John Michael Fogarty

John Michael Fogarty, 25, of Dallas, Texas, passed away on Sunday, August 1, 2021.

John Michael was born in Atlanta, Georgia on April 20, 1996, but, as the saying goes, “he got to Texas as quick as he could” in 1997, when his family moved to Dallas. He was a graduate of Highland Park High School. He wanted to go to college in the Southeast, where so much of his family was located. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Auburn University (“War Eagle!”), both Summa Cum Laude.

John Michael studied at the London School of Economics and returned to London before his senior year at Auburn to intern at Polar Capital. He interned and accepted a position to start his career with Ernst & Young in the Financial Services tax group and was just completing his first year of employment, where he was enjoying building friendships with colleagues.

John Michael’s passion for the outdoors and recognition of the tangible evidence of God’s beautiful creative power became evident at an early age. Whether hiking through Yosemite National Park after a blizzard as a young boy, or spending countless hours fishing on his mother’s family farm in Georgia with his sister, or taking a “Polar Bear Plunge” one January in Rock Springs, John Michael loved the outdoors. Like his father and uncle and grandfather, he pursued scouting. John Michael achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and was a proud member of the National Eagle Scout Association. He had many great adventures in Troop 72 with good friends in Highland Park. Even beyond Scouting, he spent many hours hiking with his father in a number of our country’s great national parks “coast to coast” ranging from Acadia to Yosemite and many in between. He hiked to the “top of Texas”, Guadalupe Peak, in Guadalupe National Park, in April 2021 with his father and was excited about upcoming hiking trips to Oregon and Alaska.

He had a wide range of interests including weight lifting and football, which he played at Highland Park High School before a career ending injury. His life was defined by perseverance and overcoming adversity, which he did quietly, but bravely. He could improvise, overcome and adapt, a catchphrase he learned early in one of his favorite military films. He approached challenges much like he did an arduous hike: putting one foot in front of the other even when the trail was steep. He was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes at age 5, and he battled that auto immune disease and related complications bravely for 20 years.

With two grandfathers and a great uncle that served in World War II, John Michael was proud of the United States armed forces. While Juvenile Diabetes prevented him from serving in the military, which was a goal of his, his passion for history and his family’s service spurred trips to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and Normandy, France, where his relatives had posted and/or saw action in World War II. He enjoyed traveling in Europe and was especially fond of Ireland and visiting Castle Fogarty.

John Michael was always curious about science and nature and was often watching You Tube videos on science and medicine. He designed his current computer and ardently competed in countless video game tournaments with friends. He was also an accomplished pistol, rifle and shotgun enthusiast. He was a passionate fan of movies, and agreed with his family that you could never watch a great film too many times. He could quote effortlessly from movies, which he enjoyed watching with friends and family. John Michael’s greatest interest was his family. Family vacations to Sea Island, Georgia and spending time with aunts, uncles and cousins were a summer fixture in his life for many years. Of all things, he most enjoyed spending quiet time with his Mom and Dad and sister Catherine, talking about deep subjects and their faith and enjoying family traditions like dying Easter Eggs or Christmas Eve family readings. His internal Boy Scout compass always was pointed to family and his faith.

John Michael is survived by parents, Deborah New Fogarty and Michael Fogarty of Dallas, Texas, his sister Catherine Fogarty Cooper (Cameron) of Nashville, Tennessee, and his beloved dog Baxter. He is survived by countless aunts, uncles and cousins.

A receiving of friends will be held at Northwest Bible Church, 8505 Douglas Ave, Dallas, TX at 12:00 PM Friday, followed by a memorial service at 1:15 PM also at Northwest Bible Church. A graveside service will be held immediately thereafter at Sparkman Hillcrest Memorial Park at 7405 W Northwest Highway. All friends and family are welcome.

Any donations in John Michael’s memory can be directed to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Dallas Chapter, or Camp Sweeney.