Geraghty, Michael A.

Michael A. Geraghty, 82, passed away peacefully on Sept. 22, 2012, in Eau Claire, Wis., with Jean, his wife of 52 years, at his side.

Mike was born May 15, 1930, in Chicago, Ill., to James and Margaret Geraghty, both immigrants from Ireland. After graduating from St. Ignatius High School, he then attended the University of Notre Dame on a full academic scholarship from PepsiCo. Completing a Ph.D. in mathematics there, he went on to a postdoctoral research position at M.I.T.'s Lincoln Laboratories. His first teaching position was at Northwestern University. He then moved to Huntsville, Ala., to do research for the U of A as well as consulting for the NASA Saturn Project. He finally settled at the University of Iowa, having identified Iowa City as an excellent place to raise children. For the next 33 years he focused his efforts on teaching, both in the classroom and in his office, where students, his own or not, could always find an open door.

While still at Notre Dame, Mike met Jean Sherry. They were married on Aug. 6, 1960. They had a large, loving family with five children and 13 grandchildren.

Mike is survived by his loving wife, Jean; brother, James of Glen Ellyn, Ill.; children, Anne of Eau Clarie Wis., James (Linda) of Eau Claire, Wis., Joan (John Byrne) of Bettendorf, Michael (Kyra) of Fort Collins, Colo., and David (Sarah Soule) of Menlo Park, Calif.; and grandchildren, Kathleen, Megan, Kelly, Erin, Daniel, Michael, Thomas, Kathleen, Joseph, Matthew, Grace, Anna and Ivan.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Ann, and brother, Patrick.

Mike could pull from a seemingly endless pool of quotes, many memorized during detention at St. Ignatius. His family has one last quote for him:“The best gift a man can give to the world is to be a good father.”

The funeral Mass will be held at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, 623 Fairchild St., Iowa City, at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 4, preceded by a visitation at 10:30 a.m. and followed by a luncheon in the church hall.

In lieu of flowers, a contribution would be welcomed in the name of Michael A. Geraghty ‘52 to the Holy Cross Brothers, Columba Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556.

Friends may offer condolences online at .

Fuller Speckien Hulke Funeral Home, 3209 Rudolph Rd., Eau Claire, WI 54701 is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Published Sept. 30, 2012 in The Gazette