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YMCA Dedicates Project to Ahern

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He was the visionary behind multiple projects and now his role has been immortalized through a special dedication at his beloved YMCA building in St. Joseph. Mike Ahern, the long time Executive Director of the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph YMCA died last summer, but his spirit will live on thanks to the board's decision to dedicate the recent expansion and renovation project to his memory and in his name today.

Following their YMCA Board meeting yesterday, Mike's widow, Heidi Ahern, joined board members, YMCA staff, and guests during a small ceremony unveiling a stainless steel engraved plaque dedicating the renovation and expansion project to him. Mike led the organization from the helm for nearly 30-years.

Bob Kenagy is President of the Board. He says, "Mike worked hard to make the renovation and expansion of the YMCA happen. Without his vision and determination, this beautiful new addition would not exist and the renovation to the remainder of the building would not have happened. It is an honor to dedicate this project in Mike's memory for the invaluable services he rendered to the Y and to the community."

Before lifting the veil from the steel plaque, Heidi thanked those in attendance and said, "Mike loved God, his family and friends, and his YMCA. He loved seeing the YMCA's mission in action every day."

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The etched plaque features an image of Mike with the new YMCA building in the background. It hangs in the entry foyer at the YMCA.

Kenagy also went on to say, "Mike was a grand person; grand because he spent his whole life caring for others and working to better their lives. He was a man of faith who was compassionate and self-sacrificing, and his Y career was the perfect vehicle for his life of service to others."

Mike had announced in January his pending retirement in May. In mid-May he was hospitalized with a lung infection at Lakeland, and then moved to the Intensive Care Unit in Madison, Wisconsin where he eventually died on June 11, 2016. 

The Benton Harbor-St. Joseph YMCA is located at 3665 Hollywood Road in St. Joseph and can be reached by phone at 269-428-9622.
 

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