Michael Kent Mansfield

Published 7:20 pm Thursday, November 29, 2018

Oct. 22, 2018, Michael Kent Mansfield died at his beloved home, “MKinnakeet,” located on Bath Creek.

Michael was born on Dec. 26, 1941, in Madison, Wisconsin. He was predeceased by his parents, William (Bill) and Margaret Mansfield. He is survived by his lifelong soul mate and wife of 54 years, Patricia Klein Mansfield, who was born on Dec. 22, 1941, in Honolulu, Hawaii. They met at the age of 15 at East High School in Madison.

As a boy, Michael exhibited an intellectual curiosity in learning how things worked and then how to build them. Michael’s hobbies, interests and career goals overlapped and intersected to become one continuum throughout his life. Whatever he was involved in, he was immersed in. He earned a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison before computer design or system analysis were career choices. Michael applied his intellect and creativity to develop computerized systems to obtain information and solve problems related to theoretical questions. He was a renaissance thinker in a modern age. His intellect thrived during a dynamic period from the 1950s to the 21st century that brought changes to all phases of life and society. His interest in astronomy inspired him to track the Russian satellite, Sputnik, and photograph in detail the moon’s surface well before the first lunar landing. The University setting provided Michael challenging opportunities for writing mainframe computer code and a new generation of laboratory mini computers, for gathering research data in neurophysiology to study how the brain controls hearing and sight.

Among Michael’s many hobbies, he hosted an international shortwave news network that monitored live events like the 1989 Tiananmen Square Protest. He built his first darkroom at age 9 and used his cameras to render the wonders of nature, capture the action of sporting events and document social disputes surrounding the conflict in Vietnam, student protests on Madison’s university campus, candlelight vigils surrounding Wisconsin’s capitol and a nationwide March on Washington. Many of his pictures were published. He collaborated with his wife in archiving the University of Wisconsin’s Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection using pioneering computer software. Michael reconfigured an early “MicroVAX” minicomputer, to store text information, control a video disk player and interconnect work stations. The system provided simultaneous retrieval of text and visual information for the Collection’s 10,000 textiles for research and artistic inspiration. The system was called ARTSearch and was utilized by museums in the U.S. and abroad.

Michael was always interested in sailing and building model airplanes, both gliders and powered. Michael finally had it all with a drone equipped with an amazing camera, controlled by an onboard computer.

After racing on inland lakes and cruising summers on Lake Michigan and in Canadian waters, Michael and Pat retired to Bath to be year-round cruising sailors. In 2000, they began their last major project together in building a replica of Little Kinnakeet Life-saving Station, located near Avon on the Outer Banks. Michael and Pat have hosted many memorable gatherings at their home including “Orphan Christmas,” “December Birthdays & Friends” and “Maritime History Events.” Fun, laughter and Michael’s handcrafted pizzas were key ingredients for creating happy memories. Michael was a member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church and considered himself to be a spiritual person. He identified intellectually with the theoretical physicist, Professor Stephen Hawking. Michael grieved the day Hawking died on March 14, 2018, by rereading his book, “A Brief History of Time.” Michael read the question aloud, “Why does the universe exist?” Professor Hawking wrote, “If we find the answer to that, it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason — for then we would know the mind of God.”

Michael’s memorial service will be 2 p.m., Friday, Nov. 30, 2018, at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Bath. Inurnment in the columbarium will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. Thomas Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 257, Bath, NC 27808. Post condolences on hillsidefunerals.com.