Michael Fridovich

Michael Henry Fridovich passed away December 14, 2025. He was born on November 23, 1947 to Martin “Mike” Fridovich and Ruth Borr in Mishawaka, Indiana. The family moved to South Florida in the early 1950s where he lived until moving back to South Bend, Indiana with his mother Ruth in 1961.

Michael graduated high school in Holland, Michigan in 1967. He served in the US Army in Vietnam 1968-69. He was Honorably discharged from the Army at Fort Ord, California where he moved close by to Pacific Grove (Carmel), for a few years. From there he moved on to Atlanta, Georgia where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Life from Georgia State University. After college he became a Real estate agent, Co-founded the Mid-Town Credit Union, and worked on numerous political campaigns. He was married briefly in 1975. In the early 1980s he moved to Coconut Grove in Miami and dabbled in numerous small business ventures. He bought himself a 308GT Ferrari and a Range Rover, with his inherited trust money, and a quaint house in the Grove, where he was also active the political scene. Eventually he moved to Grand Cayman Island where he co-owned a motor scooter rental business. It was in Cayman that Michael bought a 36’ foot Formosa sailboat named “Bohemia” that he lived on and sailed the Caribbean and Central America – including enjoying Cuba and it’s cigars. In the late 1990s he moved back to Georgia and worked as a restaurant manager until eventually starting his own restaurant “Michael’s on 7th“ in Myrtle Beach, SC. After that venture he moved on to Gulfport, Florida where he eventually became a City Commissioner and Vice Mayor. He was most proud of that. Michael was well read, whereas many of his books involved history, biographies, socialism, and revolutionary tales. And he loved smoking his cigars daily as well as with his “cigar friends”. He was also a poet, having been published a few times. Throughout Michael’s life he stayed involved in politics, whether helping in campaigns or just voicing his strong opinions. He served on numerous civic boards and attended many political events. He was always trying to connect people and was great at staying in touch with old and new friends and acquaintances. He was a staunch liberal and Democrat. He blamed Vietnam on his illness’s and impending death, which included PTSD and Agent Orange Diabetes, which led to his eventual Kidney and heart failure.

Michael is survived by his brother Tony (Melodie), numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, a couple of unnamed half siblings, and his beloved cats Freda and Hemingway.

Private services have been planned.

Heritage Funeral Care, David and Steven Gross Directors are serving the family.