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Michael McAndrews Obituary

Michael J. McAndrews, 73, beloved husband of Diane (RisCassi) McAndrews of West Hartford, died Wednesday, March 20, 2019 at Hartford Hospital. Born in San Diego, CA, the son of the late Michael Joseph and Lillian (Johnson) McAndrews, he was raised in the Wilmington neighborhood of Los Angeles. He attended Phineas Banning Senior High School and Harbor Junior College. Mike proudly served in the United States Marine Corps and followed in his father's footsteps becoming a police officer with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for 20 years, retiring as a Lieutenant. He worked a variety of assignments at all ranks, including the jail, patrol, recruit training, major crimes investigations, and undercover vice operations. While working as a police officer, he went back to school and earned a degree in English from Cal State LA and a Juris Doctorate from Southwestern Law School. He was admitted into practice in 1988. Mike joined the San Diego County District Attorney's Office and subsequently opened a private practice, McAndrews and Hand, in La Jolla, CA. Mike moved to Connecticut in 1991 and later opened the private practice of McAndrews and Lefebvre where his primary focus was representing police officers throughout Connecticut. Licensed to practice law in CA, VA, DC, and CT, Mike also traveled throughout the country to provide training on officer survival. He was passionate about officer survival and his mentoring and coaching impacted many people. Mike was also an adjunct instructor at the University of Connecticut School of Law for many years. In addition to his professional pursuits, Mike participated in the Police Olympics and completed many marathons, including the Death Valley relay marathon. He was a gifted story teller, speaker and teacher. He loved reading and writing, but he was most proud of his family and their accomplishments. Besides his wife of 35 years, he is survived by his two children, Julianne (McAndrews) Cline and her husband John of Mountain View, CA; Joseph McAndrews, a Naval Submarine Officer stationed in Japan; his sister Patricia Milburn and her husband Mark of Murrieta, CA; and several nieces and nephews. Calling hours will be Wednesday, March 27 from 4-8 p.m. at the Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Ave., West Hartford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, March 28 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Peter Claver Church, 47 Pleasant St. West Hartford. Burial with military honors will follow in Fairview Cemetery, West Hartford. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Convent of Divine Love, Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters, 2212 Green Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130-3179 or to the Sheriff's Relief Association, "Mike McAndrews Fund," 11515 Colima Rd., Whittier, CA 90604 (monies will be earmarked to erect a building for officer survival training in Mike's name).Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www.molloyfuneralhome.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Hartford Courant on Mar. 24, 2019.

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Axel Anderson

March 17, 2025

Bridget Wickler

March 1, 2021

Mike was a fixture of my childhood growing up in Manhattan Beach. He was one of my Dad's best friends from the Sheriffs department and I can still recall his jovial, warm and friendly demeanor. He was by far my favorite of all my Dad's friends! I was one of the flower girls at his wedding to Deece! And we were all so happy when he met and married Deece! My Dad went to law school he said because "He just couldn't let Mike have more education than he had." Haha! Thankfully my son got to "interview" him a few years before his passing. He was as funny and entertaining as I remembered him being as a kid. My son was transfixed so I know he felt the same.

I'm so sorry to hear about his death.

Axel Anderson

June 22, 2019

To put it succinctly, Mike was an unforgettable character. I worked with him on two occasions while with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department - once when he was my watch commander at Men's Central Jail, and once at the Recruit Training Bureau. His intelligence, honesty and extraordinary, (almost mystical), levels of wisdom made him something special.

Mike loved running, and going for an evening six mile run with him was like attending a class in philosophy, law enforcement culture and officer survival. It often occurred to me as we jogged through Elysian Park around Dodger Stadium that I was in the presence of a man who was placed on earth to tell educational stories of law enforcement incidents in which COURAGE and the will to FIGHT and LIVE resulted in the survival of officers during horrific attacks.

Mike is, and always will be, missed by his many friends who are past and current members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. May he rest easy knowing he positively affected the lives and careers of thousands of law enforcement officers throughout our magnificent country!

May 6, 2019

Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope. Remembering you and your loved one today and always.

Mary Keane

March 27, 2019

I remember Mike so well from my years in CT. He was a wonderful human being, a man of integrity, faith, humor and love and I am very sad to learn of his death.
My love, thoughts and prayers go out to Diane, Julianne, Joe and all who loved and will miss Mike.

Greater Glory Basket

a loved one

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Joseph and holly Amodio

March 26, 2019

,,

Patrick Russell

March 24, 2019

I worked with Mike in the San Diego County's DA's office (Juvenile Division) when he first joined the office. Mature, funny and insightful. He appreciated my job as an investigator and we worked many cases together. I was struck then by how honest and authentic he was. Getting convictions was a by-product of pursuing justice. Once, when I was in a dispute with a supervisor, he gave me some terrific insights on how to deal with a police bureaucracy. It worked, and I am forever grateful.
Mike was a true public servant. The epitome of integrity. Godspeed brother. Thank you for setting the standard.

Janice Fernandez

March 23, 2019

My fondest and most endearing memory of Mike was the vacation our families spent in St. John. Who would've thought.. Mike in the Caribbean!! We all spent days snorkeling in beautiful coves, a special trip to Virgin Gorda and evenings in the infinity pool. Mike enjoyed every moment with family and friends and as always he was a joy to be around. Thanks for all those memories Mike, you will be missed..
Loving memories, Janice & Justin & Danielle

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Memorial Events
for Michael McAndrews

Mar

27

Calling hours

4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Molloy Funeral Home - West Hartford

906 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06119

Mar

28

Mass of Christian Burial

10:00 a.m.

St. Peter Claver Church

47 Pleasant St., West Hartford, CT

Mar

28

Burial

Fairview Cemetery

West Hartfor, CT

Funeral services provided by:

Molloy Funeral Home - West Hartford

906 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06119

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