaneity, his willingness to give you the shirt off his back, and mostly his gift of gab. His presence will be greatly missed by everyone whose life he touched.

Relatives and friends were invited to a memorial visitation Jan. 26 at the W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 N. Main St., Branford. Memorial donations may be sent to the Animal Care Center, P.O. Box 429, St. John, VI 00831.