Michael Allen Wilson

Michael (Mike) Wilson -- charming, good looking, inventive, athletic, witty, entrepreneurial, and easy-going. That’s who he was. On June 15, 1948 in Washington DC, Mike was the first of three children born to Alfred (Big Al) and Isadora Roney Wilson. He charmed his way into the hearts of his parents and their extended families and guided, taunted and protected his two younger siblings, Pam and Brian (aka Ricky). Mike shined his special light in activities such as organizing neighborhood ball games in the alley behind his home on Alabama Avenue; leading the pack on cousin activities at the Roney farm in Dinwiddie, and designing his own pole-vaulting pit at the Wilson summer getaway in Fairfax, VA.

Athletics were one of Mike’s loves. At Ballou Senior High, he was a letterman who found his niche on the track field. As a pole-vaulter, he broke the high-school record which won him a scholarship to Miami University of Ohio. After college, he was passionate about golf, tennis, and wind-surfing.

Following in Big Al’s, footsteps, Mike was entrepreneurial. Armed with his degree in business administration, he helped his dad enhance his laundry and dry-cleaning business and real estate investments. Over his lifetime, Mike invested in multiple real estate properties and started several businesses including Mobicare and Stay-In-Touch. Mike spent more than 20 years as a fortune 500 executive working with Xerox and Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), before settling into a final career in property management.

Family and friends were central to Mike’s life. He was there for important family events and provided support to both his mom and dad during their struggles with illness and infirmity. Mike made some of his strongest, most enduring friendships at Miami University where he was known fondly as “DC Bopper.”

Good-looking and charismatic, women were attracted to Mike, but he was actually shy. He married twice (Linda Watson and Yvonne Montgomery). Pam Williamson, long-time friend, traveled around the world with Mike to places such as Africa, Europe, and Mexico and spent time with him up until his transition.

When Mike was diagnosed with MS almost 30 years ago, he handled the diagnosis with courage and dignity in his easy-going style. A lover of technology and innovation, he participated in all kinds of treatments and therapies. When his legs became weak, he chose the Segway as his mobility device because of its “cool” factor. Never complaining, Mike remained independent up until the last few years. Mike departed this life on February 24, 2019 in the comfort of his home and in the presence of loved ones. He is survived by his sister, Pam (Richard), brother, Brian, nephew, Brian, nieces, Brittani and Courtney, great nephew, Brian Jr., dear friend, Pam Williamson, and beloved caregiver, Rosie White, along with scores of family and friends.

Join or donate online to “Walk MS” (May 5, 2019 on the Mall in Washington DC): http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/InMemoryofMikeWilson. Or mail donations to National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 1800 M St. NW, B50N, Washington, DC, 20036 (“Team In Memory of Mike Wilson, Walk MS: Washington DC, 2019”).