Michael J. LaGuardia

Michael J. LaGuardia, 53, of Kingsport, Tennessee, went to be with the Lord on Monday, July 1, 2013. Michael was a loving father, husband and brother. He was born December 21, 1959 in Kingsport, Tennessee where he resided his entire life. Michael was a member of St. Dominic Catholic Church.

At the age of 17, Michael graduated from Dobyns-Bennett High School. He then attended college at ETSU while working full-time. At the age of 20, he graduated with a Bachelor's of Business Administration degree. He climbed the corporate ranks of Giant Food Markets, Inc. to become Vice-President and Secretary of the company by age 23.

When Food Lion bought out Giant Food Markets, Inc., Michael left the company. He became a business entrepreneur in his own right, forming multiple computer companies until deciding to pursue a law degree at the University of Tennessee in 1991.

He achieved his Doctorate of Jurisprudence in 1994. Upon graduating from the University of Tennessee Law School, he worked for the State of Tennessee as Assistant District Attorney for the 1st Judicial District. After prosecuting for over six years, Michael opted to leave his coveted state position in 2000 to start his current private practice in Kingsport.

Michael served as first attorney on the Kingsport Drug Court Panel at the request of the sitting judges. His law office served Sullivan, Washington, Hawkins and other surrounding counties, focusing on criminal defense, DUI defense, family law, small business law and bankruptcy.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas E. LaGuardia, Jr., and Kathryn Huddle LaGuardia; sister, Christine LaGuardia Phillips; uncle, James Huddle; and several nieces and nephews.

Michael is survived by his wife, Nancy McCracken LaGuardia; his twin daughters, Angelique and Anastasia; stepson, Ryan Sizemore; brothers, Larry LaGuardia and wife, Teresa, and Tom LaGuardia III and wife, Susan; sisters, Virginia Chaffin and husband, Bob, Mary Ann Wright, Shirley Hutchins and husband, Steve, Terri LaGuardia, and Kathleen LaGuardia; father-in-law, Don McCracken; mother-in-law, Carolyn; sister-in-law, Cindy Light and husband, Jeff; aunts, Rosalie Tatay, Peggy Huddle, Margaret Umberger and uncle Rodney Umberger; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family will receive friends on Friday from 11-1:00 pm at St. Dominic Catholic Church. A funeral mass will follow at 1:00 pm with Father Mike Nolan officiating. Burial will follow the funeral mass at Oak Hill Memorial Park.

Pallbearers will be brother, Larry LaGuardia, brothers-in-law, Steven Hutchins, Sr. and Jeff Light, close friend, Jim Murphy, and nephews, Joey LaGuardia and Steven Hutchins, Jr.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Dominic Catholic Church, 2517 John B. Dennis Highway, Kingsport, TN 37660, or to the Christine LaGuardia Phillips Cancer Center, P.O. Box 1069, Kingsport, TN 37662.

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