Michael McGinn

McGINN MICHAEL T. McGINN Michael McGinn, 63, died at his home in Skaneateles, New York on January 6, 2008 surrounded by his family. He succumbed to pancreatic cancer. An avid student of politics, Mr. McGinn served the U.S. House of Representatives in several senior positions for the Committee on Government Operations and as a Subcommittee Staff Director for the Committee on Veterans Affairs. He later was Deputy Director of the Commission on Federal Paperwork which brought Federal, State, local and private sector leaders together to launch the regulatory reform movement in the 1980‘s. In the Carter Administration he worked in consumer affairs in the White House for a time. He maintained friendships with a number of political leaders throughout his life, and was a fountain of stories from his extensive contacts, wide travels throughout Europe and Asia and historical reading. Ireland was his other passion. Taking an opportunity to purchase a castle in Mallow, Ireland, Judith and Michael McGinn moved there, entertaining both Irish and American political leaders such as Ireland‘s former President Mary Robinson and former U.S. House Speaker, Tip O‘Neill, film stars, Maureen O'Hara and Brian Dennehy, Academy Award-winning director, Neil Jordan, U.S. Ambassador, Jean Kennedy Smith, and others. He was a long time Director of the American Ireland Fund launched by John F. Kennedy and Eamon de Valera to foster a close relationship between the US and Ireland. Loving Mallow, the McGinns opened the castle to visitors to see the remains of the original castle destroyed during Cromwell‘s invasion and the herd of 200 White Deer originally given to the castle by Queen Elizabeth I some 500 years ago. The castle and grounds were beautifully preserved and extensively renovated. They hosted many local events such as the famous Duhallow Hunt, the oldest hunt in Ireland, and bred horses that won national awards in Ireland. Born in Tupper Lake, New York, Mr. McGinn as a boy would summer at a camp on Skaneatles Lake. He returned from Ireland to Skaneateles Lake, the same village to which his ancestor, John McGinn, emigrated to from Ireland to escape the famine. He is the seventh generation of McGinns to make their home there. Mr. McGinn served as an officer in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War, commanding river boats on the Mekong River and as an R&R Officer in Taipai. He later was based in London as principal briefing officer for the Admiral of the Mediterranean Fleet. Michael is survived by his wife of 29 years, Judith (Moore) and two sons, Brendan Michael Moore and Seamus William Patrick. Services were held on Wednesday, January 9, at St Mary‘s of the Lake, Skaneateles, New York.Michael is survived by his wife of 29 years, Judith (Moore) and two sons, Brendan Michael Moore and Seamus William Patrick. Services were held on Wednesday, January 9, at St Mary‘s of the Lake, Skaneateles, New York.