ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Michael W. Schuyler, 76, of Albuquerque died Saturday, May 5, 2018, in Albuquerque.
The family will have a small private celebration of life service Friday in Taos.
He passed away with his family by his side, after a long and difficult battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Mike will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Sue Schuyler; his daughter, Emily Schuyler and her husband, Luis Molina Robinson, and their two children, Sebastian and Sofia Schuyler of Albuquerque; his son, Adam Schuyler and his wife, Lauren, of Winter Park, Fla.; his sister, Peggy Brooks and her husband, David, of Ann Arbor Mich., and their children, Robert, Lori, John and Michael; his in-laws, Steve and Paulette Crisman of Idaho Springs, Colo., and their daughters, Cora and Tessa; his sister-in-law, Meredy Crisman of Austin, Texas; as well as many good friends and colleagues.
Michael was preceded in death by his parents, Mildred Lucille and Marion Franklin Schuyler of Winfield, Kan.
Michael was born in Winfield on Sept. 5, 1941. A natural scholar, he had a long career in the world of academia. After graduating from Southwestern College in his hometown of Winfield, Mike went on to complete his graduate work at the University of Kansas, where he received his doctoral degree in 1969. That same year, he and Sue Crisman of Hastings, Neb., married, and he accepted a job in the Department of History at Kearney State College (later the University of Nebraska at Kearney). He served that institution with devotion, dedication and distinction for 32 years.
Mike began his career as a professor of recent American history, served as the chair of the Department of History from 1982-93, then as the dean of the College of Natural and Social Sciences from 1993-2000.
Mike’s family, friends and colleagues knew him as a man who prized integrity above all, was dedicated to his family and loyal to his institution. He was a gentle soul, known for his kindness, sound advice and quick wit. He enjoyed a good verbal sparring match with colleagues, meeting new people and traveling the world with family and friends.
After his retirement in 2001, Mike devoted his time to his grandchildren and to spending time with good friends enjoying favorite pastimes like golf and fishing. In 2011, he moved to Albuquerque with his wife, Sue, where he lived up until his passing.
Mike was a devoted husband, father and grandfather who will be deeply missed. A special thanks to the loving caregivers who supported Mike in his final months: Isabel Baumeister, Debbie Scoville and Christine Cutter.
Memorials are suggested to the University of Nebraska Foundation, Michael W. Schuyler Memorial Scholarship (P.O. Box 2678, Kearney, NE 68848) or to the Museum of Nebraska Art.
