John M. Thearle "Mike"

Obituary for John M. Thearle “Mike”

Beloved Patriarch, 2004 National Hall of Fame inductee, owner and operator of South Bay Trucking, and King of the BBQ, John M. Thearle “Mike” passed away on May 6, 2021, surrounded by loved ones who will continue to honor his legacy by living their lives to the fullest.

Born in Sunnyside Queens New York, the third of 10 children to the late John and Jean, he will be sorely missed by his loving wife, Dorothy; children, Christine (husband Kevin), Michael (wife Christine), Reggie (wife Elizabeth), Liz (husband Mickey), and Jenny (husband John); his many grandchildren, Owen, Caroline, Colin, Jack, James, Charlie, Jameson, Wilhelmina, Emilia, Connor, Jack & Isla; brothers, George, Thomas, Peter, Reggie, Paul & Pat; and sisters, Regina, Cathy, and Mary, brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, and so very many friends.

Second to his family and friends, Mike loved lacrosse. He won the 1973 Schmeisser Award as the nation’s top defenseman, led the Maryland Terps to the 1973 National Championship, and won a world Championship with the U.S. Men’s National team in 1974.

Mike was inducted to the Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1990 and The Farmingdale Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997. In 2006 he was inducted to the Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame. Mike was inducted to the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2004.

In an article entitled Fifty Years in the Game: Dom Starsia’s “Best of the Best” posted by US Lacrosse Magazine on January 3, 2020, National Lacrosse 2008 Hall of Fame Coach Dom Starsia listed Mike Thearle as the “hardest checker” to play the game in 50 years.

To Mike, friends were just as important as family; the master of the warm welcome, he knew every good spot up and down the East Coast. He will be missed by his extended families at Mario’s, Reese’s, Backyard Bar, Angelica’s, The Hideaway, Sexton’s, The Blue Goose, The Oar, The Inn at Leed’s, and many more. Mike’s motto was “Party hard but show up to work tomorrow”.

In the late 70’s, Mike started South Bay Trucking from scratch with the help of a few friends. From his first truckyard – the lot behind Brother’s Pub – to a full fleet of trucks, he worked tirelessly to provide for his family and built relationships in business that lasted a lifetime.

One of his favorite phrases to say about his wife, Dorothy, was “She’s a lucky, lucky lady” but really we were the lucky ones.