G. Michael Girone USA

Entered into eternal rest on the morning of June 4, 2011, Colonel G. Michael Girone, U.S. Army (Ret.), husband of Margaret Joan Hepler Girone.  Residence, Charleston, SC.  The relatives and friends of Colonel and Mrs. G. Michael Girone are invited to attend the funeral services of the former in Old St. Andrews Episcopal Church Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 1:00 pm.  Burial will be Monday, September 26, 2011 in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA with full military honors at 1:00 pm.  The family will receive friends at J. HENRY STUHR, INC., WEST ASHLEY CHAPEL Tuesday between 5:00 and 7:00 pm.

Colonel Girone was born April 26, 1932 in New York City, NY, a son of the late Joseph A. C. Girone and the late Alice Modee Girone.  He joined the United States Army in 1953 and was commissioned through Officer Candidate School in 1954.  He was inducted into the O.C.S. Hall of Fame at Fort Benning, GA.  Michael attended LaSalle College in Philadelphia, PA, received a B.A. degree in Public Administration from the University of Maryland and a M.A. degree in Health Care Administration from Baylor University in Texas.

Colonel Girone served in a variety of assignments with Army Hospitals in the United States, Europe and Vietnam.  After retiring from his Army career after 26 years of service, he joined the Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, FL.  He then joined Hospital Corporation of America.  Among other associations, he advanced to fellowship status in the American College of Hospital Administrators.  Michael was chosen the first Businessman of the Year in Fayetteville, NC, where he was Administrator of Highsmith-Rainey Memorial Hospital.  He was President and C.E.O. of the Raleigh Community Hospital, now the Duke-Raleigh Hospital from 1988-1996.  Michael's military awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.  

He is survived by his wife of 58 years of Charleston; two daughters, Robin Clapp and her husband, Rick, of  Midland, GA and Diana Best and her husband, Tom, of Raleigh, NC;  two sons, Michael Girone and his wife, Marta, of Chestertown, MD and Andrew Girone and his wife, Pati, of Charleston; nine grandchildren and two great-grandsons.

Memorials may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, 7020 AC Skinner Parkway, Suite 100, Jacksonville, FL 32256 or online at www.woundedwarriorproject.org.