Michael Stickley

Michael was born in Lion’s Gate Hospital, North Vancouver on August 12,1969 and while his parents, Lynda Jordan (nee Patterson) and Robert Stickley named him Robert Michael he has always been Michael, Mike, or Stix to his many friends, colleagues and students.

Michael moved to Burnaby in the early 1980’s with his Mother and Sister (Marnie) and graduated as Valedictorian from Burnaby Central Secondary in 1987. Michael attended Simon Fraser University where he completed his BBA at Beedie School of Business. Through a summer co- op placement Michael discovered his passion for helping others to learn. After completing his business degree, he finished PDP and completed his M.A. Education from San Diego State University.

Michael met his wife Susan in 1993 while they were both at SFU. They were partners in everything from the beginning. Training and racing in triathlons, completing their M.A.’s and most important to both, raising their family. Michael made his family a priority and being a Dad was his proudest accomplishment. If you knew Michael, you knew how immensely proud he was of his three daughters.

While completing his M.A. Michael embarked on a 25 year plus career in education in the Surrey School District. Michael had the opportunity to work in a variety of classrooms and schools. His career started at William Beagle and led to teaching positions at Len Shepherd and Fraser Heights Secondary schools. He was the Vice Principal at Fleetwood Park and Guildford Park and his final position was Principal at Frank Hurt Secondary. Mike was incredibly proud of every school he worked. This included the students, staff, support staff and the school community. He was always grateful for the leadership and support he had early in his career and the friendships with colleagues. One of his greatest joys was seeing former students or connecting with them online.

Those who know him, know that Michael loved sports. As a teacher he loved to coach both at school and in the community. Although he coached multiple sports teams at every school, when his daughters were old enough, he switched to coaching them in community sports. A long-time coach at Surrey United Soccer Club, Michael coached over 15 teams during regular and summer seasons. And if he couldn’t coach, he was always there cheering his daughters on whether it was basketball, swim club, synchronized swimming, field hockey, or highland dance. He was a hands-on Dad who could help with shin guards, hockey sticks, and could even do a mean bun for a dance competition.

An athlete himself, Michael loved triathlons and they were a family event. He completed many olympic distance races and one of his fondest achievements was completing the Penticton Challenge in 2015 and then the Calgary Ironman 70.3 in 2019. Mike was training for another Ironman 70.3 in the spring of 2021 when he was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a terminal brain cancer. He met that new physical, mental and emotional challenge with everything he had put into his triathlon training and continued to swim, bike and run up until the fall of 2024.

Remaining to cherish Michael’s memory are his wife, Susan and daughters Seanne, Mady and Jordan with husband Aidan. His Mother, Lynda, and sister Marnie with husband Bram and their children Nina and Nadav. Michael is predeceased by his much-loved father by choice Eric Jordan.

Michael will be remembered by his extended family in Ontario and all of the family he made along the way in the community.

The family would like to thank the staff and volunteers at Langley Hospice Residence for their kindness and care.

Michael celebrated with family and friends at his own living memorial on April 5. The family wish to thank everyone who attended the event and to the many more who have reached out in the time since. If you have more Stickley Stories to share they would love to hear them.

If you would like to make a memorial donation in Michael’s name, we would encourage you to consider one of the many worthy causes for cancer.