Michael Francis Barrett

Michael Francis Barrett, Jr. passed away in Alexandria, Virginia on November 25, 2025 at the age of 89 with his wife of forty years at his side.
Born in Glen Cove, New York, on February 2, 1936 and raised around Westbury, Long Island, Michael attended Catholic seminary before transferring to St. John's University for his undergraduate work. He extended his commute into Brooklyn by also earning his law degree from St. John's. He later added a master's degree in International Law and Taxation from Georgetown University. He always kept a hint of New York in his accent, even if he never heard it himself.
His parents emigrated to the United States in the 1920s: his father from Yorkshire, England, his mother from Cavan, Ireland. He was the first in his family to graduate high school and college. Having completed his studies, he was Commissioned in the Army's Judge Advocate General's Corps. He always said that the Army was the best thing that ever happened to him, extracting him from Long Island and starting his world-wide travels. After serving four years in the Pentagon, Captain Barrett left the Army and became a civilian attorney with the Federal Trade Commission and subsequently the Securities and Exchange Commission.
From the SEC, he was invited to become an investigative counsel for the U.S. House of Representatives. There he served in various investigative and legislative positions for more than twenty years, the last dozen years as Chief Counsel and Staff Director for the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, under the Chairmanship of John D. Dingell (D-Mich). The Subcommittee's jurisdiction was expansive and it was responsible for major investigations on waste and fraud, including the infamous $600 hammers and $500 toilet seats. Yet resolutions were also achieved through negotiation and compromise. At one of the earliest hearings, a major Defense contractor returned nearly $100 million to the U.S. Treasury for improper overcharges to the government. Michael always claimed that he had the best job in the world and he looked forward to going to work every morning.
After retiring from public service, Michael established his own consulting practice in DC. In his last years, when he was no longer officially "working," he followed the news intensely and was always ready to talk about what the government SHOULD be doing.
While in the Army, Michael married Mary Ellen Barrett (nee Evans) and they had two children, Katherine and Edward. They separated and divorced. Michael met and married Danielle Beauchamp, and soon they had a daughter, Elizabeth. Michael had lived in Alexandria, VA since 1989. His last residence was at Goodwin House Alexandria where he spent his final months in hospice care.
Michael was a storyteller himself and recycled many of his father's stories and jokes, with varying degrees of success. He loved English bulldogs, even after developing an allergy so serious that he could no longer raise them. His book collection ranged from James Joyce's Ulysses to Milton's Paradise Lost by way of Le Petomane and The Wooden Leg of Inspector Anders. His favorite opera was Tales of Hoffmann but he was also an early attendee at the Newport Jazz Festival. Michael loved being at the beach and hearing the waves. He never felt a trip to the beach was successful without a sunburn (which he paid for in later years).
Michael was preceded in death by his parents (Frank and Molly), brother (Johnnie), sister (Mary), and ex-wife (Mary Ellen). He is survived by his wife (Danielle), three children (Kate, Ned, and Liz), son-in-law (Lonny), and grandson (Shea).
A memorial service will be held at Goodwin House Alexandria on Sunday, January 4, at 3 p.m., with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to World Central Kitchen, or to a charity of your choice. Burial will be on Long Island at a later date.