Michael Mike Roy Ogilvie

Michael R Ogilvie, loving husband, father and friend, peacefully left us, bound for heaven and surrounded by love on January 29, 2013. Born February 15, 1935, he was nearly 78 years old. Mike grew up in Kirkland, WA, the youngest son of six children to parents Minnie & Robert Ogilvie. He attended Lake Washington High School and Seattle University, where he graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1961.

Mike married his first and only true love, Gail Tupper, in 1956. During 56 years of marriage they raised three children, Mike, Scott and Chris. Mike pursued his passions for sailing, water skiing, flying model airplanes and many mechanical and electrical engineering projects for family and friends. Ever the patriarch, Mike’s zest for life was infectious, pulling the whole family along for the ride.

Mike worked at the Boeing Company for 35 years until retirement in 1995 at age 60. He loved his work and was proud of his design work on the 737 & 757 electrical systems, among numerous accomplishments. He is still remembered fondly at Boeing as a no-nonsense, passionate, brilliant, professional engineer.

Among his many passions, boating (and related adventures) stood out. It started with a boat that he built for his young family. Later, family and friends spent summers camping and water skiing on Banks Lake. Moving to sailboats, Mike raced in Puget Sound, culminating with a win in the Swiftsure race. He loved sailing vacations with family and friends, venturing as far away as the Caribbean and Tahiti. But his favorite spots were Desolation Sound and Princess Louisa Inlet in Canada, where he enjoyed many summers on the boat.

During 35 years as a member of the Meydenbauer Bay Yacht Club, Mike helped start the youth sailing program and designed and built the yacht club’s dinghy hoist, among many other projects. Mike’s brilliant mind never stopped working. He loved to invent things that needed inventing and to build things that needed building. He worked tirelessly with friends on their boat and computer projects, happily sharing his time and expertise.

Mike is survived by his wife, Gail, children Scott and Chris and their spouses Sheri and Jon, and grandchildren Daniel, Emma, Jack, Hannah and Jessica.

A celebration of Mike’s life will be held on Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 1:30 p.m. at Sunset Hills Funeral Home, 1215 145th Place SE, Bellevue, WA 98007. In lieu of flowers, remembrances are suggested to Meydenbauer Yacht Club Youth Sailing Program, P.O. Box 863, Bellevue, WA 98009.