Michael Regalbuto

Michael Anthony Regalbuto, age 64, entered into eternal life on Thursday, January 22, 2026. He was born on December 13, 1961 in Princeton, New Jersey the son of John and Carole (Zachman) Regalbuto. He grew up in Fort Worth, Texas and graduated from Nolan High School (1981). He went on to study Mechanical Engineering, earning a Bachelor’s Degree from Rice University (1984), Master’s from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1986) and a PhD from Rice University (1990).

Mike and Deborah (Stephan) married in April 1990 and settled in Santa Clara, California. Mike was preceded in death by his parents. Surviving to cherish his memory are his siblings Mary, John (Monica), David (Carrie Olmsted) and loving children, Anthony (Deidre), Diana, Julia, and Peter. Mike is also survived by his two grandchildren, as well as many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

His professional career spanned 35 years with stints across tech companies in Silicon Valley, mostly in robotic automation. Among these were Adept Technologies, Seagate, Novatorque, and Lumentum. He enjoyed his time working at the GoogleX company Loon, which tried to use high-altitude balloons to provide internet service to more remote areas. He had recently entered retirement.

Mike was a true inventor. He spent much of his free time designing in his notebook and building in his “happy place” - his backyard shed. He had passions for gardening, robotics, Scouts, pottery, and moveable wire sculptures. His yard is a virtual orchard of all of the fruit trees he planted, tended and harvested. Family homes are full of his artistic creations. He was a beautiful, thoughtful letter writer, including authoring eulogies for both of his parents and the annual family Christmas card. He prided himself on making his readers laugh and his wife and children cringe a bit.

Mike was extensively generous. He gave his time and talents to the Boy Scouts of America - numerous trips to High Sierra with Tony, Den Leader and Wente trips with Peter, and lending his pottery expertise to kids at camp and the greater South Bay. He also fed his passion for robotics through many years mentoring the Robotics Team at Notre Dame High School (his daughters’ alma mater). He often delivered bags of fruit from his backyard trees to neighbors and sent full boxes to family members across the country. When he visited his grandchildren, he always brought a special activity to share with them. Grandpa Mike will be remembered alongside balloon hats, parachutes, tarp tents, and hours of weeding the garden.

Mike’s family will receive guests at St. Justin Catholic Church on Friday, February 20 at 3:30pm with a vigil to begin at 5:00pm. Mike’s life will be celebrated at St. Justin Catholic Church in Santa Clara at a funeral Mass on Saturday, February 21 at 11:00am, followed by Burial at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations in memory of Mike to the Notre Dame High School (San Jose) Robotics Team and Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council, Scouting America (SVMBC).

Kindly keep Mike and his family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.