MICHAEL "MIKE" JOSEPH GORMAN
January 11, 1929 to June 9, 2017
Mike passed away unexpectedly on Friday, June 9, 2017 leaving behind his wife of almost 64 years Hazel J. (Petrin) Gorman, four children Susan Canfield (husband Carl) of Little Compton, RI, Michael J. Gorman, Jr. (wife Brenda) of Tiverton, RI, Carrie E. Schwartz (late husband Thomas) of Chepachet, RI and Brian J. Gorman (wife Cynthia) of Tiverton, RI. He was the proud grandfather of Kelly, Justin, Michael, Ella, Daniel and Alison. In addition he is survived by four great grandchildren.

After his discharge from the Navy, Mike went to work for the Fall River Gas Company. While the company changed hands several times over the years, Mike remained a loyal and valuable employee for 56 years retiring in 2011.
Over the course of his life while helping Hazel raise the family, he became a member of the Naval Reserve, served on the Budget Committee in Tiverton, was a life member of the VFW, a regular blood donor and was very active in the Tiverton Lions Club. In addition he has been a fixture at WOW on Pocasset Street in Fall River and anyone who worked out in the early morning hours would see him there regularly.

Mike was a man of great curiosity always striving to make things better for himself, for his family and anyone with whom he came into contact. Many times since his passing we've heard people say that when you were talking to Mike he made you feel like the most important person in the room and that what you had to say was of the utmost importance. Whether he was shaking your hand or giving you a hug, there was a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face.
To add to his unique personality Mike was gifted with O negative blood – which means that he was a universal donor. His blood did not need to match yours in order for you to receive it. With the advent of a procedure called Double Red whereby you are able to donate two units of red blood cells during one donation Mike was all for it. He felt that he could help twice as many people at one time so he visited the blood bank at every available opportunity.

As a Eucharistic Minister he would bring communion to shut-in's after Mass on Saturday or Sunday; but he brought them more than the holy Eucharist; he brought them his lively spirit, a helping hand and his warm and engaging smile.
Mike's family was everything to him – he often said nothing was more important than family. He was very proud of all of his children and continuously offered support and encouragement. He often read self help books and articles and was quick to share his new found knowledge. He truly believed that a person could accomplish anything they set their mind to and encouraged us to try. His philosophy was, it doesn't matter if you succeed or not, it matters that you tried. Who can say you've lost if you feel you've won. Life is like a foot race. There will always be those who are faster than you and there will be those who are slower. What matters in the end is how you ran your race.

Mike's legacy will not be written about in books or inscribed in stone, but will live on in the hearts of his wife, children, grandchildren and all the lives he touched in one way or another.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at Saint Christopher's Church, 1554 Main Road, Tiverton, RI on Saturday, July 1, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. followed by interment at the Pocasset Hill Cemetery, Tiverton, RI. Everyone is welcome.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Tiverton Lions Club, P. O. Box 148, Tiverton, RI 02878 for use in the Tiverton Lions Club Scholarship Foundation.
Arrangements have been entrusted to POCASSET MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME.