Michael C. Scanlon

If you are reading this I am no longer among the living. I was born on January 5, 1940, to Chick and Bettye Scanlon and died on July 13, 2022. I am assuming with a little grade school math you can determine how old I was when I departed this world. If my wishes have been followed, I have been cremated. Personally, I do not believe in funerals, cremation makes more sense.

   While in grade school, in the winter I took my ice skates to school every day and after school I would go across the street to Forest Lodge and skate until I had to go home for dinner and skated all day Saturday and Sunday. At age 14 I was offered a tryout for the Ice Capades, but the parents nixed that idea. 

    While in law school I taught high school English for two years. Skating and teaching along with racing cars were my favorite things to do. I was never interested in fortune or fame (sounds like a 50’s song), rather, instead my dream was to be happy and contented. I always marched to my own drummer, and never decided what I wanted to do when I grew up since I never wanted to grow up. Growing old does not mean you have to grow up. I thought enjoying the journey was more important than the destination, a belief that was not shared by some people in my life. In the meantime, I practiced law in Akron for 50 years which brought me great satisfaction and enjoyment. 

   It took me three tries before I found my soulmate Linda. I was very lucky to have her in my life and receive her unconditional love. With her the last years of my life were filled with love and happiness. If it is possible for me to miss her I will, if not I wish her to be happy and to remember the good times. I don’t want anyone to be sad at my leaving, rather I wish them love and peace, we can all use more of that. 

    HIGHLIGHTS OF MY LIFE: Marrying Linda and driving a NASCAR race car (#18) 172 MPH at Michigan International Speedway when I was 80 years old- now that was a rush!!

Besides leaving my loving wife I also leave my son’s Christopher and Kevin (Amy), daughter Lisa, stepchildren Kelly, James and Michael (Tracey) Giffin, nine grandchildren including my two step granddaughters, my sister Patricia McCarthy, my brothers Larry and Tim and my sister-in-law Phyllis, along with numerous nieces and nephews. I love them all. No sadness, be happy. Frank Sinatra had a song “My Way”, my mantra. It is my belief that life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather, it should be a wild ride, skidding in broadside, thoroughly used up totally worn out loudly proclaiming “wow what a ride”!! Peace to all.

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