US Navy Beach Jumpers Assoc.

Michael R. Eiben, Age 79, U.S. Navy Veteran of Vietnam War, Born into Eternal Life on March 23, 2023. Beloved husband of Suzanne "Suzy" Eiben (nee Scanlan) for 53 years. Loving father of Jennifer (Michael) Gervasio, Larry (Ann) Eiben, Gretchen (Sean) Lyons, and Emily (Luke) Lyons. Proud "Papa" of George, Suzanne, Charlie, and James Gervasio; Michael, Leo, Genevieve, and Loretta Eiben; Elise, Emily, Julia, and Thomas Lyons; Olivia, Luke, and Quinn Lyons. Beloved son of the late Lawrence and Rita (Bloomfield) Eiben. Loving brother of Mary Ellen Hoyt, Therese, and Peter Eiben, and the late Judith Hall. Cherished uncle to the Eiben, Batdorf, Hoyt, Brown, Doran and Scanlan families. Michael was born in Cleveland, Ohio, attended St. Edward's High School and graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in Architecture. At Notre Dame he was a member of the Naval ROTC and a monogram winning member of the wrestling team. He went on to serve as a Naval officer in Vietnam from 1966-68 and was a highly decorated Officer-in-Charge of Beach Jumper Unit 1, a naval special warfare team. He was awarded the Naval Achievement Medal with combat "V" for his service during the Battle of Khe Sanh, during the Tet Offensive. After the war he married the love of his life Suzy Scanlan and settled in the Beverly neighborhood in Chicago. Together they raised four children in Christ the King Parish. Michael worked at Chicago-based Bertrand Goldberg & Associates before launching his own successful architectural and computer engineering firm. In 1979 he was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to serve on the Special White House Task Force on Small Business representing military veterans' interests. He also served as Commissioner of the Urban Renewal Board and the Commercial District Development Board helping to establish the Theatre District and Block 37. In his spare time, he was an avid outdoorsman, who loved hunting, fishing and traveling with his family, especially throughout the American West. Family and friends will meet at Christ the King Church, 9235 S. Hamilton Ave., Chicago, IL 60643 on Saturday, April 1, 2023 for visitation 9:30am-1:00pm. Mass of Christian Burial at 1:00pm.

LTjg. Michael Eiben BJU-1 1967-68 d. 3-23-2023 “Fair winds and following seas”

U.S. Navy Beach Jumpers Association (727) 4-USNBJA