Michael Kieran Clancy was born and raised in Spring Lake Heights, New Jersey by his two loving parents, Brian and Mary Lee Clancy, along with his two sisters, Laura (Lang) and Jill (Simonson).  Michael attended grammar school at St. Catherines in Spring Lake, NJ (’91), high school at St. Rose in Belmar, NJ (’95) and college at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA (’99). A successful student athlete, Michael played baseball, basketball and soccer, but later he developed a love for golf.  

 

Michael has spent his entire life in public service. It began while still in high school by becoming a beach lifeguard in Spring Lake. Shortly thereafter he joined the volunteer Spring Lake First Aid Squad. During that time he also began to work part-time as a dispatcher for both the Spring Lake Heights and Spring Lake Police Departments.  

 

Upon graduating from college, Michael enrolled in the Ocean County Police Academy. After graduating from the police academy in 1999, he was offered a position with the Ocean Township Police Department in Oakhurst, NJ. Over the next several years, he served as a patrolman and a detective, before being promoted to the rank of Sergeant.  

 

In 2009, Michael joined the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office as a detective where he was assigned to the prestigious Major Crimes Bureau, a unit that investigates the most heinous crimes in the county; homicide, robbery and arson. Over the next decade, Michael was promoted to the rank of Detective Sergeant and later Lieutenant of the Major Crimes Bureau. In addition to his responsibilities at the prosecutor’s office, Michael was the Chief Crisis Negotiator for the Monmouth County Emergency Response Team (MOCERT).  

 

In August of 2016, Michael was unexpectedly diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or as it is commonly known, Lou Gehrig’s disease. ALS, is a progressive nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle control. ALS often begins with muscle twitching and weakness in a limb, or slurred speech. Eventually, ALS affects control of the muscles needed to move, speak, eat and breathe. There is no cure for this fatal disease. However, despite this devastating news that life would be limited, Michael swore to fight as hard against this disease as he has to protect those he so admirably served.  

 

Shortly after Michael’s diagnosis, his family, friends and co-workers quickly rallied behind him and founded what’s come to be known as "Clancy’s Crew". Using Michael’s dog Winston as inspiration, the image of a strong English Bulldog would forever become the Clancy’s Crew logo. Foreseeing significant hurdles, Clancy’s Crew began fundraising to help Michael face the innumerable challenges ahead.  

 

Upon his diagnosis, Michael and his family were visited by members of the Joan Dancy and PALS (People with ALS) Foundation. The foundation serves area ALS patients and their families by providing direct grants for equipment and services to improve their everyday lives. This group of “angels” as Michael refers to them, provide invaluable support and resources to patients from the moment they are diagnosed. As a result, Clancy’s Crew started a polar bear plunge team for the Joan Dancy and PALS annual fundraiser, the Valentine Plunge. In February 2017, Clancy’s Crew raised the largest amount of money in the history of the Valentine Plunge. Immediately after the plunge, over 900 Clancy’s Crew supporters attended a fundraiser for Michael at Bar Anticipation in Belmar, NJ. Since then, the plunge, after party and Clancy’s Crew apparel have become a successful annual event.  

 

Unfortunately, in January 2019, after over two decades of public service, Michael retired from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office due to the progression of the disease.  

 

However, after retiring, Michael married the love of his life, Nicole, in September of 2019. Michael, Nicole and their English Bulldog Chunk reside in Wall, New Jersey. Michael is a devoted family man. Having lost his father to esophageal cancer, Michael spends a lot of time with his mother Mary Lee, sisters Laura Lang and Jill Simonson and especially his nieces Lily Lang & Sloane Simonson and nephews Jack Lang and Michael "Mac" Simonson. Having grown up playing in the sand and ocean surf, the beach is where he still spends a majority of his summer with family and friends.  

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During the COVID lock-down, Michael began studying Real Estate and would go on to obtain his Real Estate license. Since that time, Michael has joined Ward Wight Sotheby's International Realty in Spring Lake.  Blessed to be able to begin a new career, Michael enjoys helping clients buy, sell and rent real estate throughout Monmouth & Ocean counties.  

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In addition to physical and massage therapy, Michael currently takes a number of prescription drugs in his fight to slow the progression of ALS until a cure is found. Michael is extremely thankful for all of the support he has received and is focused on living each day to the fullest.

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