PONTE DE LIMA, Portugal — Pro audio sales veteran Michael Descoteau passed away suddenly on January 17th, 2022 in Ponte De Lima, Portugal, where he had relocated to just over a month ago, to enjoy his retirement in a small town about 60 miles north of Porto. The cause of death was an apparent heart attack.
Born in November 1951 in Concord, NH, Descoteau attended Concord High School and later studied political science at the nearby Plymouth State University. But politics weren’t in his future and he found that his easygoing and likeable personality was ideal for a career in sales — pro audio and broadcast sales. Yet Descoteau was anything but the “typical” salesperson — he researched everything about the gear he represented and treated customers more like a valued advisor, looking out for their needs and recommending solutions rather than short-term cash grabs.
For most of his career, Descoteau was associated with New York City-based audio/broadcast supplier Dale Pro Audio, where he served as the company’s Broadcast Sales Director for many years. But he also held key executive sales positions with a number of leading manufacturers, including Solid State Logic, Riedel Communications, Wohler Technologies and Synthax — as well as with Masque Sound and integrator CBT Systems — where he parlayed his extensive knowledge of the workings of all the major broadcast networks into success.
Michael Descoteau is survived by his son Ryan Descoteau, sisters Lynn Mansfield, Gayna Hoffman and Lauren Descoteau, and a vast number of friends and associates throughout the pro audio and broadcast industries, who will fondly recall this amazing person who lived and enjoyed life to the fullest, including finally realizing his dream of retiring to Portugal, although that was tragically cut far too short. Farewell, old friend and rest well.
Note: At press time, no plans for a memorial had been announced.
