
MICHAEL WAS A HERO TO US ALL
About Michael
On December 30, 2009, Michael Ward lost a 27 month battle with brain cancer at his home in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. He was 41 years old. Mike endured his difficult and painful fight against cancer bravely and without complaint. He left behind his wife Lisa of 13 years, his two beautiful daughters Emily, aged 10 and Sarah, aged 8, a brother, sister, mom and dad and many other relatives and friends. Mike’s passing has left a void that will never be filled.
Mike was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He graduated from Bishop Luers Catholic High School and Purdue University. Mike was known for his good humor and practical jokes that he liked to play on friends and family. He had a relaxed, fun loving personality. As one of his college fraternity brothers said at Mike’s funeral: Mike had no enemies. Despite his laid back demeanor, Mike was fiercely competitive whether it came to playing Scrabble or sports. His unassuming manner belied how much Mike wanted to win and what a talented athlete he was. Mike was a great Philly’s fan and loved having cookouts with his neighbors.
At the time of Mike’s cancer diagnosis, he was working as a Financial Advisor at a large brokerage firm. Despite illness from difficult, sometimes experimental, treatments, Mike rarely missed work – a testament to his commitment to his clients as well as his family. When Mike was finally ready to give up his battle with cancer, he told his family that he knew dying would be harder on them than on him. Even as his body deteriorated in the final weeks of his life, Mike remained calm and showed thanks and appreciation for those around him.
The Michael J. Ward Memorial Foundation has been created in an effort to touch lives in a way that we know Mike would have wanted. His wife, mom and dad, brother and sister and other members of his immediate family have chosen the organizations that this Foundation will support. Through the work of the Foundation, we hope Mike’s memory will endure and that he will continue to touch people, albeit indirectly, in a positive way.
They say time heals all wounds. The experience of Mike’s family has taught them that this isn’t always entirely true. But we hope the work of the Michael J. Ward Memorial Foundation will turn this tragic loss into something that benefits others. We miss you Mike.