Michael J. Barren ’80

Mike died July 18, 2023, while on Cape Cod.

Mike attended Southwestern Central High School in Lakewood, N.Y., where he was an outstanding three-sport student-athlete. While at Southwestern, Mike met and fell in love with “Wink,” who shared in Mike’s Princeton experience and was a dear friend of many of his classmates.

Mike attended Princeton on an Army ROTC scholarship, majoring in economics while playing basketball and baseball. Imagining a possible career in education, he earned a teaching certification through the Teacher Prep program. Mike loved his years at Princeton, was an active member of Cottage Club, and a proud member of Club 18 (Little Hall) his junior year.

After Princeton, Mike earned a law degree from Ohio State, fulfilling his service obligation as a lawyer in the Army JAG Corps at Fort Ord in California. Following his JAG service, Mike and Wink settled in Columbus, Ohio, where they raised their family. He practiced law for 30 years before following his heart to a second career in education as athletic director at Chillicothe High School for six years, followed by his final year teaching at Sonshine Christian Academy in Columbus.

Mike made friends everywhere he went and had a knack for staying in touch. He loved sharing memories and creating new ones, exploring breakfast diners, spending summers on Cape Cod, and attending his children’s (and Buckeye) sporting events. Mike was a master of pregame tailgates.

Mike and Wink loved their family and were extremely proud of their children. Mike was predeceased by Wink and son Christopher. He is survived by children Nick (Jessie), Pat (Melinda), and Christine (Sam); two grandchildren; mother Catherine; four siblings, including Brian ’89; and numerous nieces and nephews.