On Friday, May 1, 2026, Michael “Mike” Gotch passed away in hospice care at Addison Pointe care facility in Chesterton, Indiana. He was 87. Mike was a wonderful father to his two sons, Paul (deceased) and Michael Paul, and abeloved husband to the love of his life, Pauline. It would not be an exaggeration to say Mike’s life revolved around his family; he and Pauline were married in 1966 and were days shy of their 60th wedding anniversary at the time of his passing.
He was proud of his Serbian heritage and one of his great loves was listening to tamburitza music; he would attend many live performances and picnics both here and in PA. He attended St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church in Monroeville, PA and then St. Elizabeth’s Orthodox Church in Chesterton, IN. He also loved attending his son Michael’s stage performancesacross the country as a professional actor, director and writer—from Los Angeles to New York City.
Mike was born in Nemacolin, PA, on December 1, 1938, to Mike and Dorothy (Drakulic) Gotch. He is survived by his only sibling, sister Joanne Helman (90), who resides in Pitcairn, PA, and by numerous beloved cousins, nephews, nieces and lifelong friends from his childhood and early adult life in Trafford, PA.
In the tight knit community of tiny Trafford, he was known affectionately by the nickname “Chachie”, graduating from Trafford High School, after which he first worked at the Westinghouse air brake before being drafted by the US Army in 1961 and serving with honor for one year abroad in Germany and then one year as an army reservist. After his military service, Mike attended a Penn State extension for two years before being employed by Bethlehem Steel as a buyer. Mike remained employed by Bethlehem for 34 years both in PA and subsequently at the Burns Harbor offices and coke oven asa supervisor buyer after being transferred here in the late 70s.
Mike and his wife Pauline grew up together in Trafford, and in that small town way, their families knew each other. Mike played football and Pauline was a cheerleader. They both loved to dance and would frequently run into each other at various venues at a time when “dance cards” were passed out to the ladies at the door. Once, when slow dancing, Mike’sbelt buckle and Pauline’s dress ties became tangled after the song ended and they both knew it was a sign they were “stuck with each other”. From that moment, they continued to dance together… through their dating, through their engagement, through their wedding, through the birth of both their sons, and through the best of their years here in Chesterton—often winning trophies for their effortless, unfussy, and even elegant jitterbugging.
Mike enjoyed all sports and supported the CHS athletic program by frequently attending events and games—especiallyfootball and basketball—and was always quick to celebrate or commiserate with the teams, players and coaches regardless of win or loss.
He was a fierce Pittsburgh Steelers fan and with his wife and son Michael, cheered on Novak Djokovic—a fellow Serb—in tennis by always watching his play in the slams.
Mike was a wonderful father: kind, fair, funny, compassionate, with a great sense of personal dignity and quiet grace that remained even throughout his recent health struggles. He taught his sons so much, but perhaps the greatest gift he gave them was their imaginations; whether it was exploring the woods or walking the train tracks or creating WWIIsubmarines in the living room out of large cardboard appliance boxes, Mike’s first love was play, daydreaming, and imagining with his family…something for which they are eternally grateful. There will never be
another like him, and those who knew and loved him are better for it. Despite the sadness of his passing, we will keep his spirit and our memories of him alive even in his absence.
Memory eternal.
