Michael McDonagh Seymour

Michael McDonagh Seymour, beloved husband of Marilyn Somma Seymour, devoted father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully on July 3, 2026, surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 90 years old.

Michael was born on August 23, 1935, in Bronxville, New York, to G.V. Seymour and Elizabeth McDonagh Seymour. He was the eldest of four children and is survived by his sisters, Susan Seymour Murphy and Jennifer Seymour Whitaker. His brother, Anthony Seymour, predeceased him in 2024.

Raised in Scarsdale, New York, Michael attended Immaculate Heart of Mary School before continuing his education at Portsmouth Priory (now Portsmouth Abbey) in Rhode Island, where he formed a lifelong bond with Father Andrew Jenks, O.S.B., who would later officiate Michael and Marilyn's wedding. His years there and later at Princeton University remained defining influences throughout his life.

Michael entered Princeton University with the Class of 1957 before pausing his studies to serve in the United States Army, where he was stationed in Hawaii and played on the Army baseball team. He returned to Princeton following his service and earned his bachelor's degree in economics. A devoted alumnus, he remained closely connected to Princeton throughout his life as an interviewer of prospective students, an enthusiastic supporter of Princeton athletics, and a member of the Cap and Gown Club.

A lifelong passion for baseball shaped much of Michael's life. A childhood trip to Yankee Stadium with his father sparked an enduring love of the game. After beginning his early career at IBM in New York, he received the opportunity of a lifetime when he joined the Baltimore Orioles organization as Assistant Farm Director. There, he worked in player development and minor league operations during a formative era of the franchise, forming lasting friendships within the baseball world, including Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver.

While in Baltimore, Michael and Marilyn welcomed their first two children before returning to New York.

Michael then began what would become a defining chapter of his professional life, building a distinguished and influential career in advertising that spanned from the mid-1960s through the early 1990s. He became a leader and innovator on Madison Avenue, particularly in the emerging field of direct response marketing, holding senior roles at several of New York's most prominent agencies, including Ogilvy, Dancer Fitzgerald Sample, and Saatchi & Saatchi. A key chapter of his career came at Dancer Fitzgerald Sample, where he led DFS Direct, the agency's direct response division, helping to shape and grow the discipline during a period when direct marketing was becoming a major force in the industry. He served as president of the Direct Marketing Club of New York and was widely respected for his strategic insight, creativity, and integrity.

Michael and Marilyn built a loving home first in Dobbs Ferry and later in Scarsdale, New York, where they raised their five children: Jill, Michael Jr., Christopher, Timothy, and Andrew. Together they shared a marriage of nearly 66 years. Their home was filled with faith, laughter, energy, and the joyful rhythm of a large family. Michael took great pride in each of his children and the lives they built.

Never one to retire in spirit, Michael devoted his later years to fundraising for educational and cultural institutions, including Portsmouth Abbey, Collegiate School, Archbishop Stepinac High School, and the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum. He later became a licensed real estate broker and remained active in the Westchester real estate community well into his later years.

He and Marilyn shared a lifelong devotion to their faith and community. They were longtime parishioners of St. Pius X Church and Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Westchester County. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they discovered the ministry of Father John Unni in Boston, becoming devoted members of its "far-flung flock" and later traveling to participate in Mass there in person. Their faith remained a guiding force throughout their lives.

Michael's greatest joy was his family. He was a devoted husband, a loving father to his five children, and an adoring grandfather to twelve grandchildren. Summers in Quogue, time on the tennis and paddle courts, mornings in the yard, fantasy baseball shared with his sons and grandsons, and lifelong friendships from Princeton formed the fabric of his happiest days.

Above all, Michael loved his family and his faith, which sustained him throughout every season of life. His legacy lives on in the family he built, the friendships he cherished, and the many lives he touched.

He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Calvary Hospital or Saint Cecilia Parish using the links below:

https://fund.calvaryhospital.org/ways-to-give/memorial-and-tribute-gifts/

https://www.stceciliaboston.org/giving-at-saint-cecilia/

Saint Cecilia Parish
18 Belvidere St Boston, MA 02115-3132