Michelle Montgomery (1974-2025 )

Michelle A. Montgomery, 50, of Brooklyn, New York, beloved daughter, sister, aunt, and friend, passed away on January 29, 2025 at Calvary Hospital Hospice in Brooklyn after a four-year battle with osteosarcoma. A loving vigil was kept by her sisters and friends.


Michelle was great fun, generous of heart, dedicated to public health and community, witty, wise, adventurous, and kind. She is survived by her parents James and Nancy Montgomery of Hershey, PA; sister Joan Halford (Shawn Halford) of Needham, MA; sister Denise Montgomery (David Urso) of San Diego, CA; and her nieces and nephews: Gabriel Halford, Rose Halford, Olivia Urso, and Barrett Urso. Michelle had an enormous circle of friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors whose lives she touched and forever changed.
Born on September 22, 1974 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Michelle’s early childhood was spent in Bethlehem and nearby Lower Nazareth. In 1980, she moved with her family to Strongsville, OH.


In 1985, Michelle and her family moved to Hershey, Pennsylvania, where she graduated from Hershey High School as class valedictorian. Michelle was part of the Productions Staff and co-editor of the Hershey Broadcaster school newspaper. It was during these years that she developed a love of reading and music.


Following high school graduation in 1992, Michelle entered the University Scholars Program at Pennsylvania State University, earning degrees with honors in Psychology and English in 1996. Her love of live music performances that began in high school expanded in college, and she and her friends attended many concerts together. Michelle remained close with her college friends throughout her life. Following graduation from college, Michelle worked in a residential facility for young people experiencing mental health challenges.


In 1997, Michelle moved to New York City to attend Columbia University, where she earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in nonfiction writing. During her time at Columbia, Michelle worked at the Columbia University Oral History Research Office on a project documenting the voices and experiences of doctors who cared for patients during the early years of the AIDS crisis. The project culminated in the 2002 book AIDS Doctors: Voices from the Epidemic. She was also an editorial board member of Columbia: A Journal of Literature and Art. During her time at Columbia, Michelle fell in love with New York City and made more friendships she cherished.
Following graduation from Columbia in 1999, Michelle moved to Brooklyn, first to Park Slope,then to Ditmas Park. The borough became her adopted home for 26 years: She loved the energy, the people, its quirky shops, farmer’s markets, lively restaurants, Prospect Park, and the endless music, art, and culture.
In 2000, Michelle joined the staff of CAMBA, a social services organization based in Flatbush in Brooklyn. She brought her creativity, dedication, and talents to work in public health and disease prevention, where she was a program and evaluation manager. Over her nearly 25 years with CAMBA, the organization became another longstanding Brooklyn home for her. Michelle’s work at CAMBA and her relationships with her colleagues meant a great deal to her.
While working full-time at CAMBA,Michelle earned a Master of Public Health in epidemiology and biostatistics from Hunter College at The City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy in 2012. She co-authored three research publications based on research she conducted with professors and colleagues from CUNY.
Michelle purchased an apartment in a beautiful building in Ditmas Park in 2019. There she became involved in the coop board, planted flowers and trees with the gardening committee, and made dear friends.
Together with family and friends, Michelle traveled throughout the United States and abroad. Some of her favorite destinations included Amsterdam; Hawaii; Squam Lake, New Hampshire; London; and Turks and Caicos.
Michelle loved 90s British bands, KEXP radio of Seattle, dining out with friends, autumn, the color orange, The Hunt column every Thursday in the New York Times, tai chi, real estate television, the family dogs, the beach, French fries, baking, cooking, and thinking about cooking. She called being an aunt one of the great joys of her life. She considered herself rich in friendship and lived an incredible life with a full heart. Michelle will be dearly missed by the many people who loved her.
There will be a memorial gathering in New York City in the Spring and a private service in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Food Bank NYC, the World Food Program, Doctors Without Borders, the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, KEXP Radio of Seattle, or The Metropolitan Museum of Art.