Michael J. Torres passed away on July 18, 2024 at the age of 48.  Michael was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York.  He received a B.A. in Political Science from SUNY Geneseo in 1997 and received an M.A. in Foundations of Education from Hofstra University in 2009.  He dedicated the majority of his career to working in higher education, most recently working as Executive Director of Institutional Research at Teacher College, Columbia University.  He believed in the power of education to change lives, just as it had done for him.  His true passion was encouraging people to pursue higher education in the way that worked best for them so that they could go on to build better futures for themselves and the world.

The only thing that Michael loved more than education was his family.  He met his beloved wife Elizabeth Malm at age 16 while they were both attending St. John’s Preparatory School in Astoria, Queens.  They have been inseparable ever since, together for a total of 32 years, 25 of them married.  They built a wonderful life together.  They share a daughter, Ann Torres, to whom Michael was a dedicated father and friend.

In addition to his wife and daughter, Michael is survived by five nieces and nephews whom he loved deeply: Anthony, Gabriella, Julien, Lucien, and Zoey.  He also leaves behind his sister Isabel, father Miguel, brothers-in-law Anthony, Matthew, and Kerry, sisters-in-law Kathryn and Zoraya, and mother-in-law Dian, to name a few.

Although we have lost him early, the number of lives Michael has touched with his own are evidence of the wonderfully full life he has lived.  He was dearly loved, and will be dearly missed.