Michael Edward Densen II, beloved husband of Ellen Kight Densen, and a bright light to all who knew him, died peacefully on October 29. He was 83.
He was born November 13, 1941, in Manhattan. After attending college in Syracuse, he moved back to New York City, where he delved into abstract painting and the bohemian downtown art scene of the early 1960s. Michael rubbed elbows with the likes of Robert Motherwell and Andy Warhol, and was revered by top abstract expressionists and action painters of the era.
In 1967, he moved to his farmhouse on Cooper Lake Road in Bearsville, where he became active in the Woodstock Art Association, serving on the board and presenting lectures on framing and fine art restoration, of which he was a master. Concurrently, he had many one-man shows throughout the Northeast and won numerous prestigious awards for his paintings.
Local artists and appraisers got to know and appreciate Michael once he opened his own successful framing and art restoration business in Bearsville, which he ran for more than two decades.
A civic-minded Woodstocker, Michael joined Woodstock Company #3 as a volunteer firefighter, and in 1988 was elected Fire Chief of Woodstock. Colleagues remember him as a kind, competent, exceptionally dedicated leader. Not surprisingly, he was reelected every year for 28 years.
In 1981 Michael married Ellen Kight, and they lived a rich and beautiful life together for 44 years until his passing. His wife would tell everyone that he was her Renaissance man. He could do anything-—from building an addition on a house to fixing intricate engines and electronics. He loved classical music, especially Bach, and built his own harpsicord. Always learning and curious, he was a scholar of science, astrophysics, history, and the Holocaust. An avid reader and lively conversationalist, he could talk knowledgeably on everything from current events to gardening to black holes.
Friends knew him for his good humor, generosity, and kindness, especially toward those less fortunate. He was a great listener and a perceptive observer of people.
Michael is survived by his sister, Jeanne Goodwin (Robert) of Millbrook, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Ethel and Harold Densen, and his son Michael Edward Densen III.
Woodstock will not soon forget “The Chief.” Michael was well-loved, and deservedly so.
In lieu of a public funeral service, a celebration of Michael’s life will be announced in the near future.
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