Birth date: Mar 23, 1951 Death date: Dec 25, 2021
Michael Joseph Hanly, 70, of Ashburn, Virginia, died Saturday, December 25, 2021 at his home in Ashburn. Michael was born on March 23,1951 in New York, New York and is the son of the late Elizabeth and Thomas Hanly. Michael gradu Read Obituary
Mike & I were lifelong Best of friends , growing up in Parkchester , Bronx NY. His mother Elizabeth & my mom Madeline would take us in strollers
to the North Playground in Parkchester and we would play together on Swings & Monkey Bars ( 1954-5).
When we were 6-7 yrs old we would go out to play by ourselves in our holstered
Hopalong 2 gun cap shooters , boy did we kill alot of indians, That was on a Rock outcroping ,next to a steep ramp , were we would take our lives in hand riding down together in a red radio Flyer Wagon on a grooved pavement know as Machine Gun hill , We both got pretty banged up , but kept going back for more. You can"t fix stupid or being invincible.
We learned Chess together@ 10 and it became a lifelong bond & obsession, playing each other , studying openings and playing together always , and later online .We were evenly matched ,but I believe he won more times than he lost
At an early age he met my first cousin , Vicki as my fathers brother , Uncle Augie ( & Aunt Peggy)would visit us with with Vicki & Joanie in tow.
Who would know at 7 Yrs old they would marry 18 Yrs later !?
Teenage years brought Sports , High School sports & sweethearts After College we shared an apartment with our mutual best buddy Gill . Many good times and funny Odd Couple Bachelor stories abounded.
After we both married many good days of family vacations, holiday gatherings and watching our families grow, with our children of similar age close to this day. Cruises with Brian & Susie , Great mutual friends.
Dinners at each others houses ,usually preceded with Pinochle and many beers.
In 1980 ,his career took his family to Va. and although we vacationed , visited , cruised, it Never seemed to be as frequent as we all would have liked.
Michael was always an Honest true friend , willing to offer sound advice, telling it as he saw it, some said he had a rough edge but if you got to know him he was a compassionate, sympathic person with a sharp wit.
It has been said You are a lucky in this life if You get to have 1 or 2 close friends who really know You. Michael was such Friend
I will Miss Him Immensely
Ken Mackiewicz
Mike Hanly and I were life long friends who were raised in Parkchester in the Bronx. Mike had a great sense of humor and a rapier like wit that he was not shy about using - especially with his close friends! We both shared a love of history, pinochle and having a good time with friends and family. There were too many memorable events in our lives to recount here; however, the following come to mind. There was the infamous trip to Acapulco (involving a counterfeit diamond ring!) with our good friend Ken Mackiewicz. Mike Ken and I shared a bachelor pad apartment in Parkchester (talk about An Odd Trio). Many a night we sat listening to our favorite tunes on Mike’s impressive component stereo system that he enjoyed immensely. There was a bachelor party at the White Cross Fishing Club in Throggs Neck where a bunch of us hardcore drank until after sunrise. Vicki showed up at the venue in daylight and took Mike by the hand and strolled out to the end of the boat pier. As they walked along, the remaining partiers were inspired to serenade Mike and Vicki with a rendition of the classic hit “So Much In Love” by the Tymes. While our paths did not cross as often as I would have liked, whenever Mike and I got together it felt like I was going home once again with all those happy experiences flooding back in my memory. Mike you have left behind a wonderful family you can rightly be proud of. As I gather with your friends and family I am sure I will feel your presence among us. Until we meet again dear friend!
My brother Mike and I grew up sharing the same room for seventeen years. We had many similar memories that we reminisced on together during his illness.
We were different in how we responded to life and its challenges, and I can only remember this: that Michael was a good and kind big brother to me. But it bothered me, as I told him, that I felt like I never really knew him. He agreed. When I left home to go live my life, I have come to realize that I also left, in great part, the people in my life as well. In the last three years upon reflection and with more awareness, I have had great regret for letting go of family and the people that shaped my early years. So, in desiring to rekindle my relationships, I reached out to Mike. It did not go very well at first. But later, in the discovery of Mike’s illness, we made time, very little but precious time, to reconcile all the things needed to be able to part and say goodbye on terms of love, acceptance and forgiveness. I will always be grateful for this.
In our last conversation he told me he would see me on the other side, and we agreed on that. Where there are no more tears or sorrow, and no regret. Until then Michael, thank you for giving me new memories to cherish until that day. Rest in Peace , Big brother, and may God grant Vicci and your children and grandchildren His comfort and peace.
We live across the street from the Hanlys and have many great memories of times we spent together. 4th of July fireworks at the Hanly's were always fun. Mike supervising, and Chris doing the bombardment and all the neighborhood kids running all over their back yard. I think my favorite memory of spending time with Mike and Vicki was riding together in a limousine to the Bavarian Inn to celebrate my 50th birthday. Mike will be missed but never forgotten. Our thoughts are with you Vicki, Karen, Chris, and Jenn.
Deac & Cathy Jones
All of these stories represent exactly who Mike was! I worked side by side, and I mean literally, side by side in the same office, with Mike for 6.5 years. I started out at our company as the HR Assistant/Front Desk girl. When Mike's Accounting colleague resigned, I was given the opportunity to work in the Accounting department. I didn't have a lick of Accounting experience, but Mike was willing to take me under his wing and teach me (almost) everything there was to know about accounting. I can't thank him enough for what he taught me in that office, both professionally and personally. We spent every day chatting away like little schoolgirls, listening to music - I even have a 'work' playlist still saved on my phone, with tons of ABBA, Al Jolson, Righteous Brothers, Noel Harrison, Tony Bennett, Simply Red, Roy Orbison, and the list goes on. We were an unlikely duo, from completely difference generations, who got along so well together. He talked a lot about his family and friends that I felt like I personally knew them, both near and far. He invited myself and other colleagues to his home to partake in some porch drinking, eating, and playing games on several occasions. We went out to eat most days for lunch, even when I told him I was on a diet, he'd force me to go. He loved lunchtime! :) He was my ‘work dad’. Even though Mike worked a lot, his #1 priority was always his family. He gleamed when he talked about his wife and kids, and especially when he talked about his grandkids. He was and is so proud of them. His loss is felt immensely by all. I am thankful to have crossed paths with him. He helped me through some very hard times that I went through with my own family and was always a listening ear. He also gave me great advice, even if I didn’t take it :D to which he would then get annoyed. We shared so many good times and he is deeply missed. My condolences to Vicki, Chris, Karen, Jenn and their families. May Mike rest in peace. Gone in the physical, but never, ever forgotten. - Janine Schoenauer
We are loving all of these stories and messages from all of you. Thanks so much.
When my mother, Michael’s Aunt Eleanor, passed away many years ago, Michael spent a day and night driving round trip from his home in Virginia to her wake in Riverdale in the Bronx, despite his full professional and personal schedule. As he told my sister Ellen and I, he did so because he could not imagine not being there to pay his respects during our time of loss, regardless of the limited time he could spend. That’s the person Michael was. He also reminded us that since my mom was the last of her generation, it was now up to us to carry on and continue the family ties or we’d run the risk of losing them. He was indeed the family historian and cared greatly that we all stay connected.
I believe he started the tradition of having “New York New York” played as the last song at every family wedding reception. We all gathered into a large circle, linking arms, kicking up our heels, singing and having the best of times. I can’t help but think that that that song is a symbol of our childhood, our parents, aunts, uncles and cousins, and the good times and memories that hold us together.
My heart goes out to Vicki, Karen, Chris, Jenn and their families. May they get much comfort and peace knowing that Michael left them surrounded by their love and support and the love sent by his cousins and friends in the New York area. RIP Michael, dear cousin and friend!
Carol Cordes
