Michael "Mick" Fleming

1951 - 2024

Fleming, Michael "Mick"

March 12, 1951 - November 26, 2024

A much-loved husband, father, grandfather, an accomplished leader in the business association world, and a life-long Buffalo Bills fan, passed away peacefully at the age of 73. Born in Buffalo, NY to Robert B. Fleming, Sr. and Jeanne Cullen Fleming (both predeceased), Mick spent most of his childhood in Hamburg, NY. He was a 3-sport athlete and Mick exhibited natural leadership qualities, captaining the Hamburg High School football team and earning a spot on the first team All Western New York Team in 1969. Mick attended Cornell University, graduating in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts in History. During his time at Cornell, Mick played Big Red varsity football (offensive guard) alongside his brother, Bob, and football legend, Ed Marinaro, and was a member of the 1971 Ivy League Championship team. Right out of college, Mick embarked on a career in teaching, sharing his love of history and football as a teacher and coach at the Park School of Buffalo, earning the Teacher of the Year award in 1977. Mick's professional life took a turn in 1977 when he left teaching for a sales and editorial job with H & K Publications. Mick moved on in 1982 to the Business Council of New York, where over the course of 15 years, he published New York Alive magazine, dabbled in lobbying and was the Council's liaison with chambers of commerce statewide. In 1997, Mick became President of the Manufacturers' Association of Central New York, helping to establish workforce partnerships between the Syracuse region's largest employers and colleges. In 2001, Mick became CEO of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) in Alexandria, VA. At ACCE, Mick worked to promote diversity and inclusion within the chamber world, and cemented his commitment to the sustainable growth of communities via the creation of the Regional Sustainable Development Fellowship. He became Vice Chairman of the World Chambers Federation, where he worked world-wide to promote viable community growth, regional and international cooperation and the professional development of chamber executives. With the publication of Horizon Initiative, Mick has played a valued role in shaping the chambers of commerce of today and the future. Mick earned numerous accolades for his contributions. Among these was the prestigious Pillar of the Chamber Profession award and he served on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Committee of 100. Mick is survived by his grateful wife of 52 years, Barbara Hoyt Fleming; his children, Tyler M. Fleming and Meghan Fleming Allgeyer; his son-in-law Aaron Allgeyer; and his beloved granddaughter and best buddy, Lilah C. Hulver. He also leaves behind his much-loved siblings, Robert B. Fleming, Jr., Molly Fleming, Andrew Fleming, Kate Fleming Cohen, and Jane Fleming Thomas, as well as many cherished in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews (all of whom enjoyed his story-telling, jokes, magic tricks and songs).