Michael Day (OW 1953)

MCS was informed by his wife Judith that Michael had sadly passed away on 12 March 2018 in Sarasota, Florida.

Judith kindly offered the school the following obituary for Mike:

Michael R. Day. 10 April 1935 to 12 March 2018

After leaving Magdalen College School in 1953, Mike did two years National Service in the RAF, but on the administration side as unfortunately, because of sinus problems, he was not allowed to fly. This was a disappointment as he had so enjoyed his flying experience with the CCF when at MCS.

In 1955 he went up to St John’s College, Oxford and, whilst at St John’s, he learned to row and enjoyed competing in Torpids and Eights. Mike graduated in 1959 with a BA in Chemistry. In 1959 he married Judith Willis, an alumni of Oxford High School and a nurse at the Radcliffe Infirmary now known as the John Radcliffe Hospital. They then moved to Welwyn Garden City for Mike to take up his employment with ICI Plastics Division. He initially worked on the technical side but soon ended up spending the majority of his 30-year career with the company on the commercial side.

In 1967 Mike and Judi, along with their three children, moved to the USA when he was transferred to ICI Americas for two years. He remained in the US for the rest of his career and became a citizen of the United States in 1977. His last position was as Director of the Colors and Fine Chemicals Division.

Mike spent part of his US career in Connecticut and San Francisco, but enjoyed most of it in Wilmington, Delaware, ICI Americas Headquarters. He retired in 1991 when he happily took up rowing again with the Wilmington Rowing Club, with whom he competed in many regattas.

In 2000 Mike and Judi moved to Sarasota, Florida and became founding members of the Sarasota County Rowing club. Mike continued to attend and participate in classes run by the Lifelong Learning Academy as he had in Wilmington. Shortly after moving, Mike and Judi were happy to welcome Peter Jones, a contemporary at MCS, and his wife Karin, when they decided to buy a home in Sarasota to escape the winters in England.

Latterly, Mike was increasingly troubled with Congestive Heart Failure but was still rowing up until seven months before he died.

As a tribute to Mike, the rowing club named a double scull after him, which Judi christened with champagne at his Celebration of Life on 4 April 2018 in Sarasota.