remembering Mike

Don & Austin made a sad trip to Sacramento, California this past weekend to grieve with family & friends on the passing of our friend, Mike. We learned by email while sitting in the O'Hare airport that Mike had a fatal skiing accident on May 31 in the Matterhorn mountains in California. We were stunned. He was only 54. Don met Mike when they worked together in the mid 1980's in Sacramento. Don knew Mike before he met me. Mike was an athletic, funny, smart guy. He spent his free time with his family hiking, skiing, climbing, swimming, camping . . . The list goes on. He traveled the world with Lise after they were first married. He could tell fantastic stories & they were all true. Three years ago Don & Austin accompanied him with his family (wife Lise & sons Bjoern & Leif) to Baja California for camping & surf. It was a trip that influenced Austin's life. Made him into an adventurer. This photo is of the guys with Bjoern (who is now 15; Leif is now 10) in Mexico (I did not take this photo or of Blackie.)




This is Blackie, Mike's dog. A stray that followed them around while on a previous trip to Mexico so they took him home with them. Blackie was with Mike when the accident happened & stayed by his side for hours until rescue arrived.



In 2005 Mike came to visit us.






These photos are from 1986. These guys always had a good time together.





I still can't believe he is gone . . .