- Date Of Birth: December 22, 1928
- Date Of Death: December 6, 2017
- State: New Jersey
Michael Aloysius McGowan, 88, of Cedar Glen, Toms River., N.J. passed away on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at Community Medical Center, Toms River. “Mike” was the second son born to Michael A. McGowan, Sr. and Francis Urban, on December 22, 1928, in Astoria, Queens, New York.
During his informative years, Mike’s father introduced him to the world of reading, which would ultimately help him to earn a scholarship to high school from Christian Brothers Academy (CBA). After graduating from CBA, Mike served in the United States Army during the Korean War. After the war, he was employed by FXR in Woodside, New York while attending RCA Institute on a scholarship. In February of 1958 Michael married Joan Marie Doran, also of Astoria Queens, NY; their union would produce five children.
During the early years of their marriage, Mike continued with night school to obtain his engineering degrees. While employed by New York Bell Telephone in Holmdel, N.J., he earned his Master’s in Electrical Engineering from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and was very proud to be the Summa Cum Laude of his class. Mike worked for the Department of Defense at Fort Monmouth for 20 years, retiring in 1991, just prior to the birth of his first Grand Daughter Kaitlin. “Poppi” would spend the remaining years of his retirement spending time with his children and grand-children, which he loved very much.
Mike loved all manner of sports, especially football and bowling. He was a happy soul, always smiling or humming a tune. He loved to sing and whistle and plan family gatherings. Mike is survived by his wife Joan, five children, Kevin Michael (Leslie) of Summerville, SC, Maureen “Mo” Vick (Michael) of Reevesville, SC, Michael Anthony (Maureen) of Forked River, NJ, Timothy Patrick of Toms River and Thomas Xavier of Fredericksburg, VA; his eldest brother Cornelius Raymond (Ann) of Toms River, NJ, a niece Evelyn (Rosen) Sanfilippo, Queens NY, two nephews, Richard and Kenneth Moser of SC. “Poppi” is also survived by eight McGowan grandchildren who he adored, Kaitlin Marie, Joshua Thomas, Rebecca “Becca” Mary, Audrianna Marie, Mark Anthony, Nora Jane, Erin Rose and Thomas Xavier Jr.
