Michael T Haynes

May 27th 1952 – May 28th 2021

San Diego, CA

Michael T. Haynes was born in Selma, Alabama on May 27, 1952. He was the second of five children born to Abraham and Betty Haynes.

When Michael was four months old, the Haynes family moved from Alabama to California, settling in San Diego. Michael attended Logan Elementary School and Memorial Junior High School. Growing up, Michael enjoyed playing team sports at his neighborhood Boys Club. He especially loved playing Football and Baseball and before long joined Little League Baseball and Pop Warner Football.

When Michael later attended San Diego High School, he participated in the athletic program where he also played on the Football and Baseball teams. In his senior year, Michael was team captain and Quarterback of the Varsity Football team and led the Cavers to victory in the CIF Championship. Also in his senior year, Michael was the Outfielder on the Varsity Baseball Team. Seeing as he excelled at baseball, he was offered a scholarship to Stanford University as well as a contract to play Professional Minor League Baseball for the San Francisco Giants organization. He decided to play ball for San Francisco.

After playing two seasons in the Minor Leagues, Michael returned to San Diego where he met his soul mate and love of his life Mary. God blessed their union with 5 children. Although raising 5 children often times was a struggle, through it all he was always hard working, holding down several jobs striving to provide for his family. Ultimately, he retired from San Diego Unified School District in 2017.

Michael was a lifelong avid self-learner who always read books and watched documentaries about history, nature, and politics. He had a passion for racial justice and politics; he delved into electronics and built his own satellite dish and several computers; he found pleasure in listening to Jazz music and found relaxation in caring for exotic fish; he enjoyed working in his yard and learned the many ways in which to care for plants around his home.

Michael passed away peacefully in his home on May 28th 2021, a day after his 69th birthday, following a two year battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Disease also referred as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

He is preceded in death by son Jose, parents Betty and Abraham Haynes, and Brother James. He is survived by children, Miguel, Carlos, Carmelo and Angelo, wife Nickie; grandchildren Miguelito, Lorenzo, Jazzmin, Carlyn, Faith, and Cadence. He is also survived by brothers Carl, David, Darryl; nieces Sonia, Savannah, Tamanika, Leticia, and Andrea; nephews James Jr, Nick, David Jr., and Terrell as well as a host of other dear family members and friends he encountered as he traveled along the journey of Life.

Rest in Peace Michael Haynes. Farewell for the moment, until we meet again.