MICHAEL GAFFIGAN, 63, INDIANA BANKER

As president of Mercantile National Bank of Indiana, Michael Gaffigan led the institution through significant growth. But he was equally proud of the growth of the 25-year club for longtime employees and was as interested in his customers' opinions as he was in industry ratings, his family said.

Mr. Gaffigan, 63, died of lung cancer Friday in St. Margaret Mercy Healthcare Center in Hammond.

In the last hours of his life, hospital administrators came to his bedside with an award for his dedication to the hospital and community, hospital spokeswoman Valerie Culver said. As a longtime member of the hospital's citizens council, Mr. Gaffigan helped make the most of the institution's investments, she said.

Mr. Gaffigan was also active in the Hospice of the Calumet Area and the Northwest Indiana Forum, an economic revitalization group, said his family.

The charity work was an outgrowth, his daughter Catherine suggested, of the seminarian he had been before becoming a banker.

After leaving the seminary to study economics at Georgetown University, Mr. Gaffigan began his career in 1957 at Chase Manhattan Bank, his daughter said. He returned to the Midwest in 1965 as a vice president of Central National Bank of Chicago.

In addition to his daughter, survivors include his wife, Kathleen; another daughter, Pamela; four sons, Michael Jr., Mitchell, Joseph and James; two stepsons, Gary and Brian Eldridge; a stepdaughter, Katy Eldridge; three brothers, Jacques, Joseph and Terrence, and six grandchildren. His former wife, Marcia, died in 1990.

Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the White-Love Funeral Home, 525 S. Second St., Chesterton, Ind. Mass will be said at 11 a.m. Wednesday in St. Anne of the Dunes Catholic Church, 433 East Golfwood Rd., Beverly Shores.

Chicago Tribune (IL) - November 16, 1999

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Michael A. Gaffigan, Dune Acres

Michael A. Gaffigan, 63, former President of Mercantile National Bank of Indiana, died Friday at St. Margaret Mercy Hospital in Hammond. He continued to be active in many community organizations up until his death.

All of his life he was an eloquent and passionate champion of community service. Saint Margaret Mercy Healthcare Centers recently honored Mr. Gaffigan for his outstanding support of the Healing Ministry of the Sisters of St. Francis. Mr. Gaffigan gave of his time and resources to support organizations including Hospice of the Calumet Area, Northwest Indiana Forum as well as Purdue University Calumet Chancellors Advisory Council. As past Chairman of all of these organizations, his commitment was evident in the progress made in their respective missions. In addition, in 1989 he received the Shamrock Award from the Friendly Sons of Erin for his commitment to family and faith.

Mr. Gaffigan's professional career began in 1957 at Chase Manhattan Bank where he rose to Assistant Treasurer.

He returned to the Midwest in 1965 to assume a position with Central National Bank of Chicago (now La Salle National Bank) and was eventually promoted to Executive Vice President. In 1976 he was appointed President and then Chief Executive Office of Mercantile National Bank of Indiana. Under his management, Mercantile always earned more than 1% on assets and was subsequently honored by Money Magazine as one of the 100 safest banks in the United States (one of only two Indiana banks so honored). As a banker, Mr. Gaffigan was a master at balancing criticism and encouragement. "Mike was always fair in the way he treated us and I think that is what made him the respected president he was. He really did care about the employees as much as he did the bank's clients", said Jeanne Cleaveringa, a former Mercantile employee.

Mr. Gaffigan was born in Springfield, Illinois and matriculated at Georgetown University earning a Bachelors of Arts in Economics. He earned his Masters of Business Administration from New York University.

His wife, Marcia preceded Michael Gaffigan in death in 1990. He is survived by his loving wife, Kathleen (Nau); his six children; three step-children and six grandchildren. Mr. Gaffigan has three brothers that also survive; Jacques (Mary Ann), Joseph (Joan) and Terrence. His children are Catherine Kulkin (Marc) of Oakland, California, Pamela of Chicago, Illinois, Michael II (Laura) of Miami, Florida, Mitchell (Christine) of Chesterton, Indiana, Joseph (Jane) of Chicago, Illinois and James of New York, New York; his stepchildren are Gary Eldridge (Lisa) of San Diego, California, Katy Eldridge of Chicago, Illinois and Brian Eldridge of Chicago, Illinois. His grandchildren are Ashley Gaffigan, Mitchell Gaffigan, Morgan Kulkin, Connor Gaffigan, Zachary Kulkin and Kevin Gaffigan.

Visitation on Tuesday, November 16, 1999 will be from 3 to 8 p.m. at White-Love Funeral Home in Chesterton, Indiana. The funeral mass will be at St. Ann of the Dunes in Beverly Shores, Indiana at 11 a.m. Wednesday, November 17, 1999.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Hospice of the Calumet Area in Munster, Indiana.


NWI Times - November 15, 1999

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Michael A. Gaffigan, 63, of Indiana, formerly of Springfield, died Friday, Nov. 12, 1999, at Saint Margaret Mercy Hospital in Hammond, Ind.

He was born in Springfield. He married Marcia; she preceded him in death in 1990. He later married Kathleen Nau.

Mr. Gaffigan earned a bachelor of arts in economics from Georgetown University and his master of business administration from New York University. He worked in the banking industry, eventually becoming president of Mercantile National Bank of Indiana.

He was past chairman of Hospice of the Calumet Area, Northwest Indiana Forum and Purdue University Calumet Chancellors Advisory Council, continuing his support until his death.

Survivors: wife, Kathleen; two daughters, Catherine (husband, Marc) Kulkin of Oakland, Calif., and Pamela Gaffigan of Chicago; four sons, Michael (wife, Laura) Gaffigan II of Miami, Mitchell (wife, Christine) Gaffigan of Chesterton, Ind., Joseph (wife, Jane) Gaffigan of Chicago and James Gaffigan of New York; a stepdaughter, Katy Eldridge of Chicago; two stepsons, Gary (wife, Lisa) Eldridge of San Diego and Brian Eldridge of Chicago; six grandchildren; and three brothers, Jacques (wife, Mary Ann), Joseph (wife, Joan) and Terrence Gaffigan.

Funeral Mass: 11 a.m. Wednesday, St. Anne of the Dunes in Beverly Shores, Ind.

White-Love Funeral Home in Chesterton, Ind., is in charge of arrangements.

The State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL) - November 15, 1999

MICHAEL GAFFIGAN, 63, INDIANA BANKER

As president of Mercantile National Bank of Indiana, Michael Gaffigan led the institution through significant growth. But he was equally proud of the growth of the 25-year club for longtime employees and was as interested in his customers' opinions as he was in industry ratings, his family said.

Mr. Gaffigan, 63, died of lung cancer Friday in St. Margaret Mercy Healthcare Center in Hammond.

In the last hours of his life, hospital administrators came to his bedside with an award for his dedication to the hospital and community, hospital spokeswoman Valerie Culver said. As a longtime member of the hospital's citizens council, Mr. Gaffigan helped make the most of the institution's investments, she said.

Mr. Gaffigan was also active in the Hospice of the Calumet Area and the Northwest Indiana Forum, an economic revitalization group, said his family.

The charity work was an outgrowth, his daughter Catherine suggested, of the seminarian he had been before becoming a banker.

After leaving the seminary to study economics at Georgetown University, Mr. Gaffigan began his career in 1957 at Chase Manhattan Bank, his daughter said. He returned to the Midwest in 1965 as a vice president of Central National Bank of Chicago.

In addition to his daughter, survivors include his wife, Kathleen; another daughter, Pamela; four sons, Michael Jr., Mitchell, Joseph and James; two stepsons, Gary and Brian Eldridge; a stepdaughter, Katy Eldridge; three brothers, Jacques, Joseph and Terrence, and six grandchildren. His former wife, Marcia, died in 1990.

Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the White-Love Funeral Home, 525 S. Second St., Chesterton, Ind. Mass will be said at 11 a.m. Wednesday in St. Anne of the Dunes Catholic Church, 433 East Golfwood Rd., Beverly Shores.

Chicago Tribune (IL) - November 16, 1999

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Michael A. Gaffigan, Dune Acres

Michael A. Gaffigan, 63, former President of Mercantile National Bank of Indiana, died Friday at St. Margaret Mercy Hospital in Hammond. He continued to be active in many community organizations up until his death.

All of his life he was an eloquent and passionate champion of community service. Saint Margaret Mercy Healthcare Centers recently honored Mr. Gaffigan for his outstanding support of the Healing Ministry of the Sisters of St. Francis. Mr. Gaffigan gave of his time and resources to support organizations including Hospice of the Calumet Area, Northwest Indiana Forum as well as Purdue University Calumet Chancellors Advisory Council. As past Chairman of all of these organizations, his commitment was evident in the progress made in their respective missions. In addition, in 1989 he received the Shamrock Award from the Friendly Sons of Erin for his commitment to family and faith.

Mr. Gaffigan's professional career began in 1957 at Chase Manhattan Bank where he rose to Assistant Treasurer.

He returned to the Midwest in 1965 to assume a position with Central National Bank of Chicago (now La Salle National Bank) and was eventually promoted to Executive Vice President. In 1976 he was appointed President and then Chief Executive Office of Mercantile National Bank of Indiana. Under his management, Mercantile always earned more than 1% on assets and was subsequently honored by Money Magazine as one of the 100 safest banks in the United States (one of only two Indiana banks so honored). As a banker, Mr. Gaffigan was a master at balancing criticism and encouragement. "Mike was always fair in the way he treated us and I think that is what made him the respected president he was. He really did care about the employees as much as he did the bank's clients", said Jeanne Cleaveringa, a former Mercantile employee.

Mr. Gaffigan was born in Springfield, Illinois and matriculated at Georgetown University earning a Bachelors of Arts in Economics. He earned his Masters of Business Administration from New York University.

His wife, Marcia preceded Michael Gaffigan in death in 1990. He is survived by his loving wife, Kathleen (Nau); his six children; three step-children and six grandchildren. Mr. Gaffigan has three brothers that also survive; Jacques (Mary Ann), Joseph (Joan) and Terrence. His children are Catherine Kulkin (Marc) of Oakland, California, Pamela of Chicago, Illinois, Michael II (Laura) of Miami, Florida, Mitchell (Christine) of Chesterton, Indiana, Joseph (Jane) of Chicago, Illinois and James of New York, New York; his stepchildren are Gary Eldridge (Lisa) of San Diego, California, Katy Eldridge of Chicago, Illinois and Brian Eldridge of Chicago, Illinois. His grandchildren are Ashley Gaffigan, Mitchell Gaffigan, Morgan Kulkin, Connor Gaffigan, Zachary Kulkin and Kevin Gaffigan.

Visitation on Tuesday, November 16, 1999 will be from 3 to 8 p.m. at White-Love Funeral Home in Chesterton, Indiana. The funeral mass will be at St. Ann of the Dunes in Beverly Shores, Indiana at 11 a.m. Wednesday, November 17, 1999.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Hospice of the Calumet Area in Munster, Indiana.


NWI Times - November 15, 1999

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Michael A. Gaffigan, 63, of Indiana, formerly of Springfield, died Friday, Nov. 12, 1999, at Saint Margaret Mercy Hospital in Hammond, Ind.

He was born in Springfield. He married Marcia; she preceded him in death in 1990. He later married Kathleen Nau.

Mr. Gaffigan earned a bachelor of arts in economics from Georgetown University and his master of business administration from New York University. He worked in the banking industry, eventually becoming president of Mercantile National Bank of Indiana.

He was past chairman of Hospice of the Calumet Area, Northwest Indiana Forum and Purdue University Calumet Chancellors Advisory Council, continuing his support until his death.

Survivors: wife, Kathleen; two daughters, Catherine (husband, Marc) Kulkin of Oakland, Calif., and Pamela Gaffigan of Chicago; four sons, Michael (wife, Laura) Gaffigan II of Miami, Mitchell (wife, Christine) Gaffigan of Chesterton, Ind., Joseph (wife, Jane) Gaffigan of Chicago and James Gaffigan of New York; a stepdaughter, Katy Eldridge of Chicago; two stepsons, Gary (wife, Lisa) Eldridge of San Diego and Brian Eldridge of Chicago; six grandchildren; and three brothers, Jacques (wife, Mary Ann), Joseph (wife, Joan) and Terrence Gaffigan.

Funeral Mass: 11 a.m. Wednesday, St. Anne of the Dunes in Beverly Shores, Ind.

White-Love Funeral Home in Chesterton, Ind., is in charge of arrangements.

The State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL) - November 15, 1999