Michael Temple, who grew up in Chicago, Ill., and lived in Rye, N.Y., died on April 1, 2024, at the age of 62.
Mike, as he was known, had a special passion for history. Whether he was in a lounge chair at the Rye Free Reading Room, at Rye Town Park, or on a bench on the Playland Boardwalk, you’d see him with a large book, or two. It may have been a biography of a president or founding father, a tome on Jewish history, or a tale of baseball lore.
A man of considerable intellect, he dazzled others with his vast knowledge of history and recall of fun trivia. His keen mind led him to Harvard University, where he majored in U.S. History, before embarking on a successful career as a trader on Wall Street.
Beyond his scholarly pursuits, Mr. Temple was a sports enthusiast, especially tennis and baseball. His family rests easier knowing he was at all three of his beloved Cubs’ home games at Wrigley Field in 2016, the year they won the World Series.
He met his future wife, Jeanne, serendipitously, on a flight back to Chicago. They struck up a conversation over tennis after she spotted his tennis racquet. The rest was history.
Mike Temple enjoyed a successful career and an early retirement. During his retirement he embraced his role as a stay-at-home father, actively engaging in family and community life, coaching his children’s sports teams, and joining the boards of the Rye YMCA and Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester.
In addition to his children, Susan (Nathan) Lefler and Mark, Mr. Temple is survived by his father, Donald; his former wife, Jeanne; and his siblings, Matthew and Madeline. He was predeceased by his mother, Sarah.
A service was held April 11 at Congregation Emanu-El.
To honor Mike Temple’s memory, his family asks that you con- sider a donation in his name to the Rye Free Reading Room, a place he cherished and in which he spent a great deal of time. (Visit www.ryelibrary.org/michaeltemple.) Beyond donations they ask that you honor him by finding a good book, preferably one from your local library, and sitting by a body of water to read on a sunny afternoon.
