FRIENDS WE LOST DECEASED ALUMNI FROM OCTOBER 2023-AUGUST 2024: ALUMNI & FRIENDS UPDATES fantasy sports, Pearl Jam, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Nittany Lions. He enjoyed mini-golfing with his kids, watching sports with his mom and cooking for his wife. He is survived by his wife, Marina Young McCay of Madisonville; two daughters, Jordan (Gatlin) Carrier of Louisville, Kentucky and Madeline (Brennan Olesh) McCay of Lexington, Kentucky; one son, Jon McCay of Madisonville; and one sister, Erin Cruther. Laura L. Finley, D.C. (’89) — Dr. Laura Lorraine Finley (’89), age 59, of Toccoa, passed away Thursday, August 17, 2023. Born June 15, 1964, in Toccoa, Georgia, she was the daughter of Dr. Harold E. Finley and the late Lois Sheriff Finley. Dr. Finley lived most of her life in Westminster, South Carolina and Stephens County. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Life University. She practiced with her husband at the Towne Doctor in Toccoa and practiced with her father at Finley Chiropractic in Westminster, South Carolina. Family members include her husband, Dr. Stephen Bloomingdale of Toccoa; daughter, Rebecca Bailey (Spencer) of Athens, Georgia; son Jordan Bloomingdale (Darian) of Dawsonville, Georgia; father, Dr. Harold E. Finley; sisters, Natalie Barrett (Gresham), Leslie Blackwell (Victor), Leigh Wright (Marty) and Rhonda Finley (Julian Elrod); and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, great nieces and great nephews. Michael McLean, D.C. (’74) — Michael S. McLean, 77, passed away peacefully at home on August 23, attended by loved ones. Mike was Hampton Roads’ longest- serving chiropractor, practicing for almost 50 years and adjusting over 50,000 patients. He led the lobbying effort that secured chiropractic care as a benefit for U.S. active military and veterans in 1999 and later served as president of the International Chiropractors Association. Mike was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1945, the second of five children. His father was a dentist, and his mother was a homemaker who also held a master’s degree in chemistry. Mike pursued undergraduate studies at Vanderbilt, Rhodes College and UC Berkeley before earning his doctorate at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Iowa. In 1974, Mike moved to Virginia Beach and became the first chiropractor at the oceanfront. He met his wife Pat there, and she went on to pursue a doctorate of chiropractic and join Mike at Ocean LightForce Chiropractic Center in 1984. Mike and Pat designed and built their own house at the North End and raised a family, with three of their children and a son-in-law later joining them as chiropractors. Together, Mike and Pat created a gentle adjustment technique called LightForce. Chiropractors across the country sought out Mike as a mentor, and he taught doctors as far away as Sydney and Shanghai. Mike was passionate about informed choice in health care, especially childhood vaccines, and was a longtime supporter of the National Vaccine Information Center. Mike expressed warmth and concern for every person he met. Patients hailed him with smiles and waves in supermarkets, restaurants and shops around Virginia Beach. When he inquired, “How are you doing?”, he meant it, and he listened carefully to the answer. He never turned patients away for lack of resources, and he ensured everyone received care. Travel renewed Mike’s spirit and was an essential part of his life. With family, he visited Europe, Asia, Australia, Egypt, New Zealand (where he hiked the grueling Milford Track), Tahiti, South America and the Galapagos. Mike had a deep love for Maui, where he spent much of the past two decades. Mike joins his late wife Pat (May 2023) and is survived by sons Lion and Demian McLean and Mithra Green; daughters Celeste and Beth McLean; son- in-law Mark Haynes; grandchildren Chloe, Daphne, Hannah and Emerson; and sister Harriet Spencer McLean and brothers Robert, Albert and Newton. Stephen Lomanto, D.C. (’95) — Stephen LoManto (’95), 54, of Marlboro, New Jersey passed away on Friday, August 25, 2023. He was born in Long Branch, New Jersey and grew up in Marlboro. He went to St. Rose of Lima grammar school in Freehold and then to St. John Vianney High School in Holmdel. He graduated from Life College in Atlanta, Georgia. He worked as a Chiropractor for Marlboro Chiropractic Center in Marlboro, New Jersey. Stephen was predeceased by his father Carmine and is survived by his two children, Salvatore and Angelina of Freehold, New Jersey; his mother, Gloria; his sister Jodi Purdy of Brick, New Jersey; his brother Michael of Manchester, New Jersey; his niece Mackenzie Purdy and nephew Christopher Purdy of Brick, New Jersey. Scott M. Safarty, D.C. (’86) — Scott Michael Safarty (’86), age 60, of Palm Coast, Florida, passed away on September 3, 2023. He was born on June 14, 1963, in Queens, New York to Moe Safarty and Irene Aroesty Safarty. Scott attended Life University where he received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree. With a passion for helping people, Scott opened his own chiropractic practice with several successful offices. In the early 2000s, Scott moved to Palm Coast. He loved mountain biking, rare collectibles, politics and gaming. He was always the most popular guy in the room, always hanging out with his friends and family. Scott is survived by his son, Michael Safarty and his wife Savannah; sisters, Andi O’Brien and her husband John; Laurie; Serur, his nieces and nephews, and his two favorite granddogs, Cakeo and Mia. Scott is preceded in death by his sister, Valerie Arann, and his parents, Moe Safarty and Irene Aroesty Safarty. 56 Alumni.life.edu | 2024
