John Michael Fahey

Captain John “Mike” Fahey, U.S. Navy, Retired, age 75, of the Isle of Palms, South Carolina, died Monday, July 2, 2018, after a short battle with cancer.
He was born in Gary, Indiana, on October 5, 1942 to John R. Fahey and Ruth Morse Fahey. He graduated high school at St. Bede Academy in Peru, Illinois and then first attended the University of Illinois on a football scholarship followed by a scholarship to the University of Tennessee where he received a degree in Mathematics. Following graduation, he attended a special post graduate program in Industrial Economics at Michigan State University and eventually received a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering at the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, CA. He joined the United States Navy in May 1971. Upon completion of Officer Candidate School, he attended the Navy Nuclear Power School. Deciding submarines was not his calling, he became a Surface Warfare Officer. His 30 year Naval career afforded him various “at sea” assignments, the most memorable and rewarding were as Ship’s Engineering Officer on the USS John F. Kennedy and Commanding Officer of the USS Wainwright. His final tour was Commanding Officer of the University of South Carolina NROTC unit. He was the recipient of numerous awards, the most significant being the Legion of Merit (4); Meritorious Service Medal (4); Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3); Surface Warfare Insignia, and several others. Upon retirement from the Navy in 1998, he accepted a job offer with the VSE Corporation in Charleston as a Senior Mechanical Engineer, a position he maintained for over 18 years and held until his death. When asked why he continued to work, which required frequent traveling, he always said it was “the people”. He loved the job, but he loved the people whom he met and worked with even more.
Mike married his college sweetheart, Anne Miller on April 6, 1968. They had just celebrated 50 years of marriage. They had two children, Katherine and Michael.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law, Tom Hecker. He is survived by his wife, Anne, daughter Katherine Tyler (Rob); son Michael (Tonia); grandchildren, Robert Michael, Ryan and Meghan Tyler; and Abby Fahey; fraternal twin sisters, Rita Hecker and Roberta Koznicki (Don) and children.
The family will receive guests on July 5, 2018 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, 1520 Rifle Range Road, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, 29464. The Rosary will begin at 5:30 pm.
The Catholic Funeral Mass will be held on July 6, 10:00 am at Stella Maris Catholic Church, 1204 Middle Street, PO Box 280, Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina, 29482. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, 604 Fort Johnson Road, James Island, South Carolina, 29412.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Stella Maris Catholic Church Building Fund.
Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted to www.mcalister-smith.com.
Arrangements entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, Mt. Pleasant, 1520 Rifle Range Road, Mt. Pleasant, SC, 29464, (843) 884-3833.