Mike Cleary

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Michael Patrick Cleary was educated by first the Sisters of Mercy and the Sisters of St. Joseph. Then, in order, by C.S.C. priests, Dominicans and finally Benedictine Monks. After a successful grammar school career as an altar boy, he attended a prep seminary on the Notre Dame campus. It was there, in an instant, watching the coeds from St. Mary's College pass their school, that he realized he was destined for less holy pursuits.

After serving in the Army as a Russian translator (A job attained thanks to his Latin education.), he got a job at a Petaluma radio station as a janitor. Eventually, he worked his way to doing on-air work. For the next five years, he gathered broadcast experience in Honolulu, Sacramento and San Diego. In 1966, he was hired to host a midday show on KYA, a successful Top Forty station in San Francisco. Hoping to learn more than playing Beatles' records, he tried his hand at talk radio and hosting a children's TV show.

In 1970, he was hired by KNBR, the NBC-owned station in San Francisco, to host the midday show. He stayed 25 years, the last 17 as co-host of the morning show with his partner, Frank Dill. Frank and Mike in the Morning was one of the highest rated morning shows in the Bay Area for all of its run. In 1995, he and his wife, Mary Ann, along with another couple who were also NBC alums hosted and produced a syndicated radio show called "The Food and Travel Enthusiasts." It was broadcast on several Northern California radio stations. In 2007, he was inducted into the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame.

With full time broadcasting behind him, Mike Cleary decided to try his hand at writing. "Spiritual Mischief" was the result of his labors. That was followed by a second, thankfully shorter novel titled "Dick Clark Died Today." Thus began "The Banter Series." Many of the same characters became part of his third novel "The White Dinner Jacket," and now his fourth novel "The Heart of Everything." He is currently working on the fourth in that series.

The Clearys, who are inseparable, love to travel and dine. They recently gave up long distance running which included a couple of marathons and several half-marathons for long distance walking. Since then, they have walked around the island of Manhattan and recently hiked the Grouse Grind in Vancouver. As regards the latter, the challenge was such that they learned it was possible to feel accomplished and stupid at the same time.