Msgr. Michael J. Alliegro, a priest of the Diocese of Metuchen and former priest of the Diocese of Trenton, died Aug. 17 at the age of 62 following a long battle with leukemia.

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., to the late Mary Louise and Anthony Alliegro, Msgr. Alliegro was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Trenton by Bishop George W. Ahr May 19, 1973, in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton. He served for two years as vice-principal of St. John Vianney High School, Holmdel, and for three years as principal of St. Thomas Aquinas (now Bishop Ahr) High School, Edison. In 1980 he was named chairman of the department of pastoral theology of Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington.

When the Diocese of Metuchen was founded in 1981 (comprised of the four northern-most counties of the Diocese of Trenton), Msgr. Alliegro was named secretary to the first bishop of Metuchen, Theodore E. McCarrick. He held various leadership positions within the Metuchen Diocese and served as pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Bound Brook, from 1984 to 1990 and pastor of St. Bartholomew Parish, East Brunswick, from 1990 to 2007.

At the time of his death, Msgr. Alliegro was rector of St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral, Metuchen, and executive director of the Diocese of Metuchen’s office of worship and liturgical formation.

Msgr. Alliegro is survived by five brothers, two sisters and numerous nieces and nephews.

Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski, bishop of Metuchen, presided at a Mass of Christian Burial Aug. 21 in St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral, Metuchen. Interment was at Holy Cross Burial Park, East Brunswick.