Burroughs Hall of Famer Mickey McNamee Passes Away

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Mickey McNamee (center, wearing the Burroughs letterman sweater) was inducted into the Burroughs Hall of Fame this past October (Photo by Ross A. Benson)
Mickey McNamee (center, wearing the Burroughs letterman sweater) was inducted into the Burroughs Hall of Fame this past October (Photo by Ross A. Benson)
Mickey McNamee (center, wearing the Burroughs letterman sweater) was inducted into the Burroughs Hall of Fame this past October (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Editors Note: Please be advised that the service has been moved from the church to San Marino High School’s Auditorium –

Michael L. “Mickey” McNamee

August 29, 1939 – January 2, 2014

Coach McNamee passed away peacefully on January 2 at the age of 74.  Mickey was born August 29, 1939 to parents Arthur and Nellie. He grew up in Burbank and found his first love playing baseball in the outfields at Olive Recreational Center and at John Burroughs High School where he was named to the All-CIF team.

He chose to study and play for two years in Coalinga at West Hills Community College before attending USC where he played baseball for his coach and longtime mentor Rod Dedeaux.  There, he and his teammates went to two College World Series and won the 1961 national championship.  Mickey was a lifelong Trojan supporter and rarely missed a home football game.

After graduation, he began teaching and coaching at San Marino High School.  For 44 years, Mickey dedicated himself to improving the school and its athletic programs.  He influenced the lives of thousands of students, faculty, and San Marino community members. 

 

Mickey McNamee
Mickey McNamee

On most days, you’d find him coaching baseball at McNamee Field where his teams qualified for 30 CIF Southern Section playoffs, won five championships and more than 600 games, a total that puts Mickey among the top 20 all-time winningest high school baseball coaches in California. 

Mickey taught several subjects in the classroom at San Marino, coached football, served as Athletic Director and district negotiator.  Some of his greatest friendships and fondest memories came from the annual class trip he planned with Yosemite Institute.  There, he taught students about the outdoors, how to face fear and personal challenges, and gain self-confidence.

His athletic achievements, coaching, and commitment to service have been recognized through countless awards and commendations.  He received service awards from City of San Marino, was named coach of the year six times, and was honored by the Baseball Association.  This fall, Mickey was inducted into the athletic halls of fame at Burroughs High School and West Hills Community College.

Mickey joins his daughter Trisha, who died in July 1992.  He is survived by his wife Lynn, daughter Caryn and her husband Kevin and grandchildren, twins Quinn and Shay from Danville CA, and sister Dale (Riggs) and her family from Burbank CA.

The celebration of Mickey’s life will begin at 2 pm on Saturday, January 11, 2014 at San Marino High School’s Auditorium in San Marino, CA.  Services are open to the public.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to groups that were most meaningful to Mickey during his life: 

Yosemite Institute (http://www.naturebridge.org/yosemite-national-park) and USC Keck School of Medicine (http://www.keckmedicine.org/giving/).