Michael Joseph Hennessie Jr.

Michael Joseph Hennessie, Jr. passed away on February 22, 2024, in his home, surrounded by his loving family. After a 20-year battle with leukemia (CLL), Mike was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma in 2020. After a few years of being supported by the healthcare team he admired at Johns Hopkins, the prognosis turned terminal.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland on April 13, 1955, Mike was raised by his loving parents, Mike and Jane Hennessie, in Howard County, MD. He attended Little Flower Catholic School and graduated from Glenelg High School in 1973. He attended college at UMBC and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics.

At the beginning of his career, Mike worked in the food brokerage industry. He later joined the printing industry, spending most of his career with Taylor Communications (Standard Register) from 1996 to 2015, as a Healthcare Account Executive on the Johns Hopkins Hospital Account.

Mike is predeceased by his parents, Michael Joseph Hennessie and Jane “Jimmy” Catherine Hennessie (Harman). He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Patricia G. Hennessie (Broussard), whom he married on February 14, 1981, and raised their family together in Columbia, Maryland. He is also survived by his two sons, Michael Joseph Hennessie III and wife Jennifer Hennessie, and Bradley Thomas Hennessie and wife Sylvia Hennessie. His pride and joy were his four granddaughters, Teagan Elizabeth, Reagan Lynn, Audrey Faye, and Nora James. A wonderful husband, father, and grandfather, he will also be remembered by several nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends.

Mike was very involved in the lives of his sons whether through coaching basketball or cheering them on in soccer, basketball, or track and field. He also served as Quartermaster for Troop 601 where both of his sons earned the rank of Eagle Scout. His passion for life continued with time spent hiking with granddaughters, vacationing in Ocean City at the family condo, surf fishing on the Assateague Island OSV, and traveling especially to Jamaica with friends.

In his retirement, when not playing golf, enjoying time at the beach, or in his backyard Key West-inspired garden, Mike enjoyed volunteering in his granddaughters’ classrooms and attending their recitals and events.

A reception of friends will be held in Mike’s honor on Saturday, March 2, 2024, from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm at Witzke Funeral Home, 5555 Twin Knolls Road, Columbia, MD 21045, followed by a celebration of life beginning at 1:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Michael J. Hennessie, Jr. may be directed to support Dr. William H. Sharfman at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. Please make checks payable to: Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, P.O. Box 49143, Baltimore, MD 21297-9143 or make a gift online at: https://secure.jhu.edu/form/kimmel.

For more information, visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/kimmel-cancer-center

A receiving friends for Michael will be held Saturday, March 2, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Witzke Funeral Homes Inc., 5555 Twin Knolls Road, Columbia, MD 21045, followed by a a celebration of life at 1:00 PM.