Michael Mclaughlin

Michael Scot McLaughlin, of Rochester, New York passed away unexpectedly on April 12, 2016. He was 61. Mike was preceded in death by his parents John and Mary Jane McLaughlin. He is survived by his loving wife Peggy Beach-McLaughlin, step-sons Ron (Marta) and Tom Beach, grandchildren Gannon, Hunter, Laney, and Kolton Beach, Casey, Tiffanny, and Amanda Lingenfelter and great-grandson Liam. He is also survived by his sister Kathy (Jim) Drinkard, brother Doug (Jean) McLaughlin, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Mike was born in Columbia, Missouri. His family moved to Iowa City, Iowa where Mike spent most of his childhood. At the age of eight, Mike's family went to live for two years in Addis Abba, Ethiopia while his father taught at Addis Abba University (then Haile Selassie University). This experience had a profound and positive impact on Mike, helping to shape the broad world view he would carry throughout his life.
He graduated from Iowa City High School, and moved to Rochester, New York soon afterward. He attended the Rochester Institute of Technology, receiving a Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering. In his career, he most enjoyed working as an engineer for Microwave Data Systems in Rochester. He retired from GEMDS in 2014. He and his wife Peggy lived in Rochester for nearly 40 years. Together, they impacted many lives through a number of local organizations. Property in the Thousand Islands, that had been in the family since the mid-1800s, provided them with a link to the land, the water, and the past that few are blessed with. Mike loved his family, including his grandchildren, and enjoyed supporting them in their hobbies, their struggles, and in life. His relationship with them brought him great joy.
As a gifted song writer and musician, Mike had a strong passion for creating original music with "a world music groove", influenced, as he put it, by African and Middle Eastern rhythms (see michaelmclaughlinmusic.com and mcubedmusic.com). Mike also enjoyed playing blues music, and wrote original blues tunes that make a unique contribution to this genre. Playing music with family members was also a source of joy. Most importantly, at the center of Mike's original music was a deep desire to connect with people who are hurting, to provide an expressive voice for the challenges they faced together, and to declare a reason for hope. His music will play on.
Family will receive friends on Friday, April 22nd from 4PM - 7PM at New Comer Funeral Home, 6 Empire Boulevard, Rochester, New York. A memorial service will also take place at the funeral home immediately following, at 7 PM. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent in honor of Michael McLaughlin to Open Door Mission, 156 N. Plymouth Avenue, P.O. Box 14236, Rochester, NY, 14614-0236.