Frank M. Riordan Jr.

Frank “Mike” Riordan was born and raised on the south side of Chicago, birth year 1941. He was the oldest of 4 children and the grandson of Irish and German immigrants. By his late teens he was a motorcycle riding greaser, the likes of which you would only find in movies like Marlon Brando’s “The Wild Ones”. He was a rebellious soul and I’m sure he would laughingly admit that in his youth he was a rebel without a cause. He eventually did find that cause when he joined the US Navy. Serving his country was something that he was very proud of and took very seriously. Traveling the world and being part of something bigger then himself had a major impact on his life and his perspective. He loved the camaraderie of being part of a working unit for the greater good. He found that camaraderie again with the Chicago Fire department for which he retired after 33 years. Putting his life on the line in service to his fellow man was something he did not take lightly, he felt it was his duty. He was a hard working blue-collar man who never once slacked in his responsibility of providing for his family. He would do anything for his family and close friends, if you needed help he was there for you.

He loved humor, he loved to make people laugh and loved to make himself laugh! He found his humor in the every day challenges of life, from the mundane to the absurdity of it all there was always an opportunity to twist the words around into a funny anecdote that always left us all laughing. He loved making people laugh, for him it was an act of giving and his reward was seeing your happy face.

He was a survivor, even when life dropped its biggest challenges, he never quit or backed down. Especially when it came to his family. His shoulders were broad enough to hold us all up, and we will be forever grateful to him and for him.

Rest in peace Mike, husband, father, grandfather and friend.