Michael John Mlotkowski

It is with profound sadness and love that we mourn the loss of Michael John Mlotkowski, of Alexandria, Virginia, who passed suddenly at the age of 71 on May 23, 2025. Michael, known to family and friends as Mike, was born to Anthony and Helen Mlotkowski on June 24th, 1953 in Detroit, Michigan, the eldest of four children. From an early age, Mike's family and teachers realized he was built differently. He excelled academically, especially in math and science, and his strong midwestern work ethic was evident at an early age. Inspired by the automobile industry of his native Detroit and the business acumen of Henry Ford and Lee Iacocca, Mike went on to earn his Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Oakland University, followed by an MBA, becoming the first member of his family to graduate from college.
From there, Mike began his career as an engineer for the Chrysler Corporation, living just down the road from the home of one of his role models, Henry Ford, in Grosse Pointe. It was during this time that he met Joan. Mike and Joan married and soon had their first child, a daughter named Jessica. Soon after a job opportunity with Mobil Oil Corporation brought the young family to New Jersey, Mike's son Michael John Mlotkowski, Jr. was born a year and a half later. While juggling the responsibilities of work and a new family, Mike pursued his Juris Doctor from Rutgers University, with the goal of applying his engineering and business expertise to patent law.
After earning his law degree, the family relocated again to Fairfax, Virginia, where Mike began his legal career as a patent attorney with Mobil. He and his family thrived in Northern Virginia. Outside of his work, Mike was a devoted family man who was very involved in his kids' sports. Whether it was baseball, basketball, or even soccer, Mike was often in the backyard with the kids throwing a ball around, coaching one of their teams, and always, cheering them on from the sidelines. If he was late to a game, Mike's booming voice let them know he had arrived! Mike was his children's biggest cheerleader in life. Whether it was helping with homework, coaching Mikey's baseball team, sitting in the front row of Jessie's choir concert, or teaching his kids how to do something new, Mike was always there for his kids.
Once his children graduated from high school, Mike ventured in a new career direction, becoming a founding partner of Roberts, Mlotkowski, Safran & Cole, an intellectual property law firm in Tysons Corner. Mike enjoyed the creative aspects of managing and growing a business and excelled in the intellectual property sphere, contributing to the field as a lecturer, thought leader, mediation expert, researcher, and expert in technology licensing. In 2020, Mike joined Ditthavong, Steiner & Mlotkowski as a founding partner, continuing his exceptional work and contributions to the area of intellectual property law until the time of his passing. Mike's humor, creative perspective, mentorship, and friendship will be greatly missed by his colleagues.
"Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right": great words of Henry Ford, and favorite words of Mike's, often repeated by him to his children and the boys he coached in baseball. An account of Mike's life would be remiss without some small mention of his great love of the game. Mike coached his son Mikey's baseball teams from tee ball all the way through Babe Ruth, even serving as the president of Fairfax Little League from 1992-1994. He was an enthusiastic and spirited coach who liked to win at baseball as much as he liked to win in life. And he was particularly proud of his son Mikey's success in baseball, cheering his son on through his college baseball career. As a grandfather, Mike loved to watch his grandsons Jackson, Maddox, and Paxton play baseball and his grandson Miles play tee ball. The boys were always so excited to see their grandpa sitting in the bleachers at their games and will miss his presence greatly.
As a man, Mike was warm, generous, funny, friendly, creative, intelligent, and incredibly charismatic. He was a great and loyal friend, always there to lift up the people he cared about and inspire them to go for their dreams and live their best life. And he lived his best life! Mike enjoyed golfing, karaoke, smoking cigars, eating at the DC area's best restaurants, drinking fine wines, and going to Nats and Commanders games with his friends and family. He was just a very fun and funny person who knew how to make the most out of life. Mike was also a great problem solver. He could fix or build practically anything and explain the hows, whys, and workings of most things. Yet if he didn't know the answer to something, he was humble enough to say, "I don't know," search for the answer, and then later enthusiastically share what he had learned. He was always curious, always growing, and always encouraged the ones he loved to grow alongside him. Many will remember how Mike's smile could light up a room. His children and grandchildren will also remember his wisdom, life lessons, and optimism.
Mike was always so proud of his family, but not nearly as proud as his family was of him. Mike is survived by his children Jessica and Michael; daughter-in-law Brooke; his former spouse Joan and mother-in-law Yolanda; his five grandsons, Jackson, Maddox, Paxton, Miles, and Hendrix; his brother Paul; sister-in-law Claire; sister Katherine, nieces Elena and Rebecca; nephew A.J., and many loving friends and extended family members. He is preceded in death by his parents Anthony and Helen, his brother Thomas, and his beloved English bulldog Tank.
A memorial service to honor Michael's life will be held on Monday, June 9th, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Nativity Catholic Church (6400 Nativity Lane, Burke, VA 22015), with a luncheon to follow. The luncheon will be at American Legion 176 (6520 Amherst Ave, Springfield, VA 22150).
The night before, on Sunday, June 8th from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, there will also be a visitation at Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home (9900 Braddock Road, Fairfax, VA 22032).
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to "Channing's Joy Foundation" located at: www.channingsjoy.com/pages/donate. This is a charity near and dear to the hearts of Sarah and John, as it supports autism awareness and advocacy-a deeply meaningful cause for their family.