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Stephen Michael Corlett was born to Russell and Frances Corlett on November 15th, 1949, and grew up with his younger brother John in the small rural suburb of Novelty, Ohio. A natural storyteller, Mike would recount his Americana upbringing with the glowing, wry observation of Jean Shepherd: midwestern winters spent digging cars out of snowdrifts and summers dodging baseballs while playing second base for the little league Tigers. Bright from a young age, Mike went on to attend Northwestern University in Chicago – and ever-eager for information, he and his friends formed a Jeopardy club; his habit of watching Art Fleming, Alex Trebek, and Ken Jennings every night at 6 p.m. would last for the rest of his life.Â
Mike met his future wife Deirdre while working in California as the Director of Planning for Orange County Transit, and the couple married on March 1st, 1980. Together they shared 43 years of love, travel, and an ever-expanding record collection. (Jim Steinman, James Taylor, Moody Blues and more.) After completing his Master’s of Computer Science at the University of New Mexico, Mike founded Planning Technologies, and for over 20 years he worked with multiple government agencies throughout the southwest on computer programming and transportation projects from the quiet comfort of the little family’s Corrales home. Their son Ryan was born on April 12th, 1993, and was fostered with this same passion for music, learning and exploring the world. Together they saw the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii, and the breathtaking landscapes of the American Southwest – music and audiobooks for travel ever-present in the family car, or in Ryan’s backpack.Â
Mike brought to everyone who knew him a casual fascination for exploring the world – its contemporary, its history, its mountains, its mechanisms, and of course its useless facts. Moreover, he shared an openness for the people within it, and the strength of his presence welcomed anyone who spent time with him. Now we feel the absence of his fortitude and wit; of everything we did not get to share with him that would have delighted him to learn; of everything he did not get the chance to share with us in turn.
Mike Corlett passed quietly in his home on Nov. 9th, 2023, surrounded by the loving care of his son Ryan, his wife Deirdre, his brother John, his friend Anubhav, and his beloved dog Molly. A celebration of his life was held in December by his family and close friends.
An exceptional father and a devoted husband. Thank you, Mike, for everything.