Michael Patrick McDade

December 7, 1944 - February 17, 2022

Posted

Michael Patrick McDade passed away on Feb. 17, 2022, at the Jefferson Healthcare Medical Center, in his hometown of Port Townsend, Washington. He was born on Dec. 7, 1944, to William Joseph and Helen Gertrude McDade in Waynesville, North Carolina. He was raised in Miami, Florida.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents and brother Bill McDade. He is survived by his wife Catherine Conner McDade of 33 years; sister Madeline Shepherd of Canton, N.C.; daughter Elissa McDade (Victoria Dale) of Arlington, Virginia; son Patrick McDade of Dallas, Texas; grandchildren, Ashley, Joshua, Logan, Mariela and Diego; nieces and nephews, Donna Shepherd; Amy Goodman; Joel Goodman (Kelley); Paul Goodman; Stephanie Goodman (Joshua Sylce); a great-nephew, Conner and great-niece, Madison (parents Joel and Kelley).

Mike served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam conflict and was stationed in Cam Ranh Bay working in aviation electronics.

Mike had a diverse and interesting career that followed his interests. He began working in computer engineering which included designing and developing computers for the University of Arizona’s Steward Observatory and the Kitt Peak National Observatory. He partnered in a business which designed factory data collection hardware, employed 50 people, and eventually was sold to a larger organization. Mike was in engineering sales for several years in the greater Los Angeles area. Southern California offered Mike and Cathi an opportunity to enjoy their sailboat and open a unique coffee business in Pasadena. When Mike and Cathi moved to Napa, Calif., he was ready for a new focus and became an expert coffee roaster. After pursuing a dream of owning acreage, he and Cathi moved to Browns Valley, Calif. where Mike began a new career as a property tax analyst for Colusa County, Calif. and then for the State Board of Equalization, where he retired in 2012.

A creative man, Mike’s passions and love of sailing, art, music, and history eventually led he and Cathi to retire in Port Townsend.

A family graveside service will be held on Feb. 25. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Mike to the Northwest Maritime Center https://nwmaritime.org/give-to-nwmc/ or the Jefferson Healthcare Foundation, 1240 W. Sims Way, Box 220, Port Townsend, WA, 98368; https://www.jeffersonhealthcarefoundation.org/donate.html.