— from Shannon Hudson —
Michael William Schifsky lived life by his own rules! He passed away on February 3, 2017 at the age of 74.
Mike was born and raised in Berkeley, CA. After working in the early semi-conductor industry, he and his family moved to Orcas in 1972. He dabbled in many fields, but spent most of his years on the island working as the manager of Eastsound Water.
Mike was never without a project. He could usually be found tinkering with an engine or a wooden boat, or engrossed in one of his many hobbies. Most recently, he had acquired an interest in cooking and fashioned himself quite a baker. Many people enjoyed sampling the fruit of his labor at local potlucks or with a cup of coffee and a good book.
Mostly, Mike was a man who loved life. He had an infectious laugh and smiled broadly, always staying solidly grounded through good times and adversity. He was happiest sitting by his pond surrounded by the people he loved. Mike was a wonderfully patient grandfather and took pride in teaching this grandchildren many new skills. He was a kind, warm, devoted and much loved husband and father.
Mike is survived by his wife Thea Patten, daughters Shannon (Schifsky) Hudson and husband John and Michele (Schifsky) Shane and husband Steve, and his grandchildren Ian, Erik, Sylvie, and Mack.
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During years past, it seems that Orcas would experience a burst in population every ten years as a new group of folks from elsewhere moved to the island. Mike Schifsky was one of the group which included me, Jim Klauder, Duff Andrews and so forth, that migrated here in the ’70s. We raised our kids, worked our buns off to pay the bills, and managed to mature as young adults.
With Mike’s passing and that of Bob Vietzke recently, I was reminded again that we are all mortal and can never know when our time is coming.
I recently visited friends on the east coast with whom I went to college and had a great visit, reminiscing about those carefree times, and reflecting on how those events and friendships shaped who I am today.
And so it is with Mike. We shared experiences as our kids grew and we watched endless sporting events. As I recall, my son Chris, and Mike’s daughter Michele were in the same class. Though our paths did not cross much in recent years, I would see him at the market and ask of him, “What’s new!”
I am reflecting on this because we all get caught up in our routines and forget our past too easily. Hearing of Mike’s passing, I am frustrated that I did not get to say goodbye. Perhaps someday we will meet again, across the Rainbow Bridge. God bless you, Mike Schifsky !!
We love that he had such a great influence on our grands….they loved him, as we did, and we see his presence in his daughter, Michele. We wish we had known him better, but know his life was an inspiration to our family. Blessings..