Joe Healey, ex-owner of popular Miami Springs bar and UM superfan, dies at 79

The back patio at Bryson’s Irish Pub in Virginia Gardens was packed Tuesday night with folks all decked out in their University of Miami-clad green and orange colors. And for good reason.

They were there to honor one of the most die-hard University of Miami fans you would ever meet — Joe Healey.

The longtime owner of the appropriately named Hurricane Bar and Grill in Miami Springs died April 28 at the age of 79 from congestive heart failure. On this evening, a big crowd turned out for a celebration of life event to honor someone beloved not only by the local community but many inside UM circles as well.

“It’s just really heartwarming to see all of these people here today and it just shows how much Joe was loved by so many,” said his widow, Linda Healey, who was married to Joe for 42 years. “He was just the kind of guy that would basically give you the shirt right off his back if you asked for it. And did he ever love his Hurricanes. He always wore green and orange all the time, but being the true Irishman as well, he also loved Notre Dame.”

And what did he do when UM and Notre Dame would square off?

Healey giggled and smiled, “I guess he would just root for a good game, but in the end it was always about the Canes. He had all of these little sayings and his favorite one was, ‘If you weren’t Irish, what would you be? Ashamed.’ ”

The Healeys opened the Hurricane Bar and Grill in 1988. It would become the No. 1 watering hole in Miami Springs for the next 28 years before they sold it in 2016. During that time “the Cane” became famous for its “Hurricane Steaks” and one of the go-to places for many UM coaches and players.

Among the many names that dropped in at one time or another, according to Healey, included former UM coaches Don Soldinger and Art Kehoe, former players such as Steve Walsh, Ken Dorsey and current University of Miami head coach Mario Cristobal. Former UM great and NFL Hall of Famer Ted Hendricks was very close to the Healeys and a frequent regular before moving to Chicago.

But Joe and Linda were more than just fans. They would regularly cater numerous UM football events including the annual dinner for incoming freshman players, rolling in tray after tray of their Hurricane steaks.

“During football season, that bar was always packed, especially for the Canes games, you couldn’t find a seat,” said longtime UM season-ticket holder and Miami Springs resident Eli Munoz, who then cracked a wry smile. “And you didn’t dare walk in there wearing colors from the other team, believe me, you might have trouble getting a beer.”

Munoz would be one to know. Not only are he and his wife, Connie Brandenburg, longtime UM supporters but travel to many of the Canes road games as well.

“I always enjoyed his company, and we used to tailgate with him at all Canes home games,” said Munoz. “Once he got older, he would just show up to tailgate at the stadium with us and then head back to the bar when we went inside to the game. Then when the game was over, it was back to the Cane to keep the after-party going. Joe was really something. He could basically walk into any bar and meet somebody and they would become his friend very quickly.”

Healey was born in Dearborn, Michigan, in 1943 and served in the U.S. Army, including a tour of duty in Vietnam. He was a member of the American Legion, the Miami Touchdown Club and the South Florida Emerald Society. He is survived by Linda and his three nephews, Brendan, Patrick and Daniel.

“The greatest guy ever,” said Charlie Green, longtime softball and football coach at Miami Springs High School. “Joe would take all of the football coaches here at Springs to the University of Miami breakfast each year to meet their coaches and staff and I’ll never forget those Friday nights when all of our coaches would head over to the Cane and he and Linda would feed us wings on the house until we couldn’t eat anymore. Generous beyond belief.”

This story was originally published May 12, 2022 at 12:33 PM.