Michael William Loftin

Michael William Loftin of Galveston died Monday, September 29, in hospice care in Houston after battling cancer and Parkinson’s disease. He was 73 years old. Born October 26, 1951 in Houston, Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Elsie Loftin. He is survived by his partner of seven years, Lynn; his son, Matt; his daughter Amanda (Aaron) and granddaughter, Rylee.

Mike dedicated his career to serving others by promoting quality local government services and responsible stewardship of public resources. Mike’s career began in 1974 as an intern with Houston’s city controller and spanned five decades, including municipal leadership roles in Houston, Shreveport (La.), Pasadena, League City, and Galveston. At every stop, Mike promoted long-range fiscal planning, sustainable budgeting, insightful modeling of volatile revenue streams, and investment in facilities and infrastructure. A trusted colleague and friend, Mike trained and developed numerous local government professionals who carry on his legacy of good government that supports healthy communities. He retired in 2023 as the City of Galveston’s assistant city manager for finance after joining the City in 2014 as finance director. In addition to a storied career in municipal finance, Mike shared his knowledge with others by teaching the public budgeting course in the University of Houston’s public administration program for 27 years.

Beyond family, close friends, and work, music and sports were Mike’s passions. A lifelong musician, he enjoyed genres from big band, swing, and classic rock to Motown and Memphis soul and R&B. Mike was a talented performer with the alto and tenor saxophones, clarinet, and flute. He also scored catalogs of musical charts for ensembles of a dozen instruments or more. He performed regularly at the Liberty Opry for many years and played with groups including Herman and the Dearhearts, Light Heart, and big bands led by Ronnie Renfrow and E.C. Holland. A proud South Houston High School Trojan and University of Houston Cougar, Mike was an active supporter of his alma maters and an avid Houston sports fan who never gave up on Cougar basketball or football, or on his beloved Astros, Rockets, and Texans.

Mike made a difference in this world for many people, and was a beloved father and dear friend. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donating to the Houston Area Parkinson Society ( www.haps.org ).