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1941-2024
Michael Francis Hirschman of West Palm Beach, Florida, died on Jan. 21, 2024, from complications of lung cancer, at the age of 82. Michael was born on Nov. 11, 1941, in Atlanta, Georgia, the first of four children born to Charles "Bud" Hirschman Sr. and Mary Gertrude Mullee Hirschman. As a small child, Michael greatly enjoyed the Veteran's Day parades (then called Armistice Day) that marked his birthday.
When Bud was called into service during World War II, Gertude moved with her two sons (Michael and Charles Jr.) back to her hometown of Marion, Ohio. Over the next 15 years, the Hirschman family, which soon included sisters, Kay and Marcia, moved frequently to a number of small towns in central and eastern Ohio (Marion, Westerville, Follansbee, W.Va., Bloomingdale, East Liverpool, and Lisbon). Michael had the sort of outgoing personality that allowed him to make friendships wherever he went. He enjoyed being with other people and they enjoyed being with him.
Michael graduated from David Anderson High School in Lisbon, Ohio, in 1959 and then served in the U.S. Army for three years, including a year in Korea, as a cryptology specialist. Upon returning to civilian life, he was employed at a new department store in Akron, Ohio where he was soon promoted to a management position. Michael, however, had another dream for his career. When Michael was about 16, he would accompany his father to work on Saturday mornings at WEIR, a radio station in Weirton, West Virginia. Michael was able to sit in the control room with the radio announcers, explore the station's extensive record collection, and get to know the disk-jockeys. With his winning personality at age 25, Michael found a position as an announcer with WSTV radio in Steubenville, Ohio. He soon had an afternoon show of music and news. His favorite role was broadcasting the play-by-play of local high school football, basketball, and baseball games. The only hitch was that the salary of small-town radio personalities was insufficient to support a family.
Michael married Sharon Jane Stover on Nov. 23, 1963, and they soon had two bright and beautiful sons, Brian Michael (b. August 1964) and Alan John (b. January 1967). It was difficult for Michael to give up his dream career, but his sense of family responsibility took him back to the business world where his interpersonal skills and strong work ethic were in high demand. For the next few decades, Michael had a very successful career as salesman representing lawn equipment manufacturing firms to retail lawn and garden stores. He worked his up the career ladder and moved from Ohio to Wisconsin to Louisiana to Georgia. He retired as the national sales manager for Exmark.
Following his retirement and a divorce, Michael moved to South Florida, where he lived in West Palm Beach. Michael loved all sports and was an avid golfer and would play once or twice a week whenever possible. He and his partner, Sue Skemp, also loved going on cruises, mostly in the Caribbean, but also to Europe and the Pacific Northwest.
Michael was preceded in death by his parents. Michael is survived by his former wife, Sharon Jane Hirschman of DeLand, Fla.; his partner, Susan Skemp of Boynton Beach, Fla.; son, Brian Hirschman of St. Paul, Minn.; son, Alan Hirschman of Kissimmee, Fla.; daughter-in-law, Denise Heidman of Duluth, Minn.; granddaughter, Ava Heidman of Duluth, Minn.; brother, Charles (Josephine) Hirschman Jr. of Seattle, Wash.; sister, Kay Hicks of Pittsboro, N.C.; and sister, Marcia Stanziale of Seattle Wash.; nephew, Andrew (Jennifer) Hirschman of Shoreline, Wash.; and a niece, Sarah Hirschman of Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Services and military honors will be held at graveside on Feb. 9, 2024, at 11 a.m. at St Mary's Cemetery, 621 Delaware Ave., Marion, Ohio.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary Church, 251 N. Main St., Marion, OH 43302 (https://www.marionstmary.org/information/online-giving-endowments/).
Snyder Funeral Homes of Marion are honored to serve Michael's family and your condolences may be expressed to them by visiting www.SnyderFuneralHomes.com.
2/1/24