Michael Alfred Abel

Michael Alfred Abel was born in New York City on April 2, 1934, to Walter and Marietta Bitter Abel.  He passed away peacefully in his home with his devoted wife, Cynthia, and family by his side on June 17, 2024.

His father was a successful stage and film actor, and his mother was a professional harpist, so Mike was immersed in the world of music and theater from a young age. He spent the first 11 years of his life in Southern California where he learned to sail, which was his lifelong passion. After moving back to New York with his parents and brother, Jon Abel, he attended Riverdale Country School.

His first job was working with renowned scenic designer Jo Mielziner on the set for the Cole Porter musical Can-Can, which began a career as a stage and production manager for Broadway and industrial shows across the United States and Canada.

He owned a furniture restoration business while living in Noank, Connecticut, which led to a second career as the Essex Sign Carver, located at the Essex Corinthian Yacht Club, where he was a founding member. His shop was known as a joyous gathering place for a laugh, a glass of wine and good company.

During that time, he enjoyed his love of sailing by captaining boats up and down the Eastern Seaboard and Caribbean, and hosting friends and family on his own sailboats, Aquarius and Peregrine.

Mike and Cyncy met at a jazz concert in Essex and lived in Ivoryton and Old Saybrook, Connecticut, before retiring to Bluffton, South Carolina. Mike was the beloved father of Jody Abel and Victoria Abel, and stepfather to Bob Berry, Anne DeRuiter, and Jennifer Wislocki.

Mike and Cyncy enjoyed hosting family dinners, beach days and holidays, and Mike was the mastermind of many Christmas scavenger hunts and Easter egg festivities for their children and grandchildren.

In their retirement, Mike and Cyncy enjoyed their home in Bluffton where they made many new friends and joined the United Methodist Church led by Rev. Joey McDonald, who baptized Mike when he was 82 years old.

Mike is survived by his wife of 40 years, Cynthia; children Jody, Victoria, Bob, Anne, and Jennifer, sons-in-law Joe Gustavsen, Sterling DeRuiter, and Ted Wislocki; and grandchildren Evan, Rachel, Ananda (Ana), Tyler, Jeff, Ashleigh, Sadie, Asa, Aiden, Allie, and Jack.  Mike is also survived by his sister-in-law Sandra Burns Abel (Pirie) and her cherished family.

The Abel family is grateful to Hospice Care of the Lowcountry and Mike’s private caregivers for their compassion and loving care. In lieu of a memorial service, the family invites friends and loved ones to light a candle and say a prayer in Mike’s memory.