Staff Directory

Because of outstanding people, we deliver exceptional service. Through the efforts of our entire staff, we are the leading funeral service provider in Southeast Michigan and one of the few firms annually recognized by the National Funeral Directors' Association. Our dedication, diligence, and ongoing training enable us to continue a tradition of serving every family with the utmost quality and care.

Terence B. Desmond
President and Licensed Funeral Director

Terry has served families for 45 years. He graduated from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School in 1959, the University of Notre Dame in 1963, and the Wayne State University School of Mortuary Science in 1964. As part of his on-going education, The Michigan Institute of Funeral Professionals regularly designates Terry as a Certified Michigan Funeral Practitioner. He is a co-founder, past president, and board member of Michigan Trust 100 and also a past State Director of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association. In addition, he is a member of the Advisory Board at Wayne State University Department of Mortuary Science.

Terry is the immediate past Chairman of the Board of Angels' Place (Homes for the Developmentally Disabled) and a board member of the University of Detroit Jesuit High School. Past community leadership includes vice-president of the Troy Chamber of Commerce and past president of the Kiwanis Club of Troy, co-founder and former board member of Troy Boys/Girls Club, co-founder of Troy Medi-Go, past president of the Notre Dame Club of Detroit, former member of the Board of Directors of Marian High School, and past president of the Brother Rice and Marian High Schools Dads Clubs. His community involvement has been recognized by receiving the Distinguished Citizen Award for City of Troy in 1982, the Award of the Year from the Notre Dame Club of Detroit in 1980, the Italian Study Group's 2000 Italian-American of the Year, the 2003 Marian High School Volunteer of the Year, and the 2006 Alumnus of the Year Award from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School. With his wife Betty, Terry recently received special recognition for their work with Marian High School. Terry has been involved with both St. Thomas More and St. Hugo of the Hills parishes. He is a lifelong resident of the Detroit area, a father of 6 and grandfather of 14 and currently lives with his wife, Betty, and family in Bloomfield Township.

Paul S. Connell
Executive Vice President and Licensed Funeral Director

Paul has been serving families at the Vasu, Rodgers & Connell Chapel of A.J. Desmond & Sons for 35 years. He graduated from Bloomfield Hills Lahser High School in 1970 and the Wayne State University of Mortuary Science in 1974. The Michigan Institute of Funeral Professionals has designated Paul as a Certified Michigan Funeral Practitioner. He is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association and the Michigan Funeral Directors Association. While president of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association District 6 he introduced a consumer program outlining the benefits of pre-arranging funerals. He is a member and past president of the Birmingham Lions Club where he founded and was annual chairman of the 29er/Leader Dogs for the Blind benefit. Paul attends Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church where he has served as president of the Ushers Club and is annual chairman of the parish plant sale. A lifelong resident of the Birmingham/Bloomfield area, Paul currently lives in Birmingham with his two children. His late wife, the former Cheryl Walsh, died in 1998.

Louis Rodgers
Vice-President and Licensed Funeral Director

Lou has been serving families at the Vasu, Rodgers & Connell Chapel for over 45 years and previously was at the McInnes-Desmond Funeral Home in Highland Park. Lou graduated from the Wayne State University School of Mortuary Science in 1952. He is a member of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association, National Funeral Directors Association, US Marine Corps Reserve, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, and Knights of Columbus. He has been a resident of the area with his wife for over 50 years. They attend the Church of the Transfiguration.

Kathleen Desmond Barr
Treasurer and Licensed Funeral Director

Kathy has been with A.J. Desmond & Sons since 1990. She graduated from Marian High School in 1986, the University of Notre Dame in 1990, and the Wayne State University Mortuary Science in 1995. The Michigan Institute of Funeral Professionals has designated Kathy a Certified Michigan Funeral Practitioner. She is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association and the Michigan Funeral Directors Association. Kathy is a member of St. Hugo of the Hills parish where she is active in the school. She is a lifelong area resident and currently lives with her family in Troy.

Suzanne Seitz Behan, CPC (Certified Pre-Planning Counselor)
Director of Pre-Planning Services, Licensed Funeral Director

Suzanne has been with A.J. Desmond & Sons since 1996 and has directed pre-planning services since 1997. She graduated from the Academy of Sacred Heart, Bloomfield Hills, MI, St. Petersburg College, Mortuary Science in 1996, and Sienna Heights College in 1997. Since 1999, the National Funeral Director Association has designated Suzanne as a Certified Preplanning Consultant. The Michigan Institute of Funeral Professionals designates her as a Certified Michigan Funeral Practitioner. She is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association and the Michigan Funeral Directors Association. She is also a member of Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce, Royal Oak Business Women's Association and the Berkley Chamber of Commerce. Suzanne was born and raised in the metro Detroit area and she lives with her husband in Royal Oak.

Gary V. Borg
Licensed Funeral Director

Gary started with A.J. Desmond & Sons in 2000.  After spending three years in Naples, Florida, Gary returned to A.J. Desmond & Sons in 2006. Gary brings extensive knowledge on cremation options and personalized funeral services. He grew up in Marquette and has been working in funeral service since 1992. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mortuary Science from Wayne State University and is a licensed funeral director in both Michigan and Florida. Gary is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, Michigan Funeral Directors Association and the Michigan Embalmers Society. He is also an active member of Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Birmingham and is involved in the Men's Bible Study. In his free time, Gary enjoys playing in a hockey league at the Troy Sports Center.  He currently lives with his wife and daughter in Berkley.

Kevin B. Desmond
Funeral Associate

Kevin returned to A.J. Desmond & Sons in June, 2008, having worked with the family firm during high school. He recently earned a Bachelo's degree in Mortuary Science from Wayne State University where he was the class vice president. Kevin graduated from the University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business in 2008, majoring in Marketing, and from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School in 2004. He is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, Michigan Funeral Directors Association, and the Michigan Embalmers Society. Having mentored local youth and coached a local youth lacrosse team while at Notre Dame, Kevin continues to be involved with youth, most recently coaching the Junior Varsity lacrosse team at U of D High. He lives in Bloomfield Hills and is a lifelong member of St. Hugo of the Hills parish.

Thomas Domlovil
Licensed Funeral Director

Tom has been with A.J. Desmond & Sons since 1998. He received his license to practice mortuary science in 1974 and graduated from Wayne State University in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science in Finance. The Michigan Institute of Funeral Professionals designates Tom as a Certified Michigan Funeral Practitioner. He is also a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, Michigan Funeral Directors Association and its Member Services Committee, and the Michigan Embalmers Society and is past-President of MFDA District #6. Tom is President of the Board of Directors of the Leo XIII KC Federal Credit Union and a member of the Kiwanis Club of Troy.

Tom grew up in the Detroit area and currently lives with his wife in Sterling Heights where he is a member of St. Blasé Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. He and his wife are the parents of one daughter and one son, and proud grandparents of three granddaughters.

Michael E. Flannery
Licensed Funeral Director

Mike has been with A.J. Desmond & Sons since 2001 and in funeral service since 1977. He graduated from Harper Woods Notre Dame High School in 1972, the University of Detroit with a Bachelor of Science in 1976 and the Wayne State University School of Mortuary Science in 1977. The Michigan Institute of Funeral Professionals designates Mike as a Certified Michigan Funeral Practitioner. Mike is a member of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association, the Michigan Embalmers Association, and serves on the Michigan Funeral Directors Association Disaster Committee. He is the Immediate Past President of MFDA District #6. Mike is the President of the Bloomfield Hills Rotary Club where he recently received a Paul Harris Fellowship in recognition of his work for the Rotary Foundation. He was born and raised in the Detroit area and now resides in Royal Oak with his family where he is a member and a Eucharistic Minister of the National Shrine of the Little Flower Catholic Church.

David Frade
Licensed Funeral Director

After serving families for decades at William R. Hamilton Company Bell Chapel, Dave started with A.J. Desmond & Sons in August, 2007. We are pleased to have him on our staff so he can continue assisting the families he has served for so long. Dave is a lifelong resident of the Detroit area. He graduated from Pershing High School in Detroit, attended Highland Park Junior College, and graduated from Wayne State School of Mortuary Science in 1957. Licensed since 1958, he is a member of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association and National Funeral Directors Association.

Dave and his wife Marilyn are long time residents of Birmingham and members of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church. They have four daughters and five grandchildren. A veteran of the Korean War, Dave enjoys classical music, old movies and photography.

Scott Hurrell
Licensed Funeral Director

Scott started with A.J. Desmond & Sons in October, 2007. Growing up in Marquette, he began working in funeral service in 2004. Scott recently earned a Bachelor's degree in Mortuary Science from Wayne State University where he was awarded the Gerald Cavalier Excellence in Embalming Award. Scott graduated from Marquette Senior High School where his athletic and academic accomplishments were recognized by the National Guard with the National Scholar-Athlete Award. Scott was also recognized for his service to the Marquette Rotary Club through the Paul Harris Fellowship Award. He graduated from Northern Michigan University in 2006 with a Bachelor's of Science, majoring in physiology and chemistry. He is a member of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association, is a member of the National Ski Patrol and enjoys numerous outdoor sports. Since 2008, Scott has lived in Troy.

Mary E. Jamerino, LMSW
Director of Bereavement Services

Mary recently joined A.J. Desmond & Sons to coordinate the aftercare and bereavement program. She is a Licensed Master of Social Work who received her Masters of Social Work from Wayne State University and her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Michigan. She has worked for fifteen years as a social worker and bereavement program coordinator, assisting families and the community facilitate multidimensional grief. Mary has published a memory workbook/journal, Treasured Memories of a Special Person, for children and adolescents who have experienced the death of someone special. She belongs to the Academy of Certified Social Workers and is a past vice-president of Kids in Crisis response team. Mary lives with her family in Clinton Township where she is a member of St. Thecla parish.

William J. Oldani, Jr.
Licensed Funeral Director

Bill returned to the A.J. Desmond & Sons in 1992. He graduated from St. Thomas High School in St. Paul, MN, John Carroll University, and the Wayne State University Department of Mortuary Science. Bill is a member of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association. The Michigan Institute of Funeral Professionals designates Bill as a Certified Michigan Funeral Practitioner. Bill was born in the Detroit area and has lived in Royal Oak with his family for over 30 years. He is a member of National Shrine of the Little Flower Catholic Church and is a Catholic League Athletic Official, Southeastern Michigan Official, and a Macomb County Official. He and his wife are the parents of one daughter and two sons and grandparents of one grandson.

                         Because of illness, Bill is currently on a leave of absence.

William J. Oldani, III
Licensed Funeral Director

Bill has been with A.J. Desmond & Sons since 1995, joining his father on the staff. He graduated from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School in 1995 and from Wayne State University with a Bachelor of Science in Mortuary Science in 2004. Bill is a member of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association, the National Funeral Directors Association, and the Young Funeral Directors Association. The Michigan Institute of Funeral Professionals designates Bill as a Certified Michigan Funeral Practitioner. A member of the National Shrine of the Little Flower Catholic Church, he lives in Berkley. 

Andre Robitaille
Licensed Funeral Director

Andy has been with A.J. Desmond & Sons since 1987. He graduated from Wayne State Mortuary Science in 1964 and has been a licensed funeral director since 1965. He is a member of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association and the Troy Optimist Club. Andy is a lifelong resident of the Detroit area, currently living in north Oakland County. He is also a member of Our Lady of Refuge Church and Oakland County Boat Club.

Corey Strauch
Licensed Funeral Director

Corey recently joined A.J. Desmond & Sons. He is a 5th generation funeral director who previously worked with his family firm in Northeast Pennsylvania. Corey is a graduate of Penn State University with a degree Business Management in 2000 and of Simmons Institute of Mortuary Science, Syracuse, New York in 2001. He is a member of the Sons of the American Legion and a past commander, a member of the Infinite Triathlon Club and a Master Mason. Corey is an accomplished backpacker; he thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine in 2007. He also enjoys hunting, camping, running and biking. Corey has two daughters and lives in Clinton Township.

Michael D. Withun
Manager and Licensed Funeral Director

Mike started with A.J. Desmond & Sons in 1992. He received his Bachelor degree in Mortuary Science from Wayne State University. The Michigan Institute of Funeral Professionals has designated Mike a certified Michigan Funeral Practitioner. He is a member of the Michigan Embalmers Society, Michigan Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association. He also belongs to the Troy-Clawson Elks, the Troy Chamber of Commerce, and the Lutheran Church of the Master. Mike is a resident of Troy.