Michael Stanley

1945 - 2015

Michael Stanley, 70, retired teacher/coach, died on March 5, 2015, in Anchorage, AK of a heart attack. He and son, Scott, were riding mountain bikes in Kincaid Park and having the time of their lives. In addition to his many years of service as an outstanding science teacher and wrestling coach, he will be remembered as an adoring husband, father, and grandfather who lived each day with enthusiasm, all the while daydreaming about his next adventure. Michael "Mike" Stanley was born Feb. 22, 1945, in Tucson, AZ, as the middle child born to Morris and Helen Stanley. He graduated from Adams State College in Alamosa in 1968. Following graduation he taught and coached one year at Sunnyside High School, Tucson, AZ. He received his draft notice during the Vietnam War in 1969. This quickly ended his teaching assignment, even though his wrestlers wrote letters pleading that coach needed to stay. He was assigned to teach at the United States Military Academy at West Point teaching unarmed fighting combat to soldiers and coaching the West Point Plebe wrestling team. He qualified and wrestled for the US All Army Team. Upon completing his military service he accepted a teaching/head coach position at Boulder High School where he taught from 1971-1975. He accepted a leave of absence from the Boulder Valley School District to pursue further education in a masters of health program at the U of Utah. It was here where he met Susan Canniff of Hingham, MA. They were married Nov. 25, 1976. Upon returning to Boulder, he taught at Mapleton Elementary, Baseline Junior High, but ultimately made Fairview High School his home. Mike shined as a teacher. In 1988, Sigma Xi recognized him for dedication to the teaching of science. At Fairview, he also coached wrestling and helped numerous athletes achieve their best, which made those years among the best of his career. Retiring from BVSD in 2003 after 30 years of service, Mike was recruited by dear friend, Scott Alexander, to head the science department at Boulder Country Day. While teaching at BCD School, he started a wrestling team and developed some fine athletes. He "threw in the towel," as they say in wrestling, in 2011 to enjoy time being a grandpa. Mike was a wrestling icon in Colorado and inspired many young people as a teacher and a coach. His many awards include being a three time NAIA national wrestling champion and first team All-American from 1966-1968. Mike is in the NAIA Hall of Fame as well as the Adams State Hall of Fame. He will be inducted into the Colorado chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame on May 9 in Colorado Springs. The Fairview wrestling tournament is named in his honor. Mike and Susan were married 38 years, during which time they raised two children and enjoyed the great outdoors. Mike climbed Colorado's 54 "fourteeners" but his passion for motorized dirt bikes would inspire him in retirement to dust off the bike and compete as an amateur rider with Rocky Mountain Trails Association. Despite his many awards and accomplishments over a long and illustrious career, his best achievement and favorite hat to wear was being a grandparent. Grandson Donovan (5) called him "Papa" and Chloe (1) just beamed when he held her. He will be sorely missed. Mike was preceded in death by his father Morris Stanley. He is survived by his mother, Helen Stanley of Louisville, CO; spouse, Susan Canniff Stanley of Boulder, CO; children, Cynthia Stanley (husband Peter Gagen) of Bozeman, MT and Scott Stanley of Anchorage, AK; two sisters, Sharon (husband Roger) Olander of Grand Junction, CO, and Sande Zado of Longmont, CO; two grandchildren, Donovan and Chloe Gagen of Bozeman, MT; four nieces and nephews; and five great nieces and nephews. A celebration of life will be at 3 p.m., Saturday, April 11, at Fairview High School Auditorium. Seating will begin at 3 with the service beginning at 3:15.