January 19, 2002, Los Angeles, CA
Resigned Priest Mike Sims died on Saturday January 19, 2002 of a pulmonary embolism, after battling with cancer for several months. Mike was ordained for the Diocese of Des Moine, Iowa in 1974, and was pastor at St. Boniface in Westphalia. After leaving active ministry, Mike earned a Master's Degree in Social Work from California State Long Beach and went on to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. He worked for St. Mary Medical Center, Martin Luther King, Jr. Medical Center, and, until his final illness, for Los Angeles County Mental Health.
Mike was in an 18-year committed relationship with Dayne Navarro, which provided the personal love and companionship Mike needed and valued. Together Mike and Dayne took a leadership role in Dignity, L.A. Mike was a supporter of CORPUS and he still maintained ties to his Jesu Caritas group in Des Moines. All who knew Mike were impressed by his gentleness, sincerity, and compassion, especially for the downtrodden of society. We will miss him and we look forward to seeing him again in the Resurrection.