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Michael Joseph McNamara

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Rutgers University

Michael McNamara Obituary

McNamara

Michael Joseph McNamara

COL, U.S. Army (Ret.)

A devoted husband, an excellent father, a doting grandfather and great-grandfather, Michael Joseph McNamara lived a vibrant life and left his family a legacy of love when he passed away on August 7, 2023 at Greenspring Senior Living. He was born in 1936 to Ann Snowden and Joseph M. McNamara in New York City, NY, graduated from Ocean City New Jersey High School, Rutgers University (where he met his bride-to-be Julia Carol Reilley), and the University of Kansas. He had a thirty-year career as an Infantry Army officer, followed by consulting on military policy for Bosnia and TÃ¼rkiye. Mike was curious, funny, intelligent, and cosmopolitan. He penned silly poems to his children while deployed to Vietnam, and wrote innumerable love poems to his wife. They moved over 25 times, from Hawaii to Holland, from London to Rome, while raising their two children. In retirement, he taught poetry and Shakespeare classes at OLLI. He was predeceased by his wife Julie; his sister Kathleen Lloyd Neil; his son Timothy Michael McNamara; and his son-in-law David C. Schoen. He is survived by his daughter Moira McNamara Schoen; his daughter-in-law Julie K. McNamara; his grandchildren Clare McNamara (Ian Garvie), Fletcher Schoen (Sally), and Patrick "Mac" Schoen; and a great-grandson Rowan Garvie. A memorial service for both Michael and Julie will be held next year after their inurnment at Arlington National Cemetery.

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Published by The Washington Post on Aug. 15, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Michael McNamara

15 Entries

Ed Sadtler

August 9, 2025

I knew Mike and Julie during their OLLI years. They encouraged me in my love of reading and writing poetry. Their positive outlook and good sense of humor were a tonic to me. I won't forget them.

Ed Sadtler

December 18, 2024

I miss Mike every day. He had a great sense of optimism and humor, was full of interesting stories, and gave me good advice and encouragement on my writing. he and wife Julie were and still are a force for good in my life. Wherever you are, Mike, and Julie, I salute you.

Terence & Joanne Cooney

October 30, 2023

Before we left D.C. in 2003, Mike and Julie were among our dearest friends. We are sad to know of their passing. We shared so much together, especially our love of art and great dinner parties! So many happy memories of lovely times together. And so happy to celebrate their 50th with them and the family.
Our sincere condolences. Love, Terence and Joanne Cooney

Joan McDermott-Forry

October 1, 2023

Fun memories as a classmate at Ocean City (NJ) High School (class of '54). He was destined for great things.

Joan Lunsford

September 7, 2023

Mike was my poetry professor at OLLI. He always had jokes to share and loved critiquing our poems. We also met Julia a few times. What a cool couple. I send my sympathy to the family.

Joan Lunsford

Claire Smith (OLLI)

September 2, 2023

You will be missed. You & Julie were always so kind to me.

Arthur Black

August 30, 2023

I’m very sad to hear of the passing of Mr. McNamara and his beautiful wife Julia. They were always so pleasant and cheerful whenever I saw them. They will be greatly missed.

Marcia Graddon

August 29, 2023

I am so very sad to hear of the passing of Mike and Julia. They will be greatly missed. I loved hearing Mike's jokes and stories, they always brightened my day!

Bob Shaffer

August 24, 2023

When we were much, much younger, Mike schooled me in the gritty realities of combat in Viet-Nam. When we were much older, I learned from him the smoothness and subtleties of Shakespearean verse. Mike was a man worth knowing. He will be missed.

Bill Sinclair

August 24, 2023

I met Mike as a Covid refuge in Jan and Mike´s Olli poetry class. I wanted to create and express myself through poetry but with little knowledge and experience. I always was honored and appreciated Mike´s integrity and compassion in offering comments of what worked and where I might consider changes. One class after reading and hearing my poem Mike said, "That´s a keeper". I shall not forget those words. Mike, I think, had a lot of keepers in his life, starting with his wife Julia.

Susan Bennett

August 23, 2023

Mike was a generous and patient teacher to so many of us in the OLLI poetry workshop. I will always be grateful for his encouragement and his wicked sense of humor.

Chitra Mohla

August 23, 2023

Mike was a great mentor. He brought joy and sparkle to the poetry workshop he led at OLLI.
He regaled us with interesting anecdotes from a rich life, well lived.

Jan Bohall

August 23, 2023

I will always remember Mike, my colleague at OLLI and my friend. He taught all who knew him how to live well.

Manuel Pablo

August 16, 2023

To the most literate person I have ever known: Rest in Peace.

Ed Sadtler

August 16, 2023

A mentor to me and appreciator of life to the end, I will never forget him.

Showing 1 - 15 of 15 results