By TEREASA NIMS
Sunday Times Newspapers
MELVINDALE — A beloved Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Board of Education member, John “Mike” Suiter, 73, died unexpectedly Aug. 29.
Suiter was active in many charitable groups, including the Melvindale and Dearborn Kiwanis clubs and Robert H. Jones Knights of Columbus. He also was a devout member of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Melvindale.
He was also a 30-year member of St. Conrad’s Church in Melvindale, where he was active with parish council and the maintenance gang and many other supportive roles. For a number of years he donated his time cutting the church grass.
In 1998 he was awarded the George E. Hixon award for exceptional service to the community.
In addition, Suiter was a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals, Housing Commission and a Democratic precinct delegate. He also held positions on the City Council and Department of Public Works.
Friends and family said from September to October Suiter sold peanuts on Melvindale and Dearborn street corners for the Kiwanis clubs.
Suiter leaves behind his wife of 53 years, Mary; his sons, Jeffery and Michael; and daughters Michelle Angileri and Tamara McGuckin.
Suiter loved education and his friends say he always had a book in his hand. Born in Oskaloosa, Iowa, he graduated from Oskaloosa High School in 1959, attended William Penn College, Simpson College, and ultimately graduated with a business degree from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, while attending night school and working full time for John Deere.
He earned a master’s degree from Marygrove University in 1992. He also attended Oakland Community College for an associate’s degree in Horticulture as well as Henry Ford College. He also was a frequent student at the Wixom Learning Center.
In addition to spending time with family and education, his favorite pastime was gardening. In 1983 he started a program to use vacant Melvindale lots to make urban gardens. He often donated excess produce to food pantries, community groups, friends and neighbors.
Suiter retired from Ford Motor Co. in 2003, working in Iowa, River Rouge, Wixom and Dearborn. He was a member of the UAW and member of the employee involvement program.
“Next to my own father, Mike was one of the men who made the biggest impact on me from an early age,” said Shelly Maurice Starr. “His conviction for his beliefs and the willingness to walk the walk was a sight to behold. His never-ending thirst for knowledge was awesome. I will always remember him with a book in hand and his willingness to share any newfound knowledge he gained.
“He was also the only man I ever met who could fall asleep in the middle of any chaos surrounding him.”
Peggie Pednelli said Suiter loved being Irish as much as he loved his wife and life itself.
“(He was) one of the most loving Irishmen I have ever met,” Pedenelli wrote on social media. “ Mike and I were instant friends, only because I was Irish. That always cracked me up. He will surely be missed.
Jeanette Christe said, “Our Kiwanis Club will not be the same without Mike. He was a dedicated member who put his heart and soul into making the world a better place for all children.”
In lieu of Flowers, the family is establishing the J. Michael Suiter Scholarship Fund in support of children seeking secondary education from the Melvindale School System. Donations can be sent to: 3303 Oakwood, Melvindale, MI, 48122 in care of J. Michael Suiter Scholarship Fund.
(Tereasa Nims can be reached at [email protected].)