Mike Long

After a brief fight with an aggressive form of cancer, we are saddened to announce the death of Mike Long, 79, a spirited, smart, inspiring, and dedicated husband, father, grandfather, and businessman who left an indelible mark on the lives of those who knew him.

Born Thomas Michael Long on June 30, 1943, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Mike was a force of nature who pursued his dreams with unwavering determination, and optimism. He graduated with honors from Tulsa Central High in 1961, where he was an All-State football player. He then attended Harvard College, earning an A.B. in Government cum laude in 1965. Upon graduation, Mike received the Harvard University Corning Glass Traveling Fellowship for 1965-66, enabling him and his young wife, Catherine ("Catey") Howell Long, to visit over 40 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Central America. In 1971, he graduated from The Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration receiving an MBA with distinction.

Mike was honored to join Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. in June of that year as Assistant to Robert V. Roosa, former Treasury Undersecretary for Monetary Affairs during the Kennedy Administration. He became a Partner in January 1984.

At Brown Brothers, Mike, and his colleague, and eventual fellow Partner, Lawrence C. Tucker, co-founded the venture which became the firm’s M&A Advisory business. Then, in the late 1980s he and Tucker co-founded the 1818 Fund I, LP, the first of seven private equity funds interested in growth capital and structured equity investments managed by Brown Brothers as General Partner.

He served on numerous corporate boards in connection with the Funds’ activities, and was particularly identified with the 1818 Funds’ investments in HCA, Nobel Biocare AB, Gulf Canada Ltd., Hunt International Exploration Co., and CMS, among others.

After retiring to the South Carolina Lowcountry in 2009, he served as Chairman of Caswell Investments, LLC, (while remaining a Limited Partner at Brown Brothers), and developed a passion for bonfires, boats, and his many friends at the Spring Island Club, where he was a member for nearly three decades.

In addition to his business and professional interests, Mike served as Chairman of the Boards of both the Healthcare Chaplaincy Network in New York City, and the Port Royal Sound Foundation in Okatie, SC. He also served as a Trustee of Ithaca College, The Greenwich Country Day School, and the Upper Canada Education Foundation.

Though a devout supporter of all things Harvard Crimson- to his great credit, on any given Saturday afternoon, he was even more a fan of his daughter’s Yale Varsity Lacrosse Team, or his son’s Upper Canada College First Hockey Team.

To know Mike was to be inspired by him, and his memory will live on loudly in the hearts and minds of those who were fortunate to have known him, negotiated with him, and to have benefitted from his generous heart, determined example, quick wit, and passion for mentorship, both accidental and intentional.

Mike is survived by his loving wife of almost 59 years Catey, daughter Jane Long Gering (married to Craig S. Gering) of Pacific Palisades, California, son Hampton Howell Long (married to Dr. Jessica E. Rockwell) of Bluffton, South Carolina, grandchildren Holden (19), Gable (17), and Blythe (14) Gering, and Pearce Long (2), and his sister Anne Long Quiggle of Little Rock, Arkansas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Marcia Long, and sister Lisa Long.

A Celebration of Life will be planned at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Port Royal Sound Foundation, or Friends of Caroline Hospice.

We invite you to leave memories and upload photos to the memorial page to celebrate and honor his incredible, and blessed life.