Mike McGuire passed away
Wednesday, June 26, 2018, succumbing to a devastatingly rapid recurrence of a
cancer previously briefly in remission. He was comfortable in the presence of Sandi
and family at the Emerald Cottage, where he and Sandi were living after their
home was lost in the Tubbs Fire last October.
Mike had been a member of the
Santa Rosa Cycling Club since July 2006. Mike, in his typical style, participated reliably,
competently, enthusiastically and constructively and with abiding good humor
and wit.
The list of his contributions
and achievements is long: ride leader; multiyear WCC Monte Rio rest stop crew
chief; club historian, two term Board member, instigator and lead in twice a
year roadside clean up.
Shortly after joining the
Club, he completed the required brevet rides to qualify for and compete in the
infamously grueling Paris-Brest-Paris ride, a 1200 km (750 mile) event to be
completed in a maximum of 90 hours. His account of the experience can be found
here (link to December 2007 SRCC Club Newsletter).
In addition to his cycling
accomplishments, Mike was an avid runner and active member of the Empire
Runners of Sonoma County, where he served as the club’s President and entered
into its Hall of Fame. In 2015, at age
70, he qualified for the Boston Marathon and finished in a time that was the
age graded equivalent of 3:02, which to quote Greg Durbin, who also ran that
year, “an impressive achievement.” See HERE for a link to a tribute by Empire Runners.
Mike was an educator by
profession working initially as a teacher at Herbert Slater Middle School and later
as Principal for Hidden Valley Elementary. He was extremely well suited
for the profession. Mike was endlessly
curious with a sharp, quickly analytic mind and broad ranging interests. He had
strong sense of history. He was a talented photographer, an effective writer and
a skilled and engaging raconteur.
Mike emanated good humor and
positive energy. Consistently civil and
respectful, he was nevertheless candid and forthright of his observations and
opinions. I remember the first ride I
was on that he led, his concluding admonishment at his pre-ride briefing: “Don’t do anything
stupid”, an admonishment I have frequently repeated, with attribution.
I had gotten to know better
Mike over the past couple of years. We
swapped buying beers at Club meetings. We enjoyed conversations about books
we’d read, our families, children and grandchildren.
As the disease took firmer
hold I visited him frequently at the hospital and later at home. Even then, when I saw him last, just a week before he died, the sparkle was
in his eye and his trademark smile was on his lips.
I believe I speak for those
who knew him; many probably better than I did, when I say that he leaves behind
people who held him in great esteem and abiding affection. He was a positive force. He approached his end with great dignity and
courage. He will be very much missed.
Our thoughts go out to his
wife, Sandi, his daughter, Molly and son Sean, his brother and his
grandchildren.
I want to thank others who
have expressed their thoughts about Mike, and from whose comments I have
borrowed freely: Karen Thompson, Doug Simon, Greg Durbin (especially for
details on PBP), Liz Sinna and others, including Larry Meredith of the
Empire Runners.
The family has announced a
memorial service for Mike at 1:00 PM Sunday, August 5, 2018 at Daniel’s Chapel of the Roses, 1225 Sonoma
Avenue, Santa Rosa. The service will be
followed by a reception at the Friedman Center 4676 Mayette Ave. Santa Rosa. His obituary can be found HERE.
Tom Abrams
Note: SRCC is planning a memorial ride in honor of Mike. Details will be announced soon.
