Michael Flores

Retired NYC Detective-Sergeant Michael Flores, former head of the NYC Photo Unit, left this life in the arms of his loving wife Lisa on Monday, May 31 at Community Medical Center in Toms River.  His 89 year old heart, which had always beat so strongly for 25 years for his devoted wife Lisa, grew too weak to continue.  

Michael enjoyed life, the New York Giants, good food, travelling, the performing arts, books, and he loved his many children (10) and grandchildren (15) and (1) great-grandchild that he either sired or acquired, along with their spouses (7), and the large extended family he embraced through marriage.  

The child of immigrant parents Clementine & Miquel who predeceased him, Michael started on his journey of fatherhood at 18 welcoming Lynda, Bill & Lettie by the time he was 23. He became a father again with the birth of Michael James who had Michael Jordan and Brittany Starr join the grandchild ranks.  His children brought him still more joy when Bill & his wife Nancy gave him grandchildren, David, Thomas, Jared & Anna.  Lettie and her husband Phil Fox gave him grandchild Brian whose marriage to Kathy brought great-grandchild Kate and Lynda her spouse Ted. With a new marriage he welcomed Charity Van Delft, her husband Kjell Tangen, and Mercy Van Delft into his family, and sired Michael Jr., and Mark. Michael Jr., gave him granddaughter Edan, and Mark and his wife Mandy gave him not one but two grandchildren when they had twins, Macee & Maddox!, while Mercy gave him another grandchild, Magi.  When he met Lisa, the love of his life, he welcomed Kelly Sardella, her husband Lou, son Luke, Danielle Davidson and her husband William and grandchildren Elise, Billy & Aveleen into his family.  With Lisa he became part of a very large extended family that she brought into his life. His love of life, sense of humor, and caring nature will create a huge hole in all our hearts.  

Mike was enormously proud of his career with the NYC Police Department that he served so well for thirty-five years.  Having risen to the rank of Detective-Sergeant, he led the NYC Photo Unit for twenty-three years.  He left a lasting legacy having directed the conversion of the Photo Unit from Black & White to Color Photos during his tenure.  His mark was also on the people who worked for and with him who held him in high regard. To quote one representative of the group, “we’ve never had a greater boss…We were blessed to know this kind, intelligent and interesting man…it would be hard to overstate how much Mike touched our lives and how grateful we are to have known him.”

Memorial Visitation will be on Thursday, June 10 from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm followed by a Repass at the Clarion Hotel to celebrate Mike’s life.  All are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey, 201 Hooper Avenue, 1st Floor, Toms River, New Jersey 08753, or via email at Giving – Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey  in thanks for all the wonderful help they provided Mike & Lisa the last few years.