Mike died Jan. 19, 2011, in Cary, N.C., of complications following surgery.
Born in Charlotte, he came to Princeton from John. R. Buchtel High School. At Princeton he majored in biology, played football freshman and sophomore years, and was a member of the Schools and Scholarship and Campus Fund Drive committees. He ate at Cap and Gown and roomed senior year with Dave Fisher, Ken Moyle, and Steve Heller.
After Princeton, Mike served in Army Intelligence then joined the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., where he held management positions for 25 years. He then pursued his lifelong dream of teaching. After earning a master’s degree in education from Loyola University Maryland and a teaching certificate from Towson State, Mike was an honors science teacher in Baltimore, inspiring students and colleagues with his creative and effective methods until he retired in 2005.
An avid reader his entire life, Mike cherished his time sailing the Chesapeake Bay with his wife, Pat. Mike and Pat moved to Cary in 2007, where Mike enjoyed time gardening, leading his homeowners’ board and being a grandpa.
Mike is survived by Pat; daughter Julie Gernatt; sons Jim and Jack and their spouses; eight grandchildren; and his sisters, Nancy and Maureen.