Michael Dennis Bregande

Michael Dennis (Mike) Bregande of White House, TN, passed away on January 20th, 2026, after a prolonged and valiant fight with Alzheimer’s disease. Mike was a brilliant, funny, talented, devoted, and loving man who throughout his life continually sought the path to becoming the best possible husband, father, and man of God.

Born in Ridgefield Park, NJ, Mike was raised in a modest, two-bedroom apartment in Newburgh, NY. His father worked for the New York & Pennsylvania Railroad and his mother at the Edison plant in NYC. During summers, Mike regularly caught the train to West Point, where he worked to save money for college. In his youth, he developed a genuine passion for the Hudson Valley, including its history, scenery, and art.

After graduating from Newburgh Free Academy, Mike attended Niagara University in Niagara Falls, NY, where he received a BS degree in Natural Science (Biology and Chemistry). There, he met the love of his life, Rosemary Orzehowski of Binghamton, NY, a student in the College of Nursing. They married in February of 1962.

After one year of work and following his wedding, Mike enrolled in Officer Candidate School (OCS) in Newport, RI, graduated from the U.S. Naval School of Justice, and later served as a Lieutenant (JG) in the United States Navy in Norfolk, VA from 1962-1965. Mike was stationed in Norfolk, VA and deployed on the USS Vulcan, which serviced U.S. battleships in the Bay of Pigs during the Cuban Missile Crisis. At their home in Virginia Beach, Rosemary twice gave birth while her husband was at sea. Mike was extremely proud of his military service and in his later years was rarely seen without his trademark khaki cap that displayed his Naval affiliation.

Post service, Mike relocated his family to the quaint farming community of Fremont, MI, where he began his professional career in Quality Control with the Gerber Products Company. Mike and Rosemary were warmly received by the Gerber family and developed lasting friendships with co-workers and neighbors alike. By 1971, three more children would arrive, with his namesake resting eternally in the city’s Maple Grove Cemetery.

In 1972, he was promoted to Quality Control Manager at the Gerber manufacturing plant in Fort Smith, AR. Here, the youngest of his five children was born. In Arkansas, Mike and Rosemary were dedicated parishioners of Immaculate Conception Church, where they and their children made lasting friendships.

In 1978, Mike’s career advanced to Westfield, NY, where he joined Welch’s as Director of Corporate Quality Assurance. By 1983, he headed QA, Plant Quality Control, Packaging, and Research & Development. In this role, he led a Total Quality Leadership (TQL) initiative to generate new product ideas and package developments, which led to the creation of the first squeezable jelly. A highlight of Mike’s tenure at Welch’s was a trip to the Toyota headquarters in Japan to observe and study Kaizen, which would contribute to his professional success.

While at Welch’s, Mike and his family resided in the historic village of Fredonia, NY for nearly 15 years, enjoying an exceptional educational system, convenient access to the arts and entertainment, wonderful neighbors, and his beloved Buffalo Bills. He and Rosemary were blessed to raise their children in the beauty, safety, and security of rural, small town America.

While residing in Western New York, Mike’s service to his profession and community included roles as Chairman of the Cornell University Food Science Advisory Council; Chairman of the Juice Products Technical Committee (National Food Processors Association); First Vice-President and Industrial Representative of the Northern Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce; and Board of Directors member of the Northern Chautauqua County American Red Cross.

In the summer of 1994, Mike accepted the Director, Quality Assurance position with Coca-Cola Foods in Houston, TX, where he applied his expertise as a leading juice technologist to the Minute Maid, Hi-C, and Five Alive brands. Mike and Rosemary loved Texas, and it wasn’t long before they bought their first cowboy boots.

In 1998, Mike became Director, Regulatory Compliance for The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta, where he and Rosemary lived until his retirement. Their lovely Sandy Springs home served as a welcoming hub for their children, visiting family, and friends. Here, one of Mike’s personally crafted stained glass pieces, the pineapple - a symbol of hospitality - was fittingly displayed in the kitchen window. At the Bregande home, the doors were always open and no one was a stranger. Guests knew Mike to be an exceptional and often hilarious host, a stark contrast to his otherwise private life as a dedicated husband and provider.

One final move in 2014 brought Mike and Rosemary to Hendersonville, TN, where they lived in close proximity to three of their children and three grandchildren. After being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Mike spent his final years residing in a nearby Memory Care home, where he was surrounded by love and received exceptional care.

Though Mike’s life was filled with accomplishment, he was humble to a fault. He was an avid athlete, talented artist, actor, singer, and voracious reader whose interests and hobbies included biographical literature, history, tennis, stained glass art, and carpentry. He also had a passion for genealogy and spent endless hours researching family histories for himself, his loved ones, and friends. He was proud of his Sicilian and Italian heritage.

Mike was a devout Catholic whose love of Christ and devotion to Mary formed his spiritual foundation. He loved his wife fervently and unconditionally, and together they proudly raised their children to live in the faith, always strive for excellence, and never compromise their integrity. Privately, he prayed that the wisdom he shared and examples he set would overshadow his acknowledged imperfections.

In his 87 years, Mike touched and influenced many lives and will be sadly missed by family, friends, and peers. His wife and children are consoled in knowing that his heart is now at peace, his soul at rest, and that he will forever be embraced in the loving arms of Jesus and His holy mother.

Mike is preceded in death by his father Joseph Bregande, mother Katherine Bregande, sister Barbara Bregande, and son Michael Bregande. He is survived by his spouse of 64 years, Rosemary Elizabeth Bregande; children Michele Bregande, Mathieu (Julie) Bregande, Joseph (Christian) Bregande, Paul Bregande, and David Bregande; grandchildren Gabriel Roper, Benjamin Roper, Michael Bregande, Stephen Bregande, David Bregande, John Paul Bregande, Josie Bregande, and Joseph Bregande; and great-grandchildren Sophia Bregande, Jaxon Servise, and Chloe Bregande.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 7th, 2026 at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Hendersonville, TN. Visitation is at 12:30pm, followed by memorial mass at 1:30pm. Later this year, Mike’s remains will be interred in a newly constructed columbarium on the grounds of the church.

In lieu of flowers, kindly consider making a memorial gift to Alzheimer’s of Tennessee or Alive Hospice by visiting the links below. 

Please visit this link to donate to Alive Hospice

 Please visit this link to donate to Alzheimer's of Tennessee