Michael Sullivan Harwood

Michael Sullivan Harwood passed away peacefully in Estes Park Medical Center on February 20, 2025. He was born in Philadelphia, PA, on August 2, 1934. He lived in Baltimore, MD, and Washington, DC, for most of his early life with his father James Kemp Harwood II, his mother Marguerite Sullivan Harwood, and his older brother James Kemp Harwood III. At the end of World War II, his family moved to Westwood Village in West Los Angeles. All of his immediate family is deceased. He is survived by his cherished wife of 71 years Adele, son Michael James, daughters Marguerite Ann Besson and Mary Therese Harwood, sons Matthew David, Patrick Joseph, Peter Francis, and his beloved late son Thomas Gregory (they are together again); grandchildren Camille Harwood Stephens, Gregory Brooks Harwood, David Harwood Besson, Alexander Andrew Grebb, Nicole Catherine Remedes, Jack Harwood Grebb, Joseph Blake Harwood, Justin Patrick Harwood, Grace Marie Farley, Andrew Tyler Harwood, Logan Michael Harwood, Josephine Anne Harwood; great grand-children Grace Mattie Stephens, Blair Michael Stephens, Landen James Farley, Emma Layne Farley, Copelin Thomas Harwood, and Henry Ryusei Besson.

Michael was a star basketball, football, and track athlete at St. Monica High School in Santa Monica, CA. In 1956, he graduated from Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA, with a BS in Accounting. He was named one of the three Distinguished Military Graduates in the Army ROTC Program. In 1967, he graduated at the top of his class from Indiana University with an MBA. He served for three years in the US Army Artillery and 17 years in the US Army Finance Corps. He was stationed in Germany, South Korea, South Vietnam, and military posts throughout the United States. He served as Finance & Accounting Officer at Ft. Stewart, GA, and as Comptroller at Ft. Carson, CO. He performed programming duties at the Pentagon with the J-5, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He retired at the rank of lieutenant colonel from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Financial Management at the Pentagon. He then worked as the Chief Financial Officer for 14 years at the National Association of Broadcasters in Washington, DC. He chaired a successful fund-raising drive to build the new Good Shepherd Catholic Church near George Washington’s estate in Mount Vernon.

At the age of 55, he retired. Adele and he moved to Wicomico Church in Northumberland County, VA, on June 1, 1991. For the next 30 years, he served his community in various capacities with the Northumberland Association for Progressive Stewardship; the Northumberland Lions Club; the public library; the Family YMCA; the Chesapeake Harbor Homeowners Association Board of Directors; and the St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church. He mentored as a Reading Partner at the Northumberland Elementary School since the program’s inception in 1997. His family delighted in the hospitality of his Chesapeake Bay home and fishing off his boat, the Theresa Adele.

On St. Patrick’s Day 2022, Michael and Adele moved to Good Samaritan Society – Estes Park Village. They are parishioners of Our Lady of the Mountain Catholic Church. He is a member of the OLM Knights of Columbus, American Legion Post 119 in Estes Park, a delighted supporter of the Estes Park Boy Scout Troop 8, and a lifelong college and professional sports fan.

Throughout his long life, Michael served his God, family, community, and country with strength and courage as a faith-filled, servant/leader. He held a strong devotion to the Blessed Mother, praying the Rosary daily with Adele from his printed prayer list updated on his computer.

His funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, March 1, at Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church in Estes Park, followed by interment at the Estes Valley Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to the Glen Haven Area Volunteer Fire Department at https://www.ghavfd.org.