Michael F. Toole

YORKTOWN - Michael F. Toole, 46, of Yorktown, died quietly at home Thursday after a courageous 14-month battle with brain cancer.
Born in Smithfield, N.C., the son of Frederick and Betty Bingham Toole, Mike lived in Hampton Roads for 24 years. He leaves his wife of 15 years, Tracey Millard Toole, and his children, Mack, 13, and KK, 11.
He came to the Daily Press' sister publication, the Times-Herald, in 1985. He became a front page designer and business editor at the Daily Press, employing his substantial talents on stories, headlines and visual displays. He began working for the Kaufman & Canoles law firm in 2000, becoming an attorney, specializing in real estate law, in 2003.
Mike was an avid bicyclist, often taking long treks with the 'Killer Bees,' a local riding group. He enjoyed playing rugby, debating politics and current events, and rooting for the North Carolina Tar Heels, his alma mater.
He loved spending time with his family and friends, had a great sense of humor and wit, and was passionate about everything he spent time on - from his biking to his incisive political opinions to his work and family life.
Mike received a B.A. degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1985; his M.B.A. degree from the College of William and Mary in 1993; and his J.D. from Regent University in 2003. He was a member of the Newport News Bar Association, the Virginia Bar Association and the American Bar Association.
He was accepted in 2008 into the Leadership Institute of the Virginia Peninsula, a program of the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. He was on the advisory board of the Salvation Army Virginia Peninsula and was active in the Running Man Community Association.
Besides his wife, children and parents, Mike also leaves to cherish his memories his sister, Susan Harris and brother-in law, Earl, both of Smithfield, N.C.; brother, James Toole and sister-in-law, Rose, both of Clayton, N.C.; sister, Meta Toole and brother, Butler Toole, both of Smithfield, N.C.
He leaves his niece, Emily Radford; his uncle, Thomas Toole and wife, Myrtle, all of Smithfield, N.C.; his aunt, Sarah T. Wiggs of Selma, N.C.; his great-aunt, Mary Frances Bingham of Smithfield, N.C.; his aunt, Carol B. Kenner of Jeffersonville, Ind.; aunt, Frances B. Mueller of Alexandria; aunt, Eloise Capps of Smithfield, N.C.; his niece, Lynn Fortune and, her husband, Chip and their son, Grayson; his nephew, Brad Gruber. He also leaves many devoted friends who cherished him.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National Brain Tumor Society, 124 Watertown St., Suite 2-D, Watertown, MA, 02472.
A memorial service for Mr. Toole will be held at 3 p.m. on Nov. 1, at Yorkminster Presbyterian Church, 6218 George Washington Memorial Highway, Yorktown. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.