Michael Alan Pierce

Michael “Mike” Alan Pierce, 52, of Berkeley, CA on February 20th launched off a ski mountain into the astral plane in Tahoe. He died on February 21, 2026, in Reno, NV.

Born in New Jersey, Mike graduated from Christian Brothers Academy in Middletown and the University of Vermont. After graduation, he moved to Lake Tahoe for 4 years, meeting his partner for life and cementing his commitment to the West Coast, while never forgetting his Jersey roots.

The majority of Mike’s career was spent in the hospitality industry. His early career included time at Sociale, followed by nearly a decade as a co-owner of Maverick restaurant in San Francisco, where Mike became well known for his junk-food wine pairing classes. He was featured on season 8 of the television show “Check, Please! Bay Area”. He was a co-founder of Oakland Spirits Company, helping launch the much loved Sea Gin. Post-pandemic, he leveraged his extensive background as a recruiter at Willow Tree. Most recently, Mike was a General Manager at Bon Appetit. Outside of work, Mike shared his expertise as an event chair for 16 years at Foodwise (formerly CUESA).

Mike could walk into a room of 15 strangers, and within thirty minutes have everyone’s name memorized, as well as basic facts about each person. He felt comfortable in any environment, and much more importantly, made those around him feel instantly at ease, even if meeting for the first time. He was able to find a connection with anyone he encountered. Mike’s hospitality was a natural gift, as well as his ability to keep dozens of simultaneous tasks straight in his head, never becoming flustered or overwhelmed. He thrived in these kinds of settings.

Mike was a member of multiple hockey’s teams, most notably the Kingfish, where he played with passion and zeal. He was a deep lover of music, with an eclectic playlist. As a UVM student in the mid-90s, he was an early Phish fan, following them around Europe after graduation. Mike will be remembered as a friend to all and someone who loved to throw a party. He is survived by his loving wife of 22 years, and leaves behind two beloved daughters, as well as a large extended family. He was preceded in death by his mother.