Michael Joseph Valentine

Born, January 25, 1982, to Nancy and David Valentine, Michael entered the world tiny but mighty. A mama’s boy to the core, he spent his early childhood with his siblings, Josh and Lindsay, on Tuxedo Lane. Michael always looked up to his big brother and protected his little sister fiercely.

He attended St. Pius, Bishop Chatard, and the University of Dayton (Go Flyers!), building along the way a steadfast group of friends who stood by him through it all. In those years and beyond, Michael was shaped deeply by the love of his grandmother, GiGi, and his aunt Janet–two people he adored and with whom he is now, without a doubt, cutting it up and carrying on in the best possible way.

Michael loved music, the Mets, and most of all his children–Charlie, James, and Leo. He could curate the perfect playlist for any occasion and regularly sent songs–often late at night–to people he loved because he thought they’d enjoy them. His love of music undoubtedly came from his dad, whose vinyl collection was always spinning at home. A Mets fan since birth, team apparel was non-negotiable, opinions were strong, and loyalty was absolute. Of all the things that filled his heart, his love for his boys–Charlie, James, and Leo–was without a doubt the strongest. The smile that came across Michael’s face when he talked about his boys or saw them could light up any room. He was always up for a new adventure with them–the kind that ended with everyone eating ice cream in the bed of his truck.

Michael took style seriously, from carefully chosen lapel pins and curated footwear to clothes pressed to perfection–including jeans and t-shirts–he was never one to dress down. He chose overdressed every time, even if it meant changing into a button-down just to run to Lowe’s. His love of fashion lives on through his sons, who bring their own flair to every outfit.

Michael was born for a party. He would drive a bus down to the Indy 500 like no other. If there was an opportunity for a theme party, he was already planning the playlist, the outfit, and the details before you even finished the sentence. Family birthdays were events, celebrated properly, and he made sure everyone felt seen and special. He showed up for people–and he showed up in style. He also loved family traditions, like the cherished summers in South Haven which provided some of the best Valentine family memories. Those trips were everything Michael was about: togetherness, laughter, and making sure everyone felt included.

Michael had a gift for drawing people out–asking the right questions, listening with a genuine laugh, and relating in a way that made you feel understood. This is what made Michael a natural salesman–not because he was slick, but because he genuinely cared. His humor was sharp, occasionally not entirely PC, and always delivered with that unmistakable gleam in his eye.

Tall and proud of it, Michael’s presence extended far beyond his height. His energy filled every room he entered. With long arms, he gave the biggest, best hugs–freely and often–and held his nieces and nephews the longest. In recent years, Scout, his beloved dog, was his constant companion. She would ride along with him in his truck and curl up beside him at night, and was by his side to the end.

Michael loved his sons fiercely and would impart sage wisdom on them whenever he could such as “never trust a fart” or “if you want to build a good sandcastle, you gotta have a shovel”. But the most important thing he taught his boys was “Valentines help people”. Each of his boys carries a piece of him that will live on for years to come.

But listen—Michael wouldn’t want anyone boohooing over him. He’d want people to remember his love of family, his self-appointed impeccable musical taste, his unmatched sense of style, his ability to make life more fun by just being there, and his unwavering way of showing up for the people he loved.

So in his honor: put on a freshly pressed shirt. Sit outside with your favorite song playing. Eat a good meal. Think of your favorite memory and smile.

Life is short and precious. Be sure to help people.

Survived By his sons, Charlie, James, and Leo, and their mother, Sara; his parents, Nancy and David Valentine; his siblings, Josh (Fran) Valentine and Lindsay (Matt) Berman; nieces Quinn and Emma; nephews Aidan, Will, Jack, and Thomas; and his beloved dog Scout.

Preceded in Death By his brother, Brian Valentine; his grandparents, Mary (GiGi) and Timothy Gallagher, and Kathryn and Donald Valentine; and his aunt, Janet New.

In Lieu of Flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Indiana 529 College Choice accounts (www.ugift529.com/home.html) established for Charlie (Ugift code: Y7H-56M), James (Ugift code: E0W-X43), and Leo (Ugift code: 703-56T).