Michael Richard Vaughan

1936 - 2022

Michael Richard Vaughan

Aug. 27, 1936 - July 20, 2022

NAPLES, FL/MADISON - Michael Richard Vaughan (Mike), 85, of Naples, FL, and Madison, WI, passed away peacefully on July 20, 2022, due to heart failure.

Mike was born to Mack A. and Loretta M. (Parks) Vaughan in Chicago, IL, on August 27, 1936. He was raised in Riverside, IL, a Chicago suburb, and graduated from Riverside-Brookfield High School in 1954. He went to the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, where he was an English major and a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon. Presaging his lifelong interest in government, Mike was on the Interfraternity Council and a member of the IFC Executive Committee, as well as being involved in the Student Senate, the Board of Fraternity Affairs, and other campus organizations. While at Illinois, Mike met "the prettiest girl there ever was," Terri Perri, (nee Therese Marie Perri) an undergrad from Chicago who became his wife in 1960.

Mike received his LLB from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1962, where he served as Chief Justice of the University's Student Court. After graduation he became the chief attorney at the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB). As the legal staff grew, Mike became Director of Legislative Attorneys and the head of the Legislature's Bill Drafting Section. He was designated in 1966 as a Wisconsin Commissioner on Uniform State Laws and a state representative to the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. Mike served as a Commissioner until 1973, and was one of the primary drafters of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, a law subsequently enacted by all 50 states. During this period, he served as a consultant to the National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse.

In 1972, Mike joined what is now the law firm of Murphy Desmond S.C. in Madison, WI. Due to his experience in and contacts from the LRB, he focused on government relations, representing clients' interest in the legislative process and with administrative law matters at the state level. Mike became a partner in his law firm in 1974, and served for years on the firm's board of directors. He also served as Managing Partner and as President of the firm for a decade. During his lengthy career, Mike represented several of the nation's largest corporations and the state's major trade and professional associations over the years until his retirement at the end of 2006. A Corporate Report Wisconsin article once called him "...one of the best. An intellectual who can grasp the subject matter of a situation as well as the politics."

Mike was a founding director of the State Bar Government and Administrative Law Section and a member of the State Bar Professional and Business Relations Committee. He served as a warden and vestryman for Saint Dunstan's Episcopal Church for 12 years and was a member of the Wisconsin Episcopal Conference for four. Mike also was a member of the Bencher Society, a support group for the UW Law School.

After retirement, Mike and Terri divided their time between Madison, WI, and Naples, FL, where he indulged himself in his love for the game of golf. "I liked my practice so much that I thought I'd never retire," Mike said, "and then I discovered golf."

Mike and Terri enjoyed traveling. For many years, they went to London or Maui every January, until they bought their home in Naples. They sailed from New York to Southampton, England, on the QE 2 and returned on the Concorde. They visited Ireland, mainland China and Hong Kong, and traveled throughout Italy, including visiting the mountain town in Calabria where Terri's parents were born. Mike was an avid collector, including stamps, coins, and an extensive array of Royal Doulton Character Jugs and Toby Mugs.

Mike is survived by his two children: Charles Thomas (Jennifer) Vaughan and Susan Enger (Michael) Portland; four grandsons: Kevin Portland, Brian Portland (Madison McAteer), Timothy Vaughan, and Gerald Vaughan; a brother, Thomas Charles Vaughan (Melodie Garcia); many nieces, nephews, cousins and their families; and the team of caregivers (Enoc, Sonise, Cherlie, Sheila, and Askelda), who treated him as if he were their own grandfather.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Terri, who passed away just two weeks short of their 60th wedding anniversary almost exactly two years ago; and by his half-brother, Myles/Michael Frederick Vaughan; sisters-in-law: Theresa Louise Barber Vaughan and Vicki Ann Rosemeyer Vaughan; and nephews: Michael Barber Vaughan and Timothy John Vaughan.

Mike asked to be remembered with these words: "My life was enriched by the love and support of my beautiful wife, Terri, who was essential to my happiness and success; by the delight and joy brought by our children, Charlie and Susan, as well as their spouses and our four grandsons; by having two wonderful role models, my grandfather, Charlie Parks, and the senior member of my law firm, Bob Murphy, who became a dear friend as well as mentor; by having the friendship and guidance of the Reverend Bob Childs, founding Rector of Saint Dunstan's Congregation; by having countless steadfast friends who regularly brought a smile to my face; and by having the best extended family one could ever hope to have. It has been a wonderful life. I am very blessed."

A Celebration of Life will be held at Saint Dunstan's Episcopal Church in Madison, WI, on Sunday, August 28, 2022, at 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, in recognition of his lifelong love of reading, memorials may be made to the Riverside Public Library (Illinois), where he happily spent many hours as a youth or to the Madison Public Library Foundation (Wisconsin).