Michael T. Doyle

“All of us have a story to tell,” and Mike spent his life telling other peoples’ stories. This is our chance to tell part of his story.

Michael Thomas Doyle was born in Rockford, Illinois on October 22, 1948, and he passed away on July 31, 2025 surrounded by his family. Mike was the son of Russell and Mary (LaRosa) Doyle. Growing up, Mike spent a lot of time in south Rockford with his sister, 27 first cousins, and many Italian aunts and uncles. He attended several area Rockford schools and was a proud East High graduate from the class of 1966. The next fall Mike enrolled at Wisconsin State University Whitewater and graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree in 1970. Mike was a proud member of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity where he met many life long friends. He had intentions of becoming a high school social studies teacher; however, life gave him a different path. Mike was drafted into the United States Army in 1970 and proudly served as a medical specialist from February 1971 to March 1972. Shortly after returning, Mike found a part-time job at the Rockford Register Star which eventually led to an amazing 25 year career as a journalist. The highlight of this included the coveted job of the Chicago Bears “beat writer.” Mike covered hundreds of local sporting events from high school athletics to many additional professional events like the US Open. He famously covered the 1985 Bears Super Bowl Championship. During this time, he also taught part time at Rock Valley and advised their newspaper called the Valley Forge. After covering sports for many years, he transitioned to writing a weekly column in the paper that covered many human interest stories of the people of Boone County. When asked by some if there was anything to write about in Boone County, he was fond of saying that 40,000 people lived in Boone County, so there were 40,000 stories to tell (but probably more). In the early 2000s, Mike felt the classroom calling again and he accepted a position to teach high school journalism at Belvidere High School. Mike earned his Master of Arts Degree from St. Xavier University in 2003. He taught at Belvidere High School for several years as journalism teacher, and was advisor to the school newspaper and yearbook. He joined the faculty at Belvidere North High School when it opened in 2007 in similar roles. Throughout his career as a teacher, he helped his journalism classes earn many prestigious awards, and was himself awarded the 2014 Illinois Journalism Teacher of the Year Award. Mike was an esteemed Golden Apple finalist and earned his National Board Teacher Certification in 2007. He retired after 15 years in the Belvidere School District.

After retirement, he continued to support his community by participating in many local committees and organizations, including the Boone County Historical Society, the Boone County Museum Board, Holy Name Society at St. Anthony Church, Festa Italiana, and years of hard work and research with the Greater Rockford Italian American Association (GRIAA). He was the editor and frequent author for the GRIAA magazine the Papagallo. He was honored to be inducted in the GRIAA Hall of Fame in 2021. Mike judged writing and photography competitions at the Boone County Fair, and one year he spent time gathering hundreds of names and stories about the 1967 Belvidere tornado. Mike compiled that information and then conducted dozens of interviews and other research, ultimately authoring the two definitive books on the local tragedy. He also authored 5 other local history books.

Although he had many career accomplishments, family came first. Mike met Nora Cipolla in the fall of 1972, and they were engaged by December. Mike was so taken with Nora, that he brought her flowers to every date. They were married on September 29, 1973. Mike and Nora welcomed Amanda (Doyle) Denning in 1980, and then Emily (Doyle) Cork in 1984. Their family then grew by two when Amanda married Mike Denning in 2007, and Emily wed Chris Cork in 2009. Nothing excited him more than the birth of his grandchildren: Jackson Denning, Micah Cork, William Denning, Molly Cork and Samuel Denning. Being a Nano was the most fulfilling role that Mike would ever have.

During the last fifteen years of his life, travel became Mike and Nora’s favorite pastime. Favorite trips included: Italy, Ireland, England, France, Brazil, Amsterdam, New York, and several to Sicily. Other hobbies included gardening, cooking, volunteering, photography, writing, researching his heritage, and attending the many activities that his grandchildren were involved in. Mike especially loved family gatherings where he enjoyed cooking and baking favorite family recipes including Italian cookies, briulate, homemade pasta and sugo, sausage, pizza, and ta’ano with his extended family. He relished the opportunity to learn and teach these old traditions.

Mike is survived by his wife, Nora, his sister Julie (Doyle) Stacionis, and many wonderful nieces, nephews, cousins, and family members. In a book about his life, he wrote that his grandchildren “brought light, laughter and even more love into our family and we are incredibly rich and blessed” and that, to him, was the best story of all. In reality, he was the thread that bound the quilt of our amazing family. Mike’s story is so much brighter because of his light, and with his blessing and glory, it goes on and on.

Visitation will be Thursday, August 7th from 4-8pm at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, 1860 South Mulford Rd, Rockford, IL 61108. Funeral Mass Friday, August 8, at 10:00 am, with visitation at 9:00am at St. Anthony Padua Church, 1010 Ferguson, Rockford, Illinois. To send online condolences and share memories, please visit www.fitzgeraldfh.com.