North Haven Man, Area Baseball Standout, Dies At 33; Community Rallies

NORTH HAVEN, CT — A GoFundMe campaign has been launched on behalf of Michael Edward Olszyk, a 33-year-old North Haven man, who died Tuesday, leaving behind two young children and a grieving family.

"His greatest joys in life and the light of his heart were his sons, Luke John and Matthew Robert Olszyk," wrote Deborah Olszyk, Michael's mother, on GoFundMe.

The money raised will go toward a trust for the two boys, and as of Thursday, the page had generated more than $14,000 in donations toward a goal of $25,000.

Michael Olszyk was a standout baseball player in high school and at Sacred Heart University and the University of Bridgeport, according to his obituary. He worked as a conductor for Metro-North for several years, and was a member of the Association of Commuter Rail Employees.

"We will remember Mikey every time we jump off the dock, when we drive past a baseball field in the Spring and hear the crack of a bat, and when we see his smile reflected back to us in his sons’ eyes," Deborah Olszyk wrote. "We will miss him every day for the rest of our lives."

The West Haven Twilight League posted a tribute to Olszyk on its Facebook page.

"With a heavy heart, we are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of former West Haven Twilight League star Mike Olszyk," the post reads. "Mike was a standout player for All-Brite Electric and Arcade Metal Stamping and he loved the game of baseball. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family in this time of need."

Click here to view the GoFundMe campaign for Michael Edward Olszyk.