Mike Wardlaw, a staff member who retired from the College in June 2018, passed away in September 2018.
He joined Connecticut College in 1990 as a groundskeeper in Facilities Management. He was promoted in 1995 to carpenter, a position he held for nearly 23 years. During his career at Conn, he served ably as chair of Staff Council from 2003 to 2004 while supplementing his time as a U.S. Navy Reservist.
He was known for his compassion. In 2005, he traveled to Thailand to rebuild houses after a devastating tsunami in Phuket. He used his vacation time to join a relief group organized by Mach Arom ’89.
He also was admired for his artistry. Each year, the beautiful custom pieces he created with his colleagues in the Carpentry Shop were the highlight of the annual faculty and staff holiday luncheon. He never wanted to take credit for this work. He preferred to give credit to everyone else. He was a deeply humble person who loved working with colleagues to create things of beauty for members of the campus community. His generosity and talent will be greatly missed.
He is survived by his wife Kim Wardlaw, who was a dedicated staff member at Connecticut College when she worked in the Office of Communications.