Michael T. “Mike” Fagan, 71, of Meadowlakes, Texas, passed away July 28, 2015, at his home. Mike had been fighting pancreatic cancer since his diagnosis in February of this year.

A farewell gathering of friends is 6:30 p.m. Aug. 14 at Forno’s, 201 Main St. in Marble Falls. A memorial service is noon Aug. 15 at the VFW Post 10376 in Marble Falls.

Mike was born in 1943 in the Iron Range of Minnesota to William John Fagan of Stanley, Wisconsin, and Martha Porthan Fagan of Ely, Minnesota. He graduated from Hibbing High School, Georgetown University and the University of Texas at Austin, where he held a doctorate in electronic media communications.

Mike served in the Air Force for 20 years flying rescue helicopters during Vietnam and later training and conducting accident investigations before retiring from the military. He later became a professor and taught electronic media production at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Missouri in Springfield and helped grow the electronic media program at Ozarks Technical Community College in Springfield.

Mike is survived by his brother, William John Fagan Jr.; son, Brandon Michael Fagan; wife, Misty, and their two children, Patrick and Jacob; and countless colleagues, friend and students who will miss him.

Mike loved working in education, and it showed in his relationships.

From colleagues: “Rest in peace Dr. Fagan! He was a wonderful advocate for high school students! He challenged, inspired and loved those in his classroom. This man was a difference maker! I valued the times he stopped by the office to discuss a variety of topics! I felt extra special when he allowed me to read one of his manuscripts.”

From his students: “I’m just sitting here thinking about what a privilege it was to study under this man. If you knew him, then you know. If you never had the honor, that’s too bad. I learned so much love and respect for the craft from this man. The amount of living history he embodied was universe big. Getting into his department was easily one of the most formative moments in my professional life.”

“I was a scruffy Kid, he was a freaking Dr. Of Media with a resume that would put anybody to shame. He took me seriously and treated me like I actually had potential. I know now that my relationship with him was really nothing special, he treated everybody with a level of righteousness that is downright rare, not just me, even though it seemed like nobody could invest that much in that many … But, man, he made me feel like I could actually accomplish something. He made me feel capable. And compared to how I’d been treated to that point, it was huge.”

“He turned me onto something so cool, and with such radical enthusiasm … I make videos now because Dr. Fagan made me fall in love with it. My first lecture with him he said ‘guys, you got a tiger by the tail in this program. If you hold on, by God you’ll be glorious. Don’t let it go.’ Dr. Michael Fagan, You will be missed.”

He spent his retirement enjoying the Hill Country, his family and friends and long drives taking photographs of the places and faces he loved.