Mr. Michael "Mike" Darby

Michael Brandon Darby, a pioneering socially responsible investor, engaged civic leader and devoted family man, died at the age of 51 on February 19, 2019 near his home in Cupertino, CA. 

Michael was born on November 16, 1967 in Bloomington, Indiana as the older son of Larry and Elizabeth Darby. From his boyhood Michael was a voraciously curious learner, developing a wide-ranging love of music from his mother, a professional composer and musician, and fascination with math, science, and finance from his father, a former senior White House and FCC chief economist. 

Michael attended the innovative interdisciplinary Philadelphia School, where he learned from Jim Henson and musician Taj Mahal, grew to love math games and puzzles, and starred in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. This progressive school individuated each student's learning style and content, and fanned Michael's lifelong curiosity and thirst for intellectual pursuits, ranging from quantum biology to the jazz of physics. 

Michael grew up biking with his brother David and friends around the Schuylkill River, and playing in the sometimes tough streets of downtown Philadelphia. He developed close relationships with his father's large Darby clan in the Midwest, and his mother's on family farms throughout Canada. He entered William Penn Charter School in 7th grade, and became known as a "one of the most well-liked true scholar-athletes," excelling as a top-ranked student and achieving state awards as a varsity lacrosse player and wrestler. 

Michael graduated from Harvard College magna cum laude with a degree in Economics, then worked as a Senior Associate at Booz Allen and Hamilton in New York and London. Michael graduated from Stanford business school in 1994, and co-captained the GSB Rugby team which won the coveted International Business School Rugby Tournament.  A teammate recently shared, "Mike was a tremendous player and leader, always playing with such spirit and heart."  

Michael was promoted to Vice President at The US Russia Investment Fund, then joined Cisco Systems as Director of Business Development. He invested in deals such as Airespace as a General Partner at Battery Ventures, worked as a Managing Director for the private equity firm Sterling Stamos, and finally helped build the socially responsible investing firm Regis Management as a partner and member of the investment committee for over a dozen years. A colleague wrote, "Michael was one of those special people that you don't meet often in life. He had a shine to his personality I can't put into words. He was an amazing colleague and genuinely wanted all of us to succeed." 

Michael met his future wife Sandra Lee when they were 17-year old freshmen at Harvard College, and for the next 34 years they remained deeply connected as best friends and soulmates. They shared powerful passions for friends, music, travel, learning, and family, especially their children, Brandon, Ian, and Arabella.  

Michael was a dedicated father, soccer, rugby, and tennis coach for a dozen years, robotics mentor, and board member for the nonprofit educational foundation Build2C. He loved adventures in nature, served as a leader in his children's Scout troops, and recently hiked the epic 14-day 110 mile 12,500 foot elevation Philmont High Adventure trek with his children's Scout troop. He biked often to work between Cupertino and Palo Alto, tore through the hills on his mountain bike on early weekend mornings, and hiked throughout the Bay area as often as he could with family and friends. Michael remained an avid lifelong musician, teaching his children singing, guitar and bass guitar, and composing and playing music on many evenings. 

Michael and his family contributed significant time and resources to improving democratic transparency and limiting corporate corruption in local government. They worked for years to help educate and organize their community on important issues, and supported civic leaders committed to shared values of integrity and social responsibility. 

Michael dedicated his life to love and service, and valued his friends and family more than anything else in his life. He was deeply beloved for his "authenticity, wit, intellect, and integrity."  Michael was in excellent overall health when he was diagnosed with cancer; as his doctor described it, "one cancer cell among thousands got away." Michael fought fiercely for his life despite punishing treatments, while never losing his trademark sense of humor, determination, and spirit.
 
Michael is survived by his wife Sandra Lee, children Brandon, Ian and Arabella; his mother Elizabeth Huntoon and uncle Robert Huntoon and family; his step-mother Walda Roseman and stepbrother Erik Roseman and wife Bethany; his aunts Jackie, Joyce, and Phyllis Darby and their families, his brother, John David and Helen, Jackson and Liza Darby; his sister-in-law, Patricia Lee; his brother-in-law, Richard Lee and Georgia and their children Jae, Ava and James.

Several community celebrations of his life are being planned by friends and family throughout 2019, including for Michael's 30th Harvard College Reunion in May, and 25th Stanford GSB Reunion in September.