Michael M. Tunney

Michael (Mike) Martin Tunney of Mint Hill NC (formerly of Hopkinton MA), age 68, died suddenly of a heart attack on Sunday, April 9, 2017. Mike immigrated from Port Dalhousie, Ontario to Erie PA where he finished his high school career. He lived in many states, PA, CA, NY, MA and NC and in London and Germany. Mike was especially proud of his Irish background and regaled us with stories of his heritage. Mike spent time in college studying electrical engineering, married, had a son and immigrated to Germany where he worked for the Max Planck Institute and subsequently moved to London to work for British Oxygen. Mike then rode the Silicon Valley computer wave in the 1980's, spending much time in Japan. Being the epitome of a Renaissance Man, Mike attend the Cordon Bleu Culinary School in London; became proficient at furniture making, welding, and car mechanics; and owned various businesses- a florist shop, radon remediation, home inspection, and a house arrest anklet business. Mike was a minister of the Universal Life Church and enjoyed presiding over many happy marriages. At the age of 58, Mike enrolled in a two- year x-ray technician program at Stanly Community College. He loved working with patients and technology and was levelheaded, kind and knowledgeable. Mike was employed at Carolinas Healthcare Systems in their urgent care centers and family practices. He was a long-standing member of both the American Registry and the American Society of Radiologic Technologists. Mike will be best remembered for his thoughtful and brilliant mind, his love of learning, his indulgence toward his family and friends, and his strong story telling skills. He loved fast cars- especially his 1969 E Type Jaguar and even faster sailboats. He and a small team of sailors annually entered sailboat races in the treacherous, cold waters of the San Francisco Bay. Mike had a great sense of humor and a biting wit, which was usually right on and made everyone laugh. Mike loved cooking and baking, reading, discussing history, politics and religion, Spam, beer, "B" movies, and foreign and domestic travel- especially to Iceland for his honeymoon and, most recently, Prague. Family vacations were especially enjoyable. Mike is survived by his adoring wife of almost 15 years, Natalie; two brothers David (Kathy) Tunney of CA and Mark (Michelle) Tunney of Las Vegas; one son, Sean Tunney of Florida; one niece Erika Tunney Ho; four great-nieces Haley, Jordan, London and Kelsey Ho; mother-in-law Iris Schnipper of Lake Worth FL; two brothers -in-law Mitchell Schnipper of Mt. Holly NC and Stuart Schnipper of Honolulu HI; and a cherished family friend Waka Hariu of Blackstone MA, not to mention many other family members and friends. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend a celebration of life service at 11 AM on Friday, April 14, 2017 at Temple Beth El, 5007 Providence Rd Charlotte NC. A gathering of friends and family will assemble at the home of Natalie Tunney on Saturday, April 15, 2017 at 7 PM. Contributions in Mike's memory may be made to Guiding Eyes for the Blind, American Heart Association, or Hospice and Palliative Care of the Charlotte Region.