Michael Coyle: Olympic Swimmer, Loyal Friend, Beloved by His Family
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Michael William Coyle, 8/16/41 to 2/23/21
Michael William Coyle, a longtime resident of southern Humboldt County, Calif., passed away Feb. 23 in Monterey, Calif. after a long illness. Michael was born Aug. 16, 1941 in Luanshya, Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) to William (Bill) and Eileen Coyle. He grew up in Zambia and South Africa, and as a young man worked in the mines in the Copper Belt, traveled to Denmark and Scotland where he went to college and worked as a physical education teacher for several years. In 1965 he moved to the Yukon, Canada for work before attending UCLA in Los Angeles. There Michael met his wife of 51 years, Linda (Kelly) Coyle, and graduated with a degree in kinesiology in 1970.
Michael was a lifelong athlete, representing Northern Rhodesia as a swimmer in the 1960 Rome Olympics, and was a 4-year All-American rugby player at UCLA (he made the US Rugby team and toured Australia). Some of his favorite hobbies were following sports (especially track and field), amateur photography, travel and enjoying nature. After a brief time as the Recreation and Parks director in Needles, Calif., in 1978 Michael moved with his young family (children Catrina, Kelly, Jack) to the beautiful redwood region of Humboldt County, to an 80-acre homestead in Salmon Creek, which he then called home for 41 years, stewarding the land for the future. Michael was a loyal friend and hardworking neighbor, with a quick wit and a generous spirit.
In his long life, he was lucky to see much of the world, including trips with his family to Mexico, Spain, Guatemala, China (Bejing Olympics 2008), and many US states. But the travel highlight he enjoyed most was in 2002 he took his family (“kids” now adults) on a 3-month adventure to the Middle East and his childhood home in southern and eastern Africa.
The family moved to Carmel in 2019, but continues to maintain ties to the community of Salmon Creek and the land they love. Michael was beloved by his family who survives him, including wife Linda, daughters Catrina Coyle and Kelly Coyle (Domingos), son Jack Coyle, grandchildren Cauan and Mila Melo, his sister Margaret Turner (Clive) and niece and nephew. A small family gathering is planned in the near future on their land in Humboldt County.
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A kind and generous man.
Coffee breaks, Michael, with the big blue enameled coffee pot coming over from the barn, his lined blue denim jacket, the leather gloves, still etched in my mind.
Steaming hot, too hot to touch, he would pour, strongly brewed dark roast, uncommonly good for the times…
I still remember the taste…
Strong, and of course, excellent quality.
The memories, they are bitter-sweet…
Thanks again Michael, I haven’t forgotten.
It was much appreciated,
Back in the day…
My condolences to the family.
Fare thee well, kind and gentle man.
Oh Michael! Kindness was your way of being. I appreciated your easy smile and genuine interest to engage conversations. Your family was legendary, almost kinda normal, in this eclectic community. As a humble man, I never knew some of your interesting history. That is telling.
We will all long remember your and Linda’s kindness to host the legendary Harvest Ball / Halloween Party in your barn!! That stands as a symbol of the early days in this ‘back to the land’ gathering of those who ‘escaped the city’.
I thank you. I do and shall remember you fondly.
Man, what a life!
Michael was a gentleman and a scholar, a tireless champion of the school and of his beloved grandchildren, and more humble than I realized after reading this rich history. He and his family are an integral part of Salmon Creek history; I miss his sharp humor and worldly wisdom, but anyone who has met his wife and children knows that his kindness and brilliance live on in each of them. Blessings and condolences. xoxo
Most often, we would meet on the road. You walking with clippers, perhaps on the way to the spring, always keeping the path and our road clean and clear.
Later, I remember your eyes shining and your voice trembling as you spoke of your grandchildren. You were beaming with love. You- a wonderful light in our neighborhood.
Much love to the family