Sturbridge: Michael C. Hart, 53, of Sturbridge, formerly of Plano, TX, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 15 ^th , in the UMass Memorial Medical Center, University Campus, Worcester, after a long illness.

He leaves his parents, M. Peter and Maryellen (Hammer) Hart of Sturbridge; his brother, Matthew Hart of Sturbridge; his two sisters, Melissa Turner and her husband Alan of Charlton and Kate Foley and her husband Peter of Rochdale; his three nephews, Joseph Liam Foley, Matthew Padraig Foley and Alan-Michael Turner; and his niece, Meaghan Ashby (Turner) Weiner and her husband Jared.

Michael was born in Iowa City, IA on Oct. 28, 1968.  He received his bachelor's degree in Theology with a minor in Philosophy from Assumption College in Worcester and went on to receive his master's degree in Political Philosophy from the University of Dallas.

Michael was a deep thinker and loved the power of positive thinking and philosophy. He had a passion for the truth and was sensitive to the suffering of others.  Michael had a broad taste in music and was an accomplished guitarist.  He was known to his family as a renaissance man.  Michael had a great love for animals and his pets were his children.

A funeral Mass for Michael will be held on Saturday, Oct. 29 ^th , at 10:00am in St. Mary's Church of the St. John Paul II Parish, 263 Hamilton St., Southbridge.  Burial will be at the convenience of the family.  Calling hours in the Daniel T. Morrill Funeral Home, 130 Hamilton St., Southbridge, will be held on Friday, Oct. 28 ^th , from 5:00 to 7:00pm.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Best Friends Animal Society, 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, Utah 84741-5000 or online at bestfriends.org.