Michael G. Billing

Michael “Mike” Gerard Billing, age 65, of Pheasant Lane Ithaca N.Y. passed away from melanoma on May 29, 2018. In his final week, Mike was surrounded by his wife, Joyce, children, grandchildren, and colleagues celebrating his retirement and 41 years of service in particle physics research at Cornell University.

Born to Robert Arthur Billing of St. Charles, MO and Ann Frances Prenger of Taos, MO, on June 5, 1952. Mike spent his early childhood in St. Charles, MO before the family moved to Illinois, first Decatur, then Urbana, and finally Champaign, but he always remained a devoted St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan. Graduating as one of the valedictorians of his class in 1970 from Champaign Central High School, Mike enjoyed math, choir, and musicals. To no one’s surprise Mike aspired to be a scientist, and was honored with the Bausch + Lomb Award for most outstanding high school science student.

Hospice may have been the only thing that Mike ever failed: his undergraduate acknowledgements include being a James Scholar honor student for 4 years in Engineering Physics, and a Bronze Tablet awardee for graduating in the top 3% of the class of 1974.

Mike met his wife Joyce Ann Tennyson at the University of Illinois. Seeing the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey was their first date, after Joyce was unsuccessful in trying to set Mike up to date her friends. He was just “too nerdy”! They were married on May 18, 1974 and then moved to Ithaca, N.Y. in July, where Mike completed his Master of Physics at Cornell University in 1977.

Mike will be remembered as an incredible father and role model to his four children, Katy, Amy, Greg, and Jon, who describe him as loving, dependable, and brilliant. They will cherish fond memories of watching musicals including Mike’s favorite the “Sound of Music”, late night card games of euchre, and summer road trips to the Midwest to visit the Billing and Tennyson families.

Mike was a passionate particle accelerator physicist conducting research and research management at the Cornell Laboratory for Accelerator-based Sciences and Education (CLASSE), where his roles included Director of Operations for 5 years and most recently the Director of the CESR-TA Project. After his decades of research, Mike is considered one of the world’s expert accelerator physics having published numerous articles on Beam Instrumentation, Wake Fields, and Linear Coupled Motion. Even in his final months and weeks, Mike continued writing research papers, engaging in discussions with colleagues, and trying to pass on his wealth of knowledge prior to the summer 2018, when the lab was to be shutdown for upgrades.

As a Saturday night mass cantor, Mike was an active member of St. Catherine’s of Siena Church serving over the past 40 years as Chair of the Christian Education Committee, terms on the Finance Committee, Music Committee, and Church Council, Director of the Folk Group, Eucharistic Minister and of course singing in the choir.

In 1983 Mike joined Joyce at the First Congregational Church (FCC) as an associate member. At FCC, Mike sang in the church choir and played hand bells on Sunday mornings. Mike served on the Pastoral Search Committee, Pastoral Relations, Sound System, Finance, Council Committees, and as Head of the Worship Committee.

One of Mike’s passions and gifts was music. Beyond two church programs, he was a dedicated Savage Club brother and served as Community Chorus Base Section Leader and Concert Master, and Chamber Singer. Mike’s appreciation for diversity and culture was evident by the 16 exchange students that were welcomed into the Billing home and his volunteerism with the Rotary Youth Exchange Program, where Mike was responsible for placements for in-bounds students and was a two-time Paul Harris Fellow. He was initiated into the Knights of Columbus. An engaged and supportive father Mike shared his love of soccer by coaching for 15 years for the Ithaca Youth Bureau Soccer Program and with the Tompkins Soccer Association Thunderbolts.

Mike is survived by his wife of 44 years, Joyce Ann Billing, his daughters Kathryn Diane Lundholm and Amy Christine O’Malley (Sean Thomas O’Malley) and his sons Gregory Matthew Billing (Carrie Allynn Ross) and Jonathan Michael Billing ( girlfriend Heather Anne Scheck).

In addition Mike is survived by his beloved Grandchildren Brianna Christine Lundholm, Adam Kjærboe Lundholm, Liam Frances O’Malley, Finn Michael O’Malley, and Ronen Robert Billing.

The oldest of seven children, Mike is survived by siblings Christopher (Claire) Billing, Patricia (John Medel) Billing-Medel, Jolene (Brett) Schafman, James (Deb) Billing, Theresa (Robert) Lane, Andrew (Colleen) Billing, and Brother-In-Law John (Connie) Tennyson.

Also his aunts Joan Billing and Margaret “Margo” Villar and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A Mass of Christian Burial and celebration of life will be held Friday June 22, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. at St Catherine of Siena Church, with Fr. Joseph Marcoux and Rev. David Kaden with reception to follow in the Parish Center.

Our family would like to thank Dr. Bael, Dr. Campbell, Hanna, Marsha Sundman, and all the oncology nurses at Cayuga Hematology Oncology Associates and nurses staff at Cayuga Medical for their care of Michael over the years. Also Dr. Horn, Dr. Bollo, Dr. Bollinger and the medical teams at Dana Faber and Roswell Park Cancer Institute who helped to give Mike many extra days. Thanks to Lori Joseph, and aides Thea Harriett and Jewia Payne for the tender care not only for Mike but the family, too. Finally, to the Hospicare staff for their help with Mike during his stint in October 2017 and most recently in his final days.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: