LTC Michael Laurent Therrien, M.D.
PUTNAM — Michael L. Therrien, Lt.Col., USAF, MC, 69 of River Road died Dec. 1, 2024, after a long illness.
Born on Feb. 19, 1955, he was the son of the late Laurent “Larry” H. Therrien and Linnea “Lynn” Therrien, both of North Grosvenordale.
Michael’s life ambition was to serve his community teaching, treating, relieving and comforting as a doctor. His chosen specialty of cardiology led him to care for the sick and to teach other physicians in hospitals and universities all over the world. Michael, a lifelong student, was a proud graduate of John Hopkins University in Baltimore and the UConn Medical School in Farmington. Michael obtained other degrees to support his career as an academic doctor from Brown University, Carnegie Mellon University and Concord Law School.
He spent more than 30 years practicing both at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam and St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, where he retired as director of the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.
In 2009, he took “the road less traveled” (Frost, 1913) and began a career as a military physician with the United States Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel. He served in the Iraq War at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. Michael was proud to treat his fellow service members, providing intensive care where it was needed most and to work and learn with an exceptional team of nurses and fellow physicians.
In his quiet, personal time he loved to go fly-fishing and practiced photography, an art he began as a young boy. He joyfully attended the sporting and dramatic events of his grandsons and listened to his favorite band Fleetwood Mac and James Taylor.
Michael retired from medicine in 2018. He spent his time pursuing his hobbies as a ham radio operator (N1MD), traveling and attending NASCAR races when he was able to and watching Patriots football. He could be found frequently at Main Street Gelato in Putnam eating frozen treats and talking to friends, neighbors, and former patients.
His life of service to his community and country, his love for his family and his ability to teach and inspire leaves the world a little bit - a lot - better than he found it.
He leaves behind his wife Lea (Rice) Therrien; his daughters Andrea Meyer and Nicole Shults and their husbands Jeffrey Meyer and Dan Shults; grandsons Jacob and Evan Meyer; sisters Jeanne (Therrien) Darroca and Lisa (Therrien) Annis; nieces and nephews.
Visitation is from 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. A gathering will begin at 9 a.m. Dec. 6 in the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Mary Church of the Visitation, with burial at St. Mary Cemetery in Putnam.
Donations: Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse (ATTN Charlie Milewski, P.O. Box 3, Putnam, CT 06260); or the Putnam Lions Club (P.O. Box 535, Putnam, CT 06260).
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