Mike G. McKinnon

Mar 26, 1948 -

Sep 9, 2023

Mike G. McKinnon died peacefully at home, on his own terms, eight months after a glioblastoma diagnosis. He was the eldest of 11 children born in Anchorage, Alaska, to Phyllis and Phil McKinnon. Early on, Mike worked a paper route to help family finances and, as a teen, joined his dad on hunting trips in the Mat-Su Valley. If Phil was drinking, these could turn into amusing escapades. Once, while still clad in muddy clothes, they bought tickets to what they thought would be a movie. Instead, it was a Miss Alaska pageant. "Way better than campfire stories," they agreed!

Despite many days skipping school to ski at Alyeska, Mike graduated from West High in 1966. Even in high school, he was known to be a gentleman, fun and safe for women to be around. Having seven sisters can do that. Mike enlisted in the Marines in June 1967. He served one combat tour in Vietnam, working in remote areas near the DMZ. He married his first wife Lynn Tapscott and had two sons, Erik in 1970, and Greg in 1978. Mike was deeply affected by Erik's diagnosis of childhood leukemia and its lifelong aftermath.

Mike worked as a Teamster during the pipeline years and attended college on the GI bill, graduating from UC Santa Cruz in 1979 with degrees in environmental studies and political science. He moved to Juneau and began work with the State of Alaska, mostly at the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, where he eventually served as Director of Statewide Planning. Mike spoke fondly of folks who mentored him during his early career and, in turn, he mentored many others.

Besides his day job, Mike taught the University of Alaska Southeast's popular scuba diving courses in the '80s and '90s. Diving was the link through which he met and, in 1988, married his soul mate Ellen Fritts. It was also during this time that Mike sought counseling to address his Vietnam demons. Having been told he was just using alcohol to anesthetize himself, Mike quit cold turkey in his early 40s and lived a much happier life. His dad had done the same.

Others appreciated Mike's thoughtful and thought-provoking conversations. He could be generous to a fault and was well-known to fundraisers including for political campaigns. Mike once said "Not everyone, in fact hardly anyone, is the political junkie I am!"

After retiring from the State, Mike started a small consulting business. His work, including for the Denali Commission, took him to every corner of Alaska. In later years, Mike couldn't appear in any Alaskan or West Coast hub airport without someone waving him down to say hello or thank him.

Mike and Ellen were perfectly suited as partners. They spent countless hours boating, fishing, deer hunting and crab diving in Southeast Alaska. They also enjoyed travelling overseas. Pushing the envelope on adventure travel was core to their life together and resulted in many unique experiences. Once, while travelling in Central America in the 80s, Mike was approached to do clandestine dive operations, an "opportunity" Ellen was glad he declined. Another time, having recently completed whitewater guide school, Mike rowed the big rapids in the Grand Canyon after the trip leader was badly injured.

In 2015, Mike and Ellen sold their Alaska home, bought a pop-up truck camper, and spent the next two years travelling the West, seeking an inspiring landscape in which to re-settle. After buying a condo in Oregon, they continued to spend part of each year out hiking, camping and sampling Dutch oven recipes.

Mike is survived by his wife, Ellen Fritts; sons, Erik and Greg; granddaughter, Juneau; five sisters; two brothers; several siblings-in-law; and many nieces, nephews and their kids. Ellen can be reached at P.O. Box 753, Redmond, OR 97756. No services are planned. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Mike G. McKinnon to support the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program general support fund at the University of Alaska Foundation. Contributions may be made online at engage.alaska.edu; please note "In Memory of Mike McKinnon."