Michael Egan, insurance agency owner

Dec. 06--Michael James Egan, who founded two insurance companies and was a past chair of the Baltimore County Republican Party, died of an infection Nov. 28 at his Timonium home. He was 94.

Born in Washington, D.C., and raised on East 28th Street in Baltimore, he was the son of Dr. Francis Egan, a dentist, and Helen Cunningham, a homemaker. He was a 1942 graduate of the Polytechnic Institute and was a center on the school's football team. He also boxed. As a young man he delivered The Baltimore Sun on a route in the Old Goucher neighborhood.

He joined the American Telephone & Telegraph Co. and worked there briefly before being drafted into the Army during World War II. A technical sergeant, he was assigned to the South Pacific to set up communication lines.

After the war, he returned to AT&T and studied nights to earn a bachelor's degree in accounting at the University of Baltimore. He met his future wife, Doris Yoos, at the old Alcazar Ballroom on Cathedral Street.

In 1954 he formed the Mike Egan Insurance Agency Inc., working out of his home on Benninghaus Road. In 1958, he was elected to the board of the Maryland Credit Union League. After leaving AT&T, he organized the Telephone Employees Life Insurance Co. and the Telephone Employees Insurance Co., which handled homeowners and auto insurance.

He stepped down from both in 1964 and remained active with the credit union movement. In 1966, he served as president of the Maryland Credit Union League and was national director of the U.S Forum of Credit Unions. He worked to establish credit unions across the country.

In 1964 he reorganized the Mike Egan Insurance Agency Inc. at York Road and Bellona Avenue in Govans. He sold the business in 2008.

"He was a natural salesperson with a twinkle in his eye and smile on his face, and was never too busy to help his clients," said a daughter, Nancy J. Egan of Baltimore.

He was elected chairman of the Baltimore County Republican Party and supported the various candidacies of Helen Delich Bentley and Robert Ehrlich.

Mr. Egan belonged to the Towson Rotary and served on the Pot Springs Community Association's board. He played golf at the Hillendale Country Club, where he was a board member, and enjoyed dining at the Penn Hotel, Prime Rib, Bamboo House, the old Greenspring Inn, the Peppermill and Liberatore's.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, 200 Ware Ave. in Towson. He was a member of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Cockeysville.

In addition to his daughter, survivors include a son, Michael James Egan Jr. of Los Angeles; another daughter, Katherine Egan Stock of Timonium; a sister, Mary Sweeney of Towson; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. His wife of 66 years died in 2016.

jacques.kelly@baltsun.com

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