Name: Visitation for Mike Fahey
Start: 2018-07-05T21:00:00.000Z
End: 2018-07-05T23:00:00.000Z
Location: McAlister-Smith Funeral & Cremation - Mt. Pleasant Location

Captain Mike Fahey Isle of Palms - Captain John "Mike" Fahey, U.S. Navy, Retired, age 75, of the Isle of Palms, South Carolina, died Monday, June 2, 2018, after a short battle with cancer. He was born in Gary, Indiana, on October 5, 1942, to John R. Fahey and Ruth Morse Fahey. He graduated high school at St. Bede Academy in Peru, Illinois, and then first attended the University of Illinois on a football scholarship followed by a scholarship to the University of Tennessee where he received a degree in Mathematics. Following graduation, he attended a special post-graduate program in Industrial Economics at Michigan State University and eventually received a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering at the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, CA. He joined the United States Navy in May 1971. Upon completion of Officer Candidate School, he attended the Navy Nuclear Power School. Deciding submarines was not his calling, he became a Surface Warfare Officer. His 30-year Naval career afforded him various "at sea" assignments, the most memorable and rewarding were as Ship's Engineering Officer on the USS John F. Kennedy and Commanding Officer of the USS Wainwright. His final tour was Commanding Officer of the University of South Carolina NROTC unit. He was the recipient of numerous awards, the most significant being the Legion of Merit (4); Meritorious Service Medal (4); Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3); Surface Warfare Insignia, and several others. Upon retirement from the Navy in 1998, he accepted a job offer with the VSE Corporation in Charleston as a Senior Mechanical Engineer, a position he maintained for over 18 years and held until his death. When asked why he continued to work, which required frequent traveling, he always said it was "the people". He loved the job, but he loved the people whom he met and worked with even more. Mike married his college sweetheart, Anne Miller on April 6, 1968. They had just celebrated 50 years of marriage. They had two children, Katherine and Michael. Mike was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law, Tom Hecker. He is survived by his wife, Anne; daughter, Katherine Tyler (Rob); son, Michael (Tonia); grandchildren, Robert Michael, Ryan and Meghan Tyler; and Abby Fahey; fraternal twin sisters, Rita Hecker and Roberta Koznicki (Don) and children. The family will receive guests on July 5, 2018, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 PM at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, 1520 Rifle Range Road, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina 29464. The Rosary will begin at 5:30 pm. The Catholic Funeral Mass will be held on July 6, 10:00 AM at Stella Maris Catholic Church, 1204 Middle Street, Sullivan's Island, South Carolina 29482. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, 604 Fort Johnson Road, James Island, South Carolina 29412. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Stella Maris Catholic Church Building Fund. Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted to www.mcalister-smith.com. Arrangements entrusted to MCALISTER-SMITH FUNERAL HOME, MT. PLEASANT, 1520 Rifle Range Road, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464, (843) 884-3833. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston

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Published by Charleston Post & Courier from Jul. 4 to Jul. 5, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for Mike Fahey

Sponsored by Michael Fahey .

27 Entries

James Baron

June 28, 2022

What a great shipmate and leader Mike was. Truly made my years aboard Iowa memorable. Still hard to believe he's gone. May God continue to watch over Mike and his family. VR/Jim

Dan Lazovich

July 23, 2019

God Speed Iron Mike Fahey. RIP Brother, Rest Easy. QM2 Daniel Lazovich. God Bless you Shipmate.

Chris Jensen

July 23, 2019

My condolences to the Fahey family. I served under him on the JFK. He signed an early discharge for me so I could be home for Christmas. It was a great gift that I have never forgotten.

FORCM (SW/AW) Bob Conklin

June 28, 2019

During my Naval career I worked for and alongside hundreds of officers. Mike was one of the very few that were a privilege to work with.

July 24, 2018

We have lost a good and great man. i always considered Iron Mike an exemplar of what every SWO should strive to be. i'm grateful for our time together, albeit too short. His best legacy will be the imprint he made upon all those who served, and still serve in his image. May he rest in eternal peace.

Dan Thompson, shipmate, USS Deyo

At peace...

Edward Stack

July 18, 2018

RIP, Captain Fahey. You were 'one of a kind' and you will always be remembered by your USS IOWA (BB-61) shipmates.

Joe Boland

July 17, 2018

Rest in peace, Mike.

Bernadette Delgado

July 12, 2018

Rest in peace Mike Fahey. Love to all your family. I enjoyed seeing you early every other Saturday morning for your haircuts. I will truly miss you. Always smiling always great stories. Rest in peace Mike

Trisha Gilliam

July 12, 2018

What a special guy and neighbor...gone too soon. Sure will miss seeing him when in Charleston. My prayers are with his sweet wife, Ann, and family. May God bless each of them during this difficult time.

July 10, 2018

IRON MIKE
A GOOD FRIEND AND ROOM MATE IN WASHINGTON DC BACK IN THE LATE 80S. ALONG WITH MEETING YOU ON THE USS AMERICA IN 1973.MAY YOU REST IN PEACE BUDDIE AND GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

YOUR FRIEND AND BUDDY

CDR R MIKE HENNESSY US NAVY RETIRED

FORCM (SW/AW) Bob Conklin

July 9, 2018

A great Sailor. It was my personal honor and professional privilege to have known him.

Jim Tackett

July 8, 2018

This sad news is received much too soon. Mike was a great skipper, a great leader and a true patriot. It was an honor to serve with him and to be his friend. RIP shipmate

July 7, 2018

To all members of the Fahey Family my most heartfelt and sincere condolences on your loss. I had both the Honor and Privilege to have served with the Captain on board USS Iowa BB-61 from 1987-1989 where he was our XO.
He was a true "Sailors Sailor", a no "BS", bare fisted, unabashed opinion from the gut Shipmate, one of a kind. You always knew where you stood with "Iron Mike", good or bad, without a doubt the best damn XO I ever sailed with.

I'll never forget the night he did a half pike from the second floor railing at the Bridge Bar in St. Thomas USVI ! last I saw of him, he was doing a great Michael Phelps impersonation strokin' past the CO's gig with the boat crew chasing him down the pier.

Too sad life can be so short at times, I would have loved to see him at our annual ship reunions.

Rest Easy Shipmate, Ship Your Oars, You've Crossed The Bar, You're Safe in Your Eternal Port.

Fair Winds & Following Seas "Iron Mike",
Marty Palmiere CPO, USN(ret.)
Pittsburgh, Pa.

July 6, 2018

Mike you will be missed greatly by friends and family

Timothy Flournoy

July 6, 2018

Rest In Peace Iron Mike. Always remember you as the XO on the Big Stick Battle Ship sailors are the best.

July 6, 2018

RIP in peace "Iron Mike"
Bos'n

James Baron

July 6, 2018

Rest In Peace Mike. Fair winds and following seas.

Barbara Hubbard

July 6, 2018

My deepest condolences. I truly enjoyed working with Mike for 7 years at VSE. His love of people was the best.

a loved one

Sent Flowers

Richard Waugh

July 6, 2018

I first met Captain Fahey back when he was Commander Fahey, Executive Officer aboard the USS Iowa (BB-61). I was the electrician with standing orders to be outside his stateroom door after every 16" gun shoot to repair his lights. I liked his no-nonsense style of leadership. My sincerest condolences for your loss!

Chris Isleib

July 6, 2018

Such sad news. He mentored me when I was a junior officer aboard USS Iowa, and his leadership example has stayed with me for the rest of my life. Please accept our sincere condolences.

Tom Ryle

July 6, 2018

Great man and leader. Had the pleasure of serving with him aboard the USS Iowa. Fair winds and following seas shipmate.