Michael Peter Reardon

Michael Peter Reardon (89) passed away in Alexandria, Virginia on May 9, 2025. He joins his beloved wife of 58 years, Marian Helen Little Reardon, who passed away in 2017, and his oldest daughter Maura Lynn Reardon Campbell, who passed away last Fall. He is survived by his three remaining children – Michaela Jane Prchlik (Michael), Brian Fredrick Reardon (Lynn), and Joseph Francis Reardon (Kristin), fourteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Michael was born on February 28, 1936 in Boston, Massachusetts to James Gerard Reardon and Anita Thorndike Reardon. Michael believed his birth really took place on Leap Day and that his mother had the birth record moved up so he would have an annual birthday. If correct, he was only a youthful 22 when he passed.

Michael grew up in the Boston area and was the godson of Governor James Michael Curley. His father was an educator and served in the Curley administration as the Administrator of Public Schools. Michael’s early memories include visiting Curley while he was serving as Mayor of Boston from his jail cell.

Michael attended the Boston Latin School, the New Hampton School, and the United States Air Force Academy, where he was part of the first graduating class of 1959. As a new cadet, Michael met Marian on a blind date and they soon became inseparable, getting married just after graduation on June 8, 1959. It was the beginning of one of history’s great love stories.

Michael attended pilot training in Enid Oklahoma, where Maura was born, and then began his career as an Air Force pilot, serving at numerous bases around the world. The Reardon family moved ten times in fourteen years, including tours in Enid, Denver, Boston, Germany, Phoenix, Shreveport, Rochester, and Washington D.C.

Michael served in Vietnam in 1968 during the Tet Offensive as part of the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing at Bien Hoa Air Base. He flew 219 combat missions and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and Purple Heart among other decorations.  Returning to the States, he attended the University of Rochester graduate program and earned a degree in Systems Analysis, followed by a long tour at the Pentagon where he was an Air Operations Staff Officer engaged in strategic planning.

Michael left active service in the Air Force in 1974 to return to Denver and run Cottrell’s, a men’s clothing store founded by Marian’s grandfather in 1893. He continued to serve his country in the Air Force Reserves, ultimately retiring as a Colonel. His public service culminated as a political appointee in the Department of Defense under President George H.W. Bush, and he completed his career as a DOD official in the Air Force Base Conversion Agency. In retirement, Michael and Marian lived in Arlington, Virginia and then Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, just down the street from Maura. Marian suffered from Alzheimer’s and Michael served as her primary caregiver during her last years.  They were inseparable in sickness as in health.

Catholic services will be held in Michael’s honor in Denver on Monday, July 14^th at 2pm at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church.  A memorial service and burial will be held at the Air Force Academy Cemetery in Colorado Springs at 11am on Tuesday, July 15^th.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that a donation be made to the Mayhew Program for at-risk boys in Bristol, New Hampshire (https://www.mayhew.org/giveonline).