Roll Call Tribute

Michael Anthony "Mike" Almaguer 

April 18, 1956 - May 21, 2024 

Michael (Mike) Anthony Almaguer, 68, passed away on May 21, 2024 after courageously battling a debilitating brain tumor since August of 2023. He was born on April 18, 1956, in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. The Almaguer family later moved to Houston in 1961.

Mike served as an altar boy at St. Thomas More Catholic Church where he enhanced his connection with God as he attended St. Thomas More Catholic School. It was there that at the age of 12, Mike had his first battle with a juvenile presenting brain tumor. The Pastor along with the school principal, suspended classes and the entire school attended prayer services together in the church while his surgery was still taking place. Mike, with the prayers of the entire parish, surpassed all medical expectations and was released home from the hospital on his 13th birthday. Surpassing expectations again, he was inducted into the Order of the Arrow with Boy Scout Troop 548 upon completing his ordeal at Camp Strake in Texas on September 20, 1969.

Mike went on to attend and graduated from Strake Jesuit College Preparatory in 1975. Mike had a love of music and electronics. He was part of the Strake Jesuit Educational Television (SJET) organization and played in the Guitar group. He remained an active supporter of the school’s Crusader Fund because “Being a man for others” played a foundational role in his life. Mike then attended Texas A&M University, Class of ’79, where he was a member of the Corps of Cadets, Company C-2, and studied Electrical Engineering.

Mike worked for IBM in Houston and the Texas Department of Transportation. Mike’s strong passion for helping others led him to obtain his EMT- Intermediate Certification. He worked with his brother David for a private ambulance service and then as a volunteer with Cypress Creek Emergency Medical Services.

Mike’s devotion to helping others led him to take a leap of faith and attend nursing school where he graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1997. It must have been faith, for one serendipitous day he met Kimberly (Kim) Frownfelter at St. Anne Catholic Community, and they were married on May 17, 1997.

Through his many directions in life, it was his connection with his faith and love of music that led him back to St. Thomas More Catholic Church where he and Kim enjoyed being part of the Sounds of Faith Choir.

Mike spent the next 20+ years working at Baylor College of Medicine in the Parkinson’s Disease Center and Movement Disorders Clinic Department of Neurology and later for the University of Texas Health Science Center Department of Neurology. He was proud of his work in Movement Disorders, and it filled his heart to help so many people. He had a fierce diligence which he combined with the love of electronics to become the lead programmer for the Deep Brain Stimulator (DBS). Mike would tell you it was his dream job as it combined his skill in medicine, science, and electronics. Due to his expertise in DBS programing, the manufacturer sought his assistance on complex patient problems, trained doctors in DBS and consulted during brain surgeries.

Mike was kindhearted and always extended a helping hand. For over 12 years he volunteered for Tourette’s Association Texas Chapter as an RN at the du Ballon Rouge Camp for children with Tourette Syndrome. On a weekly basis, he also volunteered at Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital to help families that were waiting for loved ones in day surgery.

His love for radios and electronics led him to become a licensed HAM radio operator with the call sign of KI5FNH, joining the Katy Amateur Radio Society (KARS).

Mike found no greater enjoyment than working alongside his family at their mother’s cattle ranch in Gonzales, Texas. He enjoyed the ranch’s cattle round ups as it was a time to connect with family and enjoy the outdoors, both which he loved.

Mike was an honest, humble person with a great sense of humor, a big heart, and always a cheerful disposition. Anyone who knew Mike would tell you that he was fueled with passion, commitment, and faith in God. He honored and respected his family, friends and was a “Big Brother” to many. If he reminds us of anything, it could be summed up in his favorite personal prayer, “That we never take for granted our friends, our family or our good health.”

Mike is preceded in death by his mother Alice Goebel King and stepfather Shelby King of Gonzales, Texas, his father Rudolph Almaguer of The Woodlands, Texas, and his two infant brothers, Joel Roy Almaguer and Stephen Scott Almaguer, both of New Jersey.

Mike is survived by the love of his life of 28 years Kimberly Frownfelter Almaguer; siblings, Randy (Debbie) Almaguer, David (Jill) Almaguer, and Jackie (Scott) Humphrey, Bruce Greenberg; brothers-in-law, Michael Frownfelter, Mark (Georgina) Frownfelter; and his stepmother Barbara Almaguer; along with his nieces and nephews, Austin (Alison) Almaguer, Ryan (Kendall) Almaguer and Chase (Marcela) Almaguer, Jakob Humphrey, Jaron Humphrey, Sean Greenberg, Christine Hamilton, Shannon (Josh) Springer, James Frownfelter, Tristan Frownfelter, Daniella (Joe) Snow and Mark Frownfelter Junior. He is also survived by great nieces and nephews, Zora and Eiza Almaguer, Max Monti, Andrew Fuchella and Joey Velletri, along with his dear aunts and caring cousins.

We express our sincere gratitude for the support and care to Mike by Unity Hospice, Bright Star of Sugar Land/Katy, and the doctors along with his entire care team at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital.

A viewing and rosary will be held at Miller Funeral Home 7723 Beechnut, Houston, TX 77074 on May 29, 2024, from 5:00 pm till 8:00 pm with a rosary at 6:00 pm. A funeral mass of celebration will be at St. Thomas More Catholic Church 10330 Hillcroft Street, Houston, TX 77096 on May 30, 2024, at 10:30 am. A graveside service will be held on June 1, 2024, at 10:30 am at St. Ann Catholic Cemetery, 4162 State Highway 111, Yoakum, Texas 77967.