I met Mike and family when I was somewhat of a child. But I will never ever forget the sense of peace that I had when I was in his presence. Mike was the type of person that one just wants to be around. One gets the sense that there is a lot to be learned from him. I tried to spend as much time around him as I could whenever he was near and I gained something inexplicable. So, Mike - thank you for the peace of mind that you gave me during my tumultuous teen-age years. Family - I am sorry for your loss. I know you are blessed to have spent your lives with him in it.

To all of Mike's family and friends - 
I did not get the chance to spend a lot of time with Mike, but in reputation alone, he was an influence on me.
I think it was May 2002 at Estes Park:
We climbed Old Man Mountain as a bunch of amateurs. At the Summit, I turned around and Mike was standing there like he had always been there and was always supposed to be there.  Note: Mike did not climb with us ?- he just ?""appeared?"" at the Summit out of nowhere.
I introduced myself to Mike at the Base Camp.  I didn?'t know who he was, but as I looked at him I saw eyes that looked Deep within my mind (not at me or through me).
Something good comes from all of life's experiences.

Mike Donahue
When we experience others, we usually see great teacher qualities in the individuals that we admire. Of the many things I learned from Mike, these two famous quotes stand out:
?""You can never go to slow on the first part of an expedition.?""
And
?""When I speak I do not know what I am going to say?""
But Mike?'s greatness and impact on this world was that he lived in a parallel universe, the universe of wisdom, integrity, humor, humility, and compassion. Anyone who has walked in the mountains with Mike has experienced these parallel universes. If a Nobel Prize for ?""Educator of the Year?"" existed, Mike would be the hands-down winner. To educate means to draw out the gifts that others possess inside themselves. 
Being in Mike?'s presence makes you feel and think wonderful things. It requires no effort on my part and his presence with me is eternal!!!!  
""In Love""
Tom McMullen

To Mikes Family?.. 
What a wonderful beautiful positive person?.and what a wonderful beautiful positive people you are?.I?'ve never met a Donahue whom I didn?'t admire...
I?'ve only befriended Mike since in 97?'?. I suppose I?'m a bit of a newcomer?.but as any one who has ever met him would agree ?- it never felt that way.  He was like a pair of old slippers or a mug of warm soup?.always made you feel right at home?..
And yet he was extraordinary?.. such a very positive being?.influencing so many of us so deeply and so positively?..
His words and thinking touching our very core?. almost awakening a part of us?..motivating us?.a very positive and thoughtful part of us ...and so he became part of us?..and in a sense he is not gone or sleeping?.but is inside us all ?.shining brightly in our daily thoughts and living on in our actions?.continuing to have a positive effect on the world?.changing it one person at a time?... one of his 101 goals in life?..congratulations Mike ?- you Grand Pubah!... you?'re still doing it!  
Thank you Mikes Family and Friends ?.for I know it takes a village?. you all took part as well?..and I will forever be grateful?.
With lots and lots of Lovelovelove
Thea Goldin Smith
?..he was the speaker at our wedding?.and when asked what made him FALL in love?.he spoke of things?.which made him ?""Climb UP into Love?""?.

Dear Peggy and Family.  I'm not going to offer condolescences for I'm sure you had plenty of those.  Instead I'm going to tell you how I saw Mike and what he taught me about the world and myself.  
Mike to me lived simply and in living simply was very attuned to the world around him. He taught me to appreciate the beauty of nature and how it renews itself and in the renewing the recognition that things never truly die but go on into the future. Mike's words helped me make peace with the loss of my father. 
Mike accepted the challenge and rigors of guiding expeditions and mountain climbing and knew that these events were team events  to achieve the expedition's objective the the team had to perform  near flawlessly.  As a result, Mike taught me that being on a team means when your on belay you have made a solemn promise to those you are climbing with to catch them and back them up if they fall. Thinking about Mike's passing, I realize that even now he still on belay.
Finally Mike said he fell many times. He and Rolf were able to incorporate the ""Art of Falling Down Trying"" into Thinking Expeditions and School for Innovators.  So now I don't fear falling anymore, what I fear is not trying.
Let me end by simply saying thanks Peggy and family for sharing Mike with all of us and may God be with you always.

Peggy, Nim, and Tofer . . .
Mike is someone I often think of when my life gets too hurried . . . he taught about the trees that had been present for so many years . . . and how even after the fires, they remained for many many years . . . for me, this has taught me to remember what is important, for even though fires may blaze brilliantly and hotly, there are more steady and important things in life. 
Another lesson I learned from Mike reinforced something I already knew, but the reinforcement was meaningful to me.  That was to value family and never underestimate what one is capable of.  This was particularly valuable to me when Mike introduced me to his dear mother and she and I went hiking for a day.  What an amazing woman and how wonderful it was to see the mountains through her eyes.  I could see how Mike had developed such a fondness for the area.  And I was reminded that seeing the world through the eyes of others (particularly our parents) is a valuable experience.  Since this time, my mother has completed her journey on this planet.  Being able to value her even more and see through her eyes is something I will always treasure. 
My thoughts are with you all . . .

We knew Mike for only a short time, but we were so happy to have had the privilege of meeting him and absorbing a tiny bit of his abundant goodness. Our daughter Bobbi is married to his nephew Brendan, so we are thrilled that some of our grandchildren will have a wee bit of Mike's blood in their veins. We are so glad that B&B's first son is named after Uncle Mike! We feel that he made a huge difference in many lives during his sojourn on this earth. May it comfort his family to know that he was much appreciated.

Dear Peggy, I'm sorry for your struggles and loss. I know that the last several years have been dificult. Please know that I'm here for you and will keep you and your family in my prayers.
much Love,
Cindy Elkins

OBITUARY

Mike Donahue

May 2, 1946 – November 16, 2005

Allnutt Funeral & Cremation - Macy

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