Mike Carricarte's Obituary
Some men live successful lives. A rare few leave a mark so profound that their influence and legend live on long after they are gone. Michael A. Carricarte was one of those men.
To many, he was a pioneering entrepreneur, a decorated Veteran, a respected educator, a philanthropist, and a community leader. To others, he was a mentor, a trusted friend, a source of wisdom, encouragement, and opportunity. But to those who knew him best, he was simply Dad, Grandpa, brother, husband, uncle, and friend, a larger-than-life man whose greatest gift was the way he made people feel.
Mike lived with uncommon purpose, boundless energy, and a genuine love for people. He never met a stranger. Whether he was speaking with a head of state, a business executive, a student searching for direction, or a homeless man on the street, he treated every person with the same dignity, kindness, and respect. He believed every life had value and that success meant little unless it was used to lift others up.
Born in Cuba and a Miami, Florida native since 1948, Mike's life became a remarkable story of service, leadership, adventure, faith, and generosity. A gifted athlete, he excelled in football, baseball, shooting and track at Christopher Columbus High School before earning a baseball scholarship as a left handed pitcher to the University of Miami. There he distinguished himself as an athlete, champion boxer, student leader, ROTC Distinguished Honor Graduate, Iron Arrow recipient, and President of Pi Kappa Alpha.
After college, he answered the call to serve his country. As a United States Army officer and Special Forces Green Beret, Mike embodied courage, fortitude, and leadership. He completed Ranger, Pathfinder, Airborne, and numerous other specialized military training programs, earning multiple awards and citations while rising through the ranks to become a Full Colonel. Throughout his distinguished military career, he served in combat operations across multiple theaters, working directly with various military units, government agencies, and allied foreign forces. The experience, resilience, and sense of duty forged through his service shaped the man he would become and remained guiding principles throughout the rest of his life.
After his military career, Mike built one of the most successful international healthcare and insurance organizations in the Americas. In 1986, he founded AMEDEX and USA Medical Services, transforming it into one of the largest providers of international medical insurance throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. He became a legendary pioneer in his industry, respected for his vision, leadership, and ability to build organizations that served people across borders and cultures. Following this success, he continued building numerous businesses ranging across real estate, private lending and various entrepreneurial investments.
Yet for all his professional success, Mike never allowed achievement to become his identity.
He believed deeply that blessings carried responsibilities.
Throughout his life, he dedicated himself to helping others. He served on the boards of Camillus House, the U.S.–Mexico Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise Florida, Christopher Columbus High School and Baptist Health Foundation Founders Society. He was the Founding Donor of the Jackson Memorial International Program, a member of the Golden Angels, a supporter of Miami Dade College, and a benefactor of numerous educational, healthcare, and charitable initiatives throughout Florida and Latin America.
His generosity touched orphanages, churches, schools, scholarship programs, priests, nuns, families in crisis, and children who otherwise would have had little opportunity. He helped support the Mother Teresa Orphanage, Don Bosco Schools, St. Francis Xavier, Corpus Christi Catholic School, Epiphany School, Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, Kendall Christian School and countless other organizations. Through establishing the Carricarte Business, Leadership, and Entrepreneurship Program at Christopher Columbus High School, his commitment to developing future leaders will continue for generations.
Yet many of his efforts with the lives he impacted never appeared on a board report, newspaper, or donor list.
Mike quietly paid tuition for students who needed help. He opened doors for young professionals. He would help the random person he came across in need. He mentored entrepreneurs. He connected people to opportunities. He listened when others needed encouragement. He gave countless times desiring no recognition. Time and again, he stepped forward simply because he saw a need and believed helping was the right thing to do even if no one was watching.
While Mike's accomplishments were extraordinary, his family remained the center of his life.
He was the proud father of seven children; Anne Louise “Missy”, Michael, Jenny, Louie, Andrew, Grace and Brian, along with eighteen grandchildren, whom he loved fiercely and unconditionally. He taught them courage by living courageously. He taught them generosity by giving generously. He taught them faith by living faithfully. He taught them resilience, humility, loyalty, and perseverance not through lectures, but through example.
To his children, he was larger than life.
He was the adventurer who was always planning the next journey. The storyteller whose stories somehow became better every time they were told. The leader who made impossible things seem possible. The protector whose presence made everything feel safe. The father whose belief in his children gave them confidence to believe in themselves and achieve incredible accomplishments in their own lives.
He filled rooms with energy. He made friends wherever he went. He lived fully and his passion for life was absolutely contagious. He embraced every opportunity, every challenge, and every adventure. He understood something many people never do: life is not measured by what we possess, but by the lives we touch along the way.
Mike leaves behind a family who adored him, friends who cherished him, colleagues who respected him, and countless people whose lives are better because he was part of them.
Though his passing leaves an immeasurable void, his example remains.
His life reminds us that true success is not measured by what we accumulate, but by what we build, what we give, and how we love.
And if a life can be measured by the people it lifted, the hearts it touched, and the legacy it leaves behind, then Mike lived one of the great ones.
Well done, Dad.
Mission accomplished.
The burial service will be held on June 27, 2026 at 2:00pm at Caballero Woodlawn North located at 3260 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33135 which will be followed by a Celebration of Life at 4:30pm at the historic Biltmore Hotel located at 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33134
In lieu of flowers, the Carricarte family kindly requests that donations be made to the Carricarte Business Leadership and Entrepreneurship (CBLE) Program at Christopher Columbus High School in honor of Mike's legacy.
Donations may be made at:
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