Michael Palschakov Jr. of High Bridge, NJ passed away at home with family at his side on Tuesday, September 22, 2020. He was just days short of his 56th birthday. A graduate of New Providence High School and Rutger’s University with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, he briefly worked at AT&T in Reading, Pennsylvania before pursuing his real passion, music.  Michael had begun to learn to play the piano at the age of six by receiving lessons at home and chose to share his love of the instrument with students at their homes throughout central New Jersey.  He also performed at various restaurants, country clubs and churches in the area, playing the piano and organ through the years. The last several years he has been the pianist at the Fellowship Bible Church in Hillsborough, NJ where he developed a renewed and deeper appreciation of Jesus’s sacrifice for us.

Mike’s taste in music was broad from Classical to Rock.  He collected an abundance of recorded and sheet music over the years including Beethoven, Bach, Liszt, Chopin and Rachmaninoff and others as well as Genesis, Pink Floyd, Yes, Steve Hackett and King Crimson.  He played with Genesis and Led Zeppelin Tribute Bands, Fox Trot and Custard Pie (which can be heard on YouTube) and practiced with Ritchie Blackmore’s band Blackmore’s Night.

Mike was an avid motorcyclist.  He loved touring many places of nature on his small Harley Sportster on which he clocked nearly 100,000 miles which included a cross country trip to California and back with a dear friend.  Mike also was an avid pool player and received many MVP tournament awards with the Hunterdon County Pool League.

Mike was predeceased by his beloved mother, Madeline (née Pedicini), his maternal grandparents, Michael V. And Helen Pedicini and his paternal grandparents: Petar and Ljubica Palschakov.  He is survived by his beloved wife, Leydy Viviana, his father, Michael Sr., his sister and her husband Lenora and Mike Polomski, his younger sister Janine Sievert and her partner Mitch Goodstein, his brother and wife Paul and Cara Palschakov.  He also leaves five nieces and nephews: Jordan Leah and Daniel Sievert, Ava and Luke Palschakov, uncles: Michael and Vincent Pedicini and many dear cousins and friends.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in his name to: Fellowship Bible Church, 109 New Amwell Road, Hillsborough, NJ 08844 or Saint Jude’s Children Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN. 38105