Michael Alan Pressman

Michael Alan Pressman was born to Sylvia and Samuel Pressman on July 17th, 1944 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1957, Mike’s family suffered the untimely loss of his older sister Ferne. He graduated from Olney High School in 1962 and graduated from Philadelphia College of Textiles and Sciences in 1970 after serving in the Army from 1967 to 1969 at the Frankford Arsenal in Philadelphia. 

After college, Mike worked as an engineer for a series of companies in the Philadelphia area – Betz Laboratories, MAB Paints, and Sikkens Paints. While working at Sikkens, he trained for half a year in the Netherlands, bringing his family for visits. In 1987, Mike and his business partner Joe Gallagher acquired Wacker Truck Body in North Philadelphia. For the next 15 years, Mike and his family fixed, painted, and delivered Inquirer and Tastykake trucks around the city. In the early 2000s, Mike and partners started Ava Motors, a used truck dealer, in Darby Pennsylvania. In 2020, Mike “retired” to spend more time with his wife and family, but he never stopped buying and selling trucks and working with his friends at Millevoi Brothers, providing auto tags and registrations.

Mike married Marie, his wife of 53 years, on December 20, 1970. They met at a party to welcome Mike out of the army, and eventually started a family in Bucks County, raising sons Jonathan and Steven at their home in Langhorne. Throughout their working years, Mike and Marie instilled in their kids the values of hard work, family, and education. After Marie retired from teaching in 2002, she joined Mike in just about everything — driving and fetching trucks, issuing license plates, handling medical appointments, attending their grandchildren’s performances and events, and sharing every meal. 

Mike had many friends from every aspect of his life, from elementary school to The Villas at Shady Brook. An excellent driver, he could usually be found ferrying friends and family around eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. Mike also loved betting on horses and treasured trips to Saratoga with Marie and their friends. An avid sports fan, Mike suffered and celebrated each year with the Phillies and Eagles, and he officiated track and field events for local high schools. Mike loved his pets through the years - Lebams, Quasi, Fastball, and Zippy.

Mike loved his sons Jonathan (51) and Steven (48), his daughters-in-law Sally and Melissa, and his three grandchildren — Ava (20), Jacob (16), and Beatrice (11). 

Relatives and friends are invited to a brief ceremony on Monday, March 18, 10:00 AM precisely at Washington Crossing National Cemetery, 830 Highland Road, Newtown PA 18940.  

In lieu of flowers, gifts in Mike’s memory can be made to the American Lung Association. https://tinyurl.com/MPressman