Michael David Ginder, DDS, age 48 of Athens Ohio, passed away on Thursday, August 16, 2018 surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with lung cancer. Mike had a passion for living an extremely healthy life, so this diagnosis was unbelievable to all who knew him.

Mike was born in Akron, Ohio on November 29, 1969 to David Ginder and Ruth Silvis Ginder. His family moved to Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania where he spent his formative years. His family returned to northeast Ohio (Hudson) when Mike was beginning his senior year in high school. He graduated from Western Reserve Academy in Hudson in 1988 and is a 1992 graduate of Ohio University with a Bachelor's of Science in Zoology. Mike knew he wanted to be a dentist since he was seven years old and proudly graduated from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry in 1996. Mike practiced in Wilmington, Delaware from 1996 until 2004 when he returned to Athens, Ohio to construct and open the Athens Dental Depot.

In 1996, Mike met and fell in love with Anne Cornwell, and in 2002 they welcomed son, William (Will) Leslie Ginder. Mike was a very involved father and spent countless hours with Will. In particular, he loved coaching and watching Will play baseball. Mike was a past commissioner and a coach for many years in the Athens Sandlot Baseball League and coach of Athens Attack Baseball Team. Mike and Will also loved attending The Ohio State University Buckeye football games and rarely missed a game. Being Will's father was the joy of his life.

At work, Mike was a perfectionist who spent countless hours continuing his education to provide the most up-to-date dental care to his patients. Dentistry was an art form to Mike, a professional passion that kept him continually striving for excellence. He aimed to provide the best for his patients and did so in a kind and caring manner with attention to detail. The high quality of his dentistry prompted patients to travel long distances for his individualized care. Mike was appointed to the Ohio State Dental Board by Governor John Kasich in 2016 and was also a member of the American Dental Association, the Ohio Dental Association, and the Hocking Valley Dental Association.

Mike loved the outdoors and being active. He had a lifelong love of golf and enjoyed biking the backroads of Athens County and farther with his friends. In 2014, he participated in the Palm 2 Palm Saving Limbs Cycle Tour, biking for three days across Texas. Mike was also an experienced pilot who loved jumping in his plane for a last minute adventure, taking advantage of rare open weekends to fly to a Buckeye game or a Cleveland sporting event with Will. He was a devoted member of St. Paul Catholic Church in Athens and was extremely proud of Will's confirmation this year. He supported The Athens Catholic Food Pantry and was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and Athens Symposiarch.

Mike is survived by Anne Cornwell, their son William Ginder, his parents of Hudson, Ohio, a brother Jeff Ginder (Jennifer) and nieces Caroline and Allison of Loveland, Ohio, a sister Karen Ginder and niece Abby Zielinski of Hudson, Ohio and a large Athens family, including R. Leslie Cornwell and Constance Cornwell, Kristin Cornwell and Robert Marrs, David Cornwell and Jennifer Messina Cornwell, Ava and Hayden Myers, Jack, Abby, and Ryan Cornwell, and Sydney, Camille, and Avery Marrs.

Mike is also survived by wonderful friends, many of whom were a great comfort to him during his illness. When Mike became ill suddenly and couldn't be in the office, his Ohio State Dental School classmates and area dentists came together to donate their services to cover his office. His dedicated, outstanding team at the Athens Dental Depot kept the office running in his absence and continued to provide the level of service that Mike's dental practice was known for. Many other friends brought meals, provided rides to and from doctor's appointments, and kept him company when he needed distraction. To his special friends who were always there for him, the family would like to extend their sincere thanks. He was forever grateful to all those that helped him during these last difficult months.

A funeral mass in his honor will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 25, 2018 at St. Paul Catholic Church in Athens, Ohio. For those who are not attending the mass, the family will receive visitors from 12:00-1:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 25, 2018 at St. Paul Catholic Church. A private family burial will follow in Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mike's honor can be made to The Athens Catholic Food Pantry, 141 Mill St., Athens, Ohio 45701 or the Friends of the Shelter Dogs, P.O. Box 576, Athens, Ohio 45701. Jagers and Sons Funeral Home is handling arrangements for Mike's service. Please share a memory, a note of condolence, or sign the online register book at www.jagersfuneralhome.com.