Michael E. Holmstrom

HOLMSTROM, MICHAEL E. Michael E. Holmstrom, 64 Telecom Executive, Mentor, Avid Sailor Mr. Holmstrom grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania and graduated from Gannon University in 1965. He was an Executive-in- Residence Professor of Business Strategy at Texas A&M University. Mr. Holmstrom began his 40-year career as a Finance Executive at GTE Corporation in Pennsylvania. Throughout his career he worked for Alascom, in Anchorage; Pacific Telecom, in Vancouver; CP National Corporation in San Francisco; Spectrum Network Systems Limited, in Sydney, Australia; Atlantic Tele- Network, in the U.S. Virgin Islands; Alaska Communications Systems, Inc., in Anchorage; and Elektryon, in Las Vegas. He recently was a Director on the board of WJ Communications and Hawaiian Vacations. He is a former director of QuikNet Inc., Tamal Energy, Inc., Luz International, Inc., Ocean Technology, Inc., the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, Anchorage Chapter of the American Red Cross, and the Pacific Coast Electric Association. In 2002, he attained certification in Executive Coaching. So many people who knew and worked with Mike considered him their mentor. After first retiring in 1990, he left San Francisco with his family on his 37-foot sailboat, "Sadie." He navigated a three year cruise of Mexico, Costa Rica, the Panama Canal, Columbia, Honduras and the western Caribbean. During this trip, he learned to speak Spanish more fluently and obtained scuba diving certification. His other adventures included skydiving in Australia and scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef. After his sailing trip, he consulted in private practice, developed business and strategic plans for companies, and held various interim CFO positions with private equity firms. After retiring a second time, he made his home In Carlsbad, California. Mike loved sailing, golfing, biking, running and skiing. A dedicated runner, he completed countless marathons. Mr. Holmstrom passed away on Saturday, September 22, 2007, after a courageous battle with cancer; his family was by his side. Mr. Holmstrom is survived by his wife, Marjorie; five daughters: Amy Muller of Marietta, Georgia; Courtney Lawver of Encinitas, California, Alissa Chambers of Rome, Georgia, Laura Newman of San Jose, California, and Chelsi Wiggins of Carlsbad, California; eight grandchildren, and sister, Gail Holmstrom and her husband, Mike Mellesh, of Mercer Pennsylvania. His parents, Julia and Neil E. Holmstrom, preceded him in death. The family held a private service aboard the "Inspiration" with scattering of ashes at sea. A celebration of Michael's life is being planned in the San Diego area for early November 2007. Donations may be made in memory of Michael Holmstrom to: UCSD Cancer Center Foundation, 3855 Health Sciences Drive, #0658, La Jolla, California, 92093- 0658, or San Diego Hospice Foundation, 4311 Third Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103.Please sign the guest book at obituaries.uniontrib.com