Michael John Curtius

Michael John Curtius 1969 - 2023
Michael, born in suburban Philadelphia, was baptized at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic
Church in Morton, PA, and moved with his parents at age two to Southern California. Mike was
a natural athlete and excelled at many sports and also academically. He graduated from Mater
Dei High School in Santa Ana, where he was quarterback on the football team. He continued
as quarterback at University of California Santa Barbara and later in Legnano, Italy, outside of
Milan. He also coached football in Naples, Italy, and at the Claremont Colleges. Due to his
gregarious nature, he was dedicated to becoming fluent in Italian at age 22. He was a huge fan
of Inter Milan soccer team, along with the Los Angeles Rams football team and all Philly teams.
He settled back in California in 1998, and soon helped found the Pelagic fishing gear company
in Newport Beach, CA. This was the culmination of his lifelong love of the ocean, boating, and
fishing. His friendly, optimistic attitude served him well as national sales manager. Mike was
always open to new adventures. His fishing trips and tournaments took him worldwide, from as
faraway as Australia, Christmas Island, and Hawaii, to Ascension Island, Costa Rica, and Cabo
San Lucas and on to Halifax and British Columbia. He loved making friends around the world,
but his base of fishing was with his brother and dad in San Diego County.
Mike and his Mater Dei sweetheart, Danielle, lived one block from the beach in Oceanside with
their beloved dog TJ. Mike was devoted to family and is survived by Danielle, parents Mary and
Michael, brother Timothy, sisters Eileen and Kit, brother-in-law Ben, and nephews Jake, Will,
and Lenny.
Reposa in pace, anima bella.
In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the Michael Curtius '87 Memorial Fund being set up at
Mater Dei High School. Checks with his name in the memo may be sent to MDHS Alumni, Attn:
Kathleen Kelly, 1202 W. Edinger Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92707.