Michael Anthony Houlahan was born in Queens New York on February 10, 1961, to Jerry and Frances Houlahan, and was the eldest of three sons.
Mike became a member of the New York City Police Department in 1985, serving in the Manhattan South Task Force for several years. Like many other NYPD officers, Mike, without delay, answered the call when terrorists struck the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center on 9 /11/2001 .
Mike spent over 400 hours the next few months, breathing in deadly toxins, while helping search for survivors, and consoling grieving family members who were filing missing persons reports, post attack.
Shortly after 9/11, Mike was appointed to the Detective division and spent his last few years in the NYPD Bronx Warrants Division. Detective Houlahan retired in 2005 having earned numerous citations for bravery and excellent police duty.
Mike was a dedicated family man, pre-deceased by his wife Sharon, and the father of Jenna and Michael J. Houlahan.
Other than his family, Mike’s three loves were being a Police Officer, baseball, and Golden Retrievers. He could often be seen driving around town with one, two, or sometimes three of his faithful pups at a time.
Mike spent countless hours coaching and served as the Director of Girls Softball for the Shrub Oak Athletic Club for years. While battling the cancer that would eventually take his life, Mike still found time to dedicate funds to the Thomas Jefferson Elementary School for a new basketball scoreboard, and offer an annual scholastic scholarship in his wife Sharon’s name.
Before he passed, Mike wanted his friends and family to know “that I just did my job. I have no regrets.”