I lost a lifelong friend last week. Mike Mackan was two days away from his 80th birthday when he died on Saturday, July 1.
He was born and grew up in Marysville. We knew each other from a very early age. We graduated together from Marysville High School, members of the class of 1961. Although we went to separate undergraduate schools (Mike to Ohio State, me to Miami of Ohio), we ended up rooming together at Ohio State while he was in dental school and I was in law school. Both of us received our degrees in 1968.
During that time, he met his wife, Karen, who was in dental hygiene school. She introduced me to my late wife, Melanie, who was also in dental hygiene school. We were in their wedding in 1966, and they were in ours in 1967.
After graduating from OSU dental school, he spent two years in the U.S. Air Force. His first year, he was stationed at Homestead Air Force Base with Karen in southeastern Florida basking in the sun and playing golf in his spare time. His second year, he was reassigned to Sonderstrom Air Force Base in Greenland without Karen freezing every part of his body.
After completing his military requirement, he began his dental practice in the Canton area, Karen’s hometown, and continued there until his retirement.
Mike was a good athlete as was every member of his family. He was a member of First English Lutheran Church in Marysville, then located in the old church building on West Fifth Street, and was confirmed there by the Rev. Paul Dittmar. He was a lifeguard at the old Municipal swimming pool during high school and became manager during the summer while he was in college.
He was a fun-loving person who had a magnetic personality, making friends easily. He was an avid Ohio State Buckeye fan and over the years attended most of the home games. On many Saturdays, Melanie and I would meet them before the game and enjoy reminiscing about old times.
When my wife died three years ago, he and his wife braved the COVID scare to attend her funeral service in Marysville. He was my friend, and I will miss the good times we had together. I offer my condolences to his wife Karen, his daughters Missy and Molly, and to the other family members of his family, including his older sister Sharon. A younger brother Jack predeceased him by several years.