Toru Mike Yamanishi, 58, of Pepperell, passed away peacefully on April 5, 2026, surrounded by his family.

Mike was born in Kao-hsiung, Taiwan, and grew up in Japan, attending Canadian Academy where he met lifelong friends. He later moved to the United States when he began college. He graduated from Butler University with a degree in Chemistry and Computer Science, then continued his education at the University of Iowa where he earned his M.S. in Biomedical Engineering and met his future wife. Mike began his work career at Nihon Kohden in Tokyo, developing patient monitoring systems, and later moved to their California-based office. After getting married, he moved to Massachusetts and started his 20+ dedicated years at Sonus Networks/Ribbon Communications as a software developer for telecommunications.

Coaching his children’s sports teams was where Mike found some of his happiest and most rewarding moments. He absolutely loved spending his time coaching all the kids, whether it be on the soccer fields, baseball diamonds, or basketball courts. He wanted them to learn the rules of the game, proper technique, and sportsmanship, but what he aspired to do most was to teach them how to have fun. He strived to create moments filled with laughter, hoping to inspire a lifelong desire to chase happiness.

Devoted husband, father, brother, and uncle, Mike is survived by his wife, Alexandra, his children, Sophia and Lukian, his brother and sister-in-law, Frank and Pam, and his sister, Margaret. He is also remembered as an adored uncle by many nieces and nephews. Mike was predeceased by his parents, Keiko Yamanishi and Kao Kwang Hwei.

Mike always claimed he was not a people person, yet everywhere he went, he was loved for selflessly sharing his time, knowledge, joy, and love, and we are all blessed to have had him in our lives.

In accordance with Mike’s wishes, a celebration of life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Mike Yamanishi may be made to Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute in support of lung cancer research. Gifts can be made online at https://giving.massgeneral.org/donate/ or mailed to the MGH Development Office, Attention: Kasey Ahern, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 540, Boston, MA 02114. Checks can be made payable to Massachusetts General Hospital with “Tribute to Mike Yamanishi” on the memo line. Donations can also be made to Ducks for Cancer at https://www.ducksforcancer.com.

Arrangements are entrusted to the McGaffigan Family