He began his career as a Sales Representative at Knoll Pharmaceutical, later becoming Program Manager at Ayerst Wyeth Pharmaceutical. He ultimately was promoted to Publisher of Emergency Medicine at Quadrant HealthCom. His colleagues knew him as a devoted and hardworking professional, who truly cared about his work.

Mike was a U.S. Army Veteran who served in the Vietnam War from ages 19-21 and received the following medals: The National Defense Service Medal, which recognized his honorable service during a time of war, showing his dedication to his country; The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, awarded for his committed service in Vietnam, reflecting his contribution to both the U.S. and our allies; and The Vietnam Service Medal, with a bronze star, marking the specific campaigns he served in and a reminder of the courage he showed in some of the most challenging circumstances.

Mike loved travelling to Europe and the Caribbean Islands with his children, entertaining family and friends with food and wine, exploring higher education opportunities for his children, and supporting his children’s passions for sports, music, and the arts. He played lead roles in all his high school musicals at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School and later in college at Fairleigh Dickinson University, and carried his love of singing and acting to his children by taking them to Broadway shows and to ballets and operas at Lincoln Center.

Mike was a diehard NY Yankees fan and will be buried less than a baseball field away from one of his all-time favorite baseball stars, Yogi Berra.

He is survived by his daughter, Alyssa Anne Pepper of New York, NY; a son, Michael Anthony Pepper Jr. and wife, Melissa of Fort Lauderdale, Fl; a stepson, Paul Edward Gorman Jr. of Union, NJ; by his former wife, Janice Martha Pepper of Livingston, NJ; by a sister, Carol Halo and husband, Martin Sr. of Livingston, NJ, and by their son, Martin Halo Jr., wife, Danielle, and their children, Nicholas and Christopher Halo of Glen Ridge, NJ; and by his companion, Debra Walker of Westfield, NJ.

Visitation took place on Veterans Day, Monday, November 11, at the Hancliffe Home for Funerals, East Hanover, NJ. Funeral services were held Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at the funeral home, followed by a Mass at Saint Philomena Roman Catholic Church in Livingston, NJ. Burial took place at Gates of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover, NJ.

Memorial donations to Lyons Veterans Hospital will be appreciated in lieu of flowers.