The kind and loving Mike Chamberlain passed away, unexpectedly, due to complications from a fall. His great spirit and kind smile will be missed by those who knew and loved him. He lived a free and adventurous, fiercely independent, life.

Born to Frank and Ruth Chamberlain, he and his brother, Larry, were raised in El Segundo. He attended UCLA, the University of Alaska and the University of Hawaii, earning a degree in marine biology and a teaching credential. Later he was drafted into the Army, where he worked as a tank technician in Texas. During his college years, Mike was an avid sportsman. In Alaska he joined the hockey team, having never ice skated in his life, so the coach had him practice with his skates unlaced. Mike spent a lot of time diving, spear fishing and beach-combing, and as a lifeguard, he spent time teaching children in Watts how to swim

While attending UH he met and married Katherine Piltz. Soon after having a son, they moved from Hawaii back to So. Cal. where their daughter was born. While teaching at Airport Jr. High, Mike camped with a group of students and his small children on a Catalina beach for the summer. In 1969 the family moved to Humboldt County, living around the Eureka area. He continued teaching at Jacobs Jr. High and occasionally at Zane and Winship. After his divorce, he raised his son Barry in Eureka.

In the late seventies Mike retired from teaching and did handyman work in the winters and during the summers he was dredging for gold in places like Denny, Salmon River, Hiouchi and Cecilville. He relished the simple lifestyle of camping. Extensively exploring every forest service road in Humboldt and Trinity County, where his shiny karma somehow kept him safe. Many of these adventures were shared with his husky Tok, along with intermittent stops to tune or work on his VW square-back.

Mike pursued many endeavors throughout his years after teaching. He started Aurora B Photography and had a darkroom in his bathroom where he printed pictures of the flora and particularly mushrooms of this area. We will be sorting through his slides for decades. He collected copious amounts of driftwood from the jetties, a place he visited frequently. Using these pieces to craft driftwood art, furniture and turned bowls. Much of the wood went to build a greenhouse, and additions on his garage. Early in the 1980s, Mike got a pilot’s license and plane to make the visits to his parents, in Paradise, an easier commute. He also flew up to Canada with his school friend, Gene, to help build a cabin.

Mike gave his children the love of the outdoors, teaching them how to backpack, ski, fish, camp and hunt. Some of his favorite places were out of the way. He loved swinging bridge, the jetties and Nordheimer Creek on the Salmon River, where he spent many summers camping there by the little lake. We would go to Swimmer’s Delight before it was a park. A day drive might be the Lost Coast, just to get out and enjoy the beauty of Humboldt. Long drives were a Chamberlain family tradition. In his later years he had a faithful loving orange tabby cat named Max. Those two did everything around the house together.

His mother, Ruth, moved closer in her later years and Mike was there for her.

Mike was preceded in death by his father Frank, mother Ruth and brother Larry Chamberlain. He is survived by his son Barry and daughter Kim Chamberlain. His granddaughter Nicole (Todd) Brown and great granddaughter Amara Brown. Thank you to all his friends — Raedelle, Barbara, Howie, Steve and Vicki — who helped him through his later years and Ayres Funeral home for after-life particulars.

For anyone interested in sending Mike on his way, there will be a memorial located at a private residence. The date is March 15, Saturday at 1 p.m. Please contact Kim at idowatsu@sbcglobal.net for details on how to attend.

He lived a full life and as a biologist was distraught at the plight of how fast global warming had advanced in his later years. In lieu of any donation please consider how you could help do your part in decreasing the progression of global warming. It is as simple as bringing your coffee cup along to fill, bring grocery bags into the store, send gently used items to a thrift store for someone to use; so many simple ways…