Michael Walsh

Michael Robert Walsh, 52, of Quantico VA passed away on January 8, 2016. Mike was preceded in death by his father, Robert and brother, Jon. He is survived by his mother, Carol; sisters and brothers-in law Cathy, Mark, Anne, David, Sarah, James, Sherry and Steve; nieces and nephews-David, Jonathan, Alex, Hailey, Alyssa, Sophia, Ainslie and James. He will be missed by family and friends alike.

Mike came into the world February 26, 1963 at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital. He was in a hurry to get to the world and was a “big” preemie at 4 pounds 8 ounces at birth.  It's not the last time Mike would be known as a big guy.

Mike let his actions speak for him. He didn't talk a lot about his accomplishments. He took life with a grain of salt and never sweated the small stuff.   Mike was an international man of mystery. He operated on a strict need to know basis.  So, treat the information I am about to share appropriately.

As a Navy brat, Michael lived in Pennsylvania, California, and Florida before the family landed in Northern Virginia. Mike attended JW Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax, Virginia and graduated in June of 1981. Before graduating, Mike joined the US Army Reserve and attended basic during the summer of his high school junior year. He completed his Advance Individual Training the summer after high school. Mike served in the US Army Reserves as a Medical Specialist, 91B, with the 2290th USAR Hospital in Rockville MD until August 1985 when he enlisted in the US Air Force.

In the Air Force, Mike was trained as a Law Enforcement Specialist. He traveled to Alaska as an airman and when he completed his service in February of 1988 he returned to Northern Virginia. Mike lived in Alexandria, Arlington, Quantico and even DC...anywhere there was a couch.

After his time in the Air Force, Mike continued his career in law enforcement serving throughout the DC area. He served as a Police Officer for the US Postal Inspection Service, GSA Federal Protective Service Region 3 in Baltimore, and at the US Naval Academy, Annapolis. He then transferred to Washington Headquarters Services, OSD, Defense Protective Services becoming a Master Patrol Officer.

In January of 2000, Mike became a Field Training Officer, US Pentagon Police, Department of Defense, Pentagon Force Protection Agency. Mike was a first responder at the Pentagon on September 11 providing support to recovery operations after the attack. He continued his service with the Pentagon Police until 2009 when he was medically retired.

Throughout his time with as a Police Officer, Mike served with the Pentagon Police Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge DC #1.  For almost 20 Years he worked tirelessly on union issues.  He was the chief steward for years of the Pentagon Police union becoming vice chairman and later chairman. He continued serving his fellow police officers through his position in the FOP after his retirement.

When he wasn't working, Mike was passionate about his Redskins. He was an avid Redskins fan...unless he was watching the Redskins play at the Eagles stadium or when he wanted to debate the merits of the Ravens or Cowboys with other fans. He was particularly happy debating while drinking Diet Pepsi or Bud Light over dinner at Outback or anywhere else there was food and friends and family.

Mike was also passionate about cars... and the tickets he got from driving and parking those cars. And he had a lot of cars to park. It seemed that each of his cars had a unique personality. The Geo you had to climb in the drivers side, the Porsche you had to climb in the passenger side, and the VW Beach Bug you had to carefully lean into.

Mike loved his family especially when we went to the beach. He was the first to arrive and the last to leave. Mike was a kid at heart and it was hard to tell him apart from his nieces and nephews.  ”Michael knock it off” was heard more than any of the other kids’ names. Over the last few years he traveled often with his Mom.   Driving “ Miss Daisy” to visit family events…weddings, wrestling tournaments, Christmas, Thanksgiving, dance recitals...Mike enjoyed the time with his family.

Mike went by many names: Little Mikie, Big Mike, Shrek, Mikey and those names will always bring joy much as  we remember the joy and laughter Mike brought to us in his 52 years. His memory will live on in the lives of all the people he touched no matter what name we knew him by.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #1 DC.

http://www.dc-fop.org/news.php