OBITUARY Michael Francis Finneran February 8, 1933 – August 30, 2018 Michael Francis Finneran died Thursday, August 30, 2018. Mike was born February 8, 1933 in South Bend Indiana to the late Francis and Catherine Lawler Finneran. A hardworking man, he took his first job at 10, later enlisting in the US Navy when he was 18.
His first assignment was aboard the USS Leyte, which took him to Boston, MA where he met his wife, Barbara. He was discharged from the Navy in 1954, and married Barbara in 1955. Between 1954 and 1957, Mike worked a wide variety of jobs, including sales, driving trucks, shoe factory work, sheet metal work and shoveling coal.
During this time, he also took his first job as a radio announcer. After becoming a father in March of 1957, he reenlisted in the US Navy in September of 1957. Over the following 17 years, he was stationed in Jacksonville, FL, China Lake, CA, Rota, Spain, and Barbers Point, HI.
He served as a radio man with various air squadrons including VP-28, which took him to various locations and conflicts, including Korea, and Vietnam. At the same time, when he wasn’t deployed, Mike continued his radio career, and was known as Mike Barron. In 1969, he began working in the drug and alcohol abuse and counseling field with the navy, a career he continued in as a civilian after retiring from the Navy in 1974.
Despite various health challenges, including a stroke in 1981, he continued helping people with drug and alcohol abuse with MAAC Project San Diego until he retired in 2008. Mike spent many years active with the Knights of Columbus in his home parish of Good Shepherd Catholic Church, becoming a 4th Degree Knight, as well as Grand Knight of the parish council. He also spent much of his spare time assisting his wife with her hula studio before it closed, emceeing the majority of their shows.
He is survived by a daughter, Karen “Kealoha” Finneran of San Diego, a granddaughter, Lynda Estacio of San Diego, a great-grandson, Robert Estacio, a sister, Margaret Finneran Wagner, and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Barbara Louise Finneran, and siblings Patrick, Raymond, Thomas, John & Eileen.
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