Michael Lawrence Libby passed away on September 16, 2026 at the age of 61 after a five-year journey with cancer. He was husband to Karen Leland Libby, father to Ivery (Ivy) Libby and John (Jack) Libby, brother to Mary Libby-Plotkin (Lowell), Lorraine Libby Laird (Ben), and Lawrence Libby, Jr. (Kim). He was uncle to nine nieces and nephews and eight great-nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Lawrence Libby and Violet Tonetta Libby, and his sister Carol Libby Best (Lauren).

A longstanding humanist, Michael identified with George Bernard Shaw’s words:

I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can… I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no 'brief candle' to me. It is a sort of splendid torch, which I have got hold of for a moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.

Michael grew up playing youth hockey in Royal Oak, Michigan, graduating from Kimball High School in 1982. He studied fine art photography at Wayne State University and first taught art at Dever Elementary in Chicago, where he earned his Master of Education at Loyola University. He moved to Fairbanks, Alaska where he taught photography at Lathrop High School and completed a certificate in Northern Studies: History of Alaska at University of Alaska. In 1999 he moved to TASIS England, just outside of London, where he taught art, theatre and photography and began a series of 13 summers as art teacher and administrator at TASIS Switzerland. Michael returned to Michigan in 2006, where he taught art, photography and theatre at The Leelanau School, earned a certificate in Special Education at Ferris State, and joined TBAISD/Northwest Education Services.

Along the way, Michael was a Civil War Reenactment Guide at Fort Wayne, a photographer for the Detroit Historical Museum, and a Red Wings ticket sales agent-he once played hockey in Joe Lewis Arena. He was King of the Michigan Renaissance Fair. In Chicago, he worked as a mystery theatre performer and trained at Second City Improv. He later became a 15-year member of Good On Paper Improv Troupe, performing at many locations, including the Traverse City Comedy Festival. He taught music at Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music, and later was a performer and photographer for over ten years with the Great Indoor Folk Festival. He was a 2013 founding member of STRUM- the Society of Traverse Region Ukulele Musicians, and assistant teacher of ukulele at the Grand Traverse Senior Center. He led Ukulele Night at the Workshop Brewery and hosted STRUM annually at Porch Fest.

Michael performed with the Fairbanks Alaska Drama Association, the Leelanau Players, the Gutter Snipe Theatre, and Hearsay Storytelling at the Alluvian. He was radio show host for Celtic Air at Alaska’s KUAC Public Radio and The American Hour Radio Show in London, England. He took theatre workshops at Shakespeare’s Globe and The National Theatre in London and taught stage combat to Karen’s Shakespeare students. He was a television series troupe actor for Warner Brothers’ The New Adventures of Robin Hood, filmed in Lithuania. He participated in a service trip to Romanian orphanages with TASIS Serves.

Michael was a volunteer for Grand Traverse Industries, Jubilee House, Safe Harbor Community Meals, and volunteer photographer for Planned Parenthood, Grand Traverse Hockey Association, and The Children’s House. He was a board member and contributing artist for Arts for All and had numerous art pieces displayed at Crooked Tree Arts Center. Michael crafted natural stone jewelry for his side business, Raw Stonz.

Throughout his life, Michael traveled to Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Lithuania, Romania, Japan, and Hong Kong. With his own hands and ingenuity he renovated and lived in both a canal boat on the River Thames near London and a 19th century house in a British seaside town just across the Bristol Channel from Wales. Back home in Michigan, he enjoyed playing guitar, banjo, and ukulele; family genealogy research; photography; theatre and improv; playing men’s hockey league and assistant coaching and refereeing for Jack’s teams; rock hounding with Ivy; jewelry making; and outdoor activities, especially kayaking. In Michael’s life, there were no dull moments. He never knew boredom.

Michael was a devoted spouse, dad, son, brother, uncle, cousin, teacher, colleague, and friend. He was loved by multitudes for his generous spirit, boundless energy, relentlessly positive attitude, but most of all, for making them laugh.

A Memorial Reception will take place Saturday, October 24, 2026 at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, 3-6pm, with time for sharing words scheduled for 5pm. All are welcome.

Donations in honor of Michael are suggested to Grand Traverse Industries.