James Michael "Mike" Aaron, 79, died March 9 at Keswick Multi-Care Center, where he had lived for more than 18 months. He was a long-time resident of Baltimore's Original Northwood neighborhood.

Mike was a veteran journalist committed to telling the truth, a family man, a "foodie" before that was a word, a student of history, a friend of cats and a pipe-smoker.

James Michael Aaron was born January 13, 1947, in Mt. Vernon, Ill., the only child of Ruth (Batson) and James "Mickie" Aaron. He graduated from Mt. Vernon High School, where he began his journalism career on the student newspaper. He graduated in 1969 from the School of Journalism at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Mary Maushard; two daughters, Emily and Judith, both of Baltimore; his daughter-in-law Sarah DeSocio; one grandson, Jamie; and his two cats, Tank and Millie.

Mike's journalism career began at Illinois newspapers, The Mount Vernon Register-News in his hometown, and The Southern Illinoisan in Carbondale. He moved to Annapolis to become city editor of the former Annapolis Evening Capital during the tumultuous times of Spiro Agnew and Marvin Mandel. In the late 1970s he became an editor in the Washington Bureau of The Associated Press, where he worked for more than 20 years.

Mike loved breaking news. Two of his most memorable stories were the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan outside a Washington Hotel and the crash of an Air Florida plane into the Potomac River on a freezing January night. In both situations, Mike was at the news desk, taking dictation from reporters on the scenes and compiling stories that to across the world. He retired from Maryland's Patuxent Newspapers in 2012.

Perhaps the best story of Mike's life also began in a newsroom, where he met Mary, also a journalist, in 1977. They married in 1979.

With a steely sense of right and wrong, Mike loved a spirited argument. He will also be remembered for his newsroom outbursts, his precise editing and his punny jokes, as well as his self-assurance. When asked once if he was ever eloquent, he replied, "I am always eloquent."

Visitation will be at Ruck Funeral Home in Towson on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, from 4 to 7 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, 740 N. Calvert St., Baltimore. Burial to follow at Druid Ridge Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Maryland ASPCA or supporting your local news media.