Michael Strahan

On July 27th 2023, 4 days before his 45th birthday, Michael Strahan passed away at the Celebration Hospital in Kissimmee, Florida. No, not that Michael Strahan. The other one.

Mike was born to Bruce Strahan and Dianna Voisin on July 31st, 1978 in Washington, DC. Living with his siblings, Sam and Elizabeth, Mike began his life-long love of Disney, often racing his brother to see who would get the passenger seat on the way to Disneyland. As a child, hinting at the creative and professional success he would later achieve, he drew and sold Snoopy pictures to neighbors. He was a Star Wars and Calvin and Hobbes fan. By his early twenties, Mike competed and was ranked second in the world at the Star Wars customizable card game.

As cool as Mike was alone, working in the Mesa, Arizona Bookstar, his life got a hell of a lot more interesting when he met Kim Passey, his equal in dry, dark, sarcastic humor. Sparks did not fly. It would take them both working at Vital for them to hit it off; there's nothing quite as romantic as the Merchant Help Desk. Pretty soon they fell in love and eventually they stopped living in sin and were married on June 19th, 1999, moving to Indiana the following year. In the beginning, they both worked hard to provide, working 5 jobs between them to buy their first home. It was here that they promoted Kim to the trophy-wife status she deserved, and where their 2 daughters, Morgan and Harper, were born.

Mike absolutely adored his girls and was an intentional and tender father. He invented and told bedtime stories about the adventures of brooms and vacuums, which were really stories about the girls. As a lullaby, he would sing "Castle on a Cloud" from Les Miserables, proudly and often. He excelled at being their caretaker, volleyball and soccer coach, protector, and friend. He even sprayed their entire house with Swiper the Fox Deterrent Spray - totally not Victoria's Secret body spray - to keep his little girls safe at bedtime.

As the girls aged, Mike proved to be a true sap, loving to reminisce about when they were babies and being vocally proud of who they were both becoming. But, true to his nature as a gifted jokester, Mike also thrived on generously teasing and embarrassing his girls in public. Like repeatedly screaming "Hey Morgan, Harper! It's me! Your Dad!" at a packed graduation ceremony. His love for Kim only grew stronger, celebrating 24 married years of commitment, joy, trust, snark, and protection. Mike could think of the perfect thing to say- complimenting the burial plot at the funeral for Kim's father, joking along to Mother-in-law Jackie's stories on geneology, or in the silent way he could take care of any need of loved ones around him.

Of course, his family included those of the four-legged nature as well. An avid dog lover, Mike ensured his pets, Daisy and Piper - and their furry cousin, Matzi - lived the dream life.

Mike spent 18 years in various roles at Interactive Intelligence in Indianapolis, Indiana, ultimately finding his niche as a technology sales professional. Mike brought his charismatic personality, creativity, and incredible work ethic to win trips around the world with Kim to places like Maui, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Aruba, among others. He carried that success into sales leadership positions at various technology organizations over the last eight years. His leadership style endeared him to hundreds of professionals across the world, influencing their careers and success with his unique blend of humor, wisdom, integrity, and willingness to always practice what he preached.

He didn't just work cause he's not a lunatic; he had many interests. Mike was passionately creative and driven both personally and professionally. Never content to think "wouldn't it be cool if...", he actualized his dreams. In 2007, he wrote a mind-bending and heart-breaking short story where time travels backwards that was published in Orson Scott Card's InterGalactic Medicine Show. He traveled to Scotland and was involved in the Clan Strachan. He made an Office parody video, completed mudathons and marathons and in general he got the job or project done.

With a patent-pending combination of "I'm going to do everything for you", he left a lasting impression on those lucky enough to have known him. Mike's kindness and generosity - and a brilliant sense of humor - defined his relationships. He showed unconditional love and generosity by sharing once in a lifetime experiences with extended family and friends. Always wanting to share the best life had to offer, Mike invited everyone along. Whether it be courtside seats at Pacers games, Colts tickets, ComicCon, SxSW, concerts, movie premieres, drag shows, international first class seats, Presidential Suites, sending the best gifts, or taking people out to fancy dinners. He had it all and he shared it all.

It would be remiss to not mention his near-religious devotion to Manchester United. forming a lunch soccer (sorry rest of the world... football) group. He loved Flight of The Conchords, building Legos with his daughters, and really bad TV including a reality show called The Challenge. His zeal was spread to family, friends, and strangers alike.

Mike was at every family birthday party and gathering, even the ones he didn't believe in. He took in Passey strays like his sister-in-law Paula and her 65 pound Basset Hound who was a real stinker. He helped all the Passey kids spending every other weekend for years staying with them and coming to their rescue when they needed it most. He treated those whom he helped as family, even when they weren't official family like Ben Aaron Villarreal. Teasing and wrestling and making the kids feel safe and wanted, because they were. He would wrestle all of his nieces and nephews but he would never just let them have the win. You had to beat Mike fair and square. As far as we know, he was undefeated.

Turns out Mike's heart was big! So big that he died of a heart too large for his 6'7" frame while vacationing in Walt Disney World, his happiest place on earth. He was with his family; Kim, Morgan, Harper, Ashleigh Rogers, and William Hall. So many memories throughout his life were made at Disney World: From annual passes in California with his sibling, to annual passes for his family to Disney World, visiting every country in Epcot. This trip he wore his "Trans Equality Now ' & "Vaccinated and Proud" TShirts . Oh, he loved Disneyland as a child and continued the love at Disney World through the eyes of his wife and children.

A Celebration of his life will be held on August 12th from 4 to 7 PM at Hub & Spoke in Fishers, Indiana. For those unable to attend in person, a link to the live stream is provided below. We'll have stories told, memories shared, tears shed, laughter, and a toast to Mike's memory. The family will be creating a memorial book and requests that those who wish to pay tribute bring in typed stories or pictures of Mike.

He is survived by... well pretty much everyone reading this. But of particular note are his wonderful and loving wife Kim, his two children Morgan and Harper, and honorary daughter Ashleigh. His parents, Bruce and Dianna. Siblings, Sam and Elizabeth, Mother-in-law Jackie, Siblings-in-law, Kuldeep, Paula, Larry, Thayne, Katie, Janet, David, Diana, Dan, 13 nieces and nephews, and 9 great-grand nieces and nephews who would never win a wrestling match.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you subject yourselves to watching all 5 Twilight movies in one sitting. For Mike.

Live Stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv3E4aWZeBM