In Memoriam - Mike Gantz, Idaho AEYC Webmaster

Michael Kenyon Gantz passed away peacefully at McCall Memorial Hospital surrounded by family and friends on April 5, 2008 from ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease).

Mike was our webmaster from its beginning. He volunteered for several special projects; one was creating the original website for the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children. He used a laser beam and a dot on his forehead to guide the beam to a keyboard on his monitor that allowed him to post, change, and arrange documents on the web. He created our on-line store and found a solution for security and many other applications.

Mike always had a positive comment and a joke to send along to brighten everyone's day! Mike is our hero and a great model for living life to the fullest no matter what the obstacles. His good works live on in our thriving website, and we will think of him with admiration and great appreciation every time we go there.

Michael was born on March 17, 1950 in Cascade, Idaho. He graduated from McCall-Donnelly High School in 1968 (during the middle of the Vietnam conflict). Michael knew he wasn't ready for college so he enlisted in the Air Force for four years and trained to become a weatherman. He served in Texas, Illinois, Idaho, New Mexico and Alaska (1 year on the Arctic Circle). He was discharged in July of 1972 with the rank of staff sergeant.

Michael then enrolled at Boise State University in January 1973 in the pre-dental program. He graduated with a BS in Health Sciences (chemistry option) in May 1977. He married his best friend Marsha Goode on August 21, 1976. They had three daughters: Kara, Alison and Kristen.

Michael started teaching in Cascade, Idaho where he taught for 9 years. In 1987 he transferred to McCall where he taught Science, Math, and Computer Science for 13 years. During that time he also coached track, basketball, golf, Quiz Bowl, and Academic Decathlon teams. During his teaching career he worked 24 summers at the McCall Golf Course. He also taught computer classes for Boise State University and Lewis and Clark State College.

We will miss Mike and we will remember him. In lieu of flowers, a scholarship fund will be established in Mike Gantz's name for a graduating senior from McCall-Donnelly High School. Please contact Alison and Jim Foudy at 634-2064 for information about how to make a donation.