A. Michael Curry,73, died peacefully on August 2, 2018 at Willow Lake Place in Indianapolis IN. Born November 7, 1944 in Hot Springs AR, he was adopted by A. Malcolm Curry and Cleta (Burkhalter) Curry.

After graduating Mt. Lebanon High School in Pittsburgh PA, Michael enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. While serving our country from 1963-1967, he was promoted to Sergeant E-5 while serving a tour in Vietnam.

In 1970, Michael graduated cum laude from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor’s of Science in Marketing. Following graduation, he married his college sweetheart, Janet Wedekind of Knoxville TN. In 1974, he graduated magna cum laude with a Master’s degree in Marketing.  Michael was also a proud member of the Lambda Chapter of Kappa Sigma fraternity.

For the next 20 years, his marketing career spanned several Fortune 50 companies until he returned to his beloved University of Tennessee to work in development. Later, he taught marketing as an adjunct professor at Tusculum College.

A quintessential optimist, every day (stateside) was a gift and his mantra was to “give more than you get.” Having volunteered throughout his life, Michael is most known for his civic causes in Clemmons NC, where he received the Outstanding Citizen Award in 1988. While in Clemmons, he served on the Holy Family Catholic Church and Clemmons Family YMCA building committees, He also developed funding and expanded the Friends of the Clemmons Library. In Knoxville TN, he was a Kappa Sigma adviser, Junior Achievement mentor, supporter of Habitat for Humanity and a member of the Marine Corp League. In his later years, he was a lovable career coach, helping many people find their true vocational callings.  

Michael received numerous career and volunteer awards, but perhaps his proudest achievement was donating blood. As a Vietnam Veteran, he experienced firsthand that giving blood saves lives. He went on to donate nearly 20 gallons of blood and platelets over his lifetime.

Michael was also a passionate fan of Tennessee Athletics, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. He was an animal lover, golfer and hockey player, and spent time on the ice anytime he could. His greatest joy was being a father and grandfather.

Michael’s parents pre-deceased him. He is survived by his previous wife of 42 years, Janet Wedekind, Knoxville TN; daughter Renee C. Curry, Indianapolis IN; son Alan M. Curry (Erika), grandchildren Alexander M. Curry and Charlotte E. Curry, Franklin TN; son Patrick A. Curry (Heather), Winston-Salem NC; sister Marstella Curry Crouse (Robert), Niantic CT; and brother Chris M. Curry, Masontown, WV.

Michael will be laid to rest on Friday, August 17 at 11:30 am at the East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery located on John Sevier Highway in Knoxville TN.  A celebration of life mass will follow at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Knoxville at 2:00 pm. Family will receive friends after mass in the reception hall.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in his memory to your local blood bank, veteran’s organization, no-kill animal shelter, or library – preferably while wearing Tennessee orange.