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Beverly Hermanson posted a condolence
Monday, May 2, 2022
Michael was one of the most interesting people I have ever known. He could just say a few words with his stern look and make me feel like an idiot until he smiled and helped me do whatever it was I wanted him to help me with. We worked together on many, many political projects and union marches and rallies over the years. I am sure i am not the only woman in the union, being short, who would stand up to make a presentation, and out of the audience would come the comment "stand up Bev!" Yup Michael! After he retired for the last time and before he ran for President of the Retires he came to work at the Federation to work on Campaigns. I was the Political Director and Jamila Thomas worked with me. Mike let me pretend like I was the boss, but he gave Jamilia and I so much guff it was pretty clear that if there was a boss in that group, it wasn't me. We had lots of fun. When Michael (which I have always called him) was sworn in as Deputy Insurance Commissioner, a bunch of his union buddies attended. He said to me, "bet you never thought you would see me go before a judge for a legal matter!" we had a good laugh, but no better person than Mike Watson deserved that. Miss you Michael.!
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Kristine posted a condolence
Saturday, April 30, 2022
Incredibly sad to hear this news. My sympathy to you Sarah and to his daughters Jennifer and Marnee.
As you know, Mike was a good man. After just joining WFSE, I went to my first Local 443 meeting at the G.A. building in the 70's. I was nominated by Rosalie Gittings for the Local 443 secretary position. Boy did I get roped in! I knew very little about the union or being a secretary.
As Local 443 President, Mike took me under his wing and mentored me in unionism. He proofed my secretary work and got me involved with committees, as a convention delegate, as a Local 443 second and first Vice President, Executive board and statewide E-board member. I worked with him on election campaigns including all Mike Kreidler campaigns.
Mike Watson was my hero. I admired his resolve for treatment equity and equal pay for all.
Mike stood up for his beliefs. I have long known of his flag story and graduated from OHS four years after him. We were from the same time of change in our country.
Mike inspired me to get involved in worker rights so I served as a shop steward for twenty-five years and as a union time loss organizer for one year. He made me want to make a difference like he did.
He worked very hard in everything he took on. He became the President of the Retired Public Employees Council which I now belong to.
Sarah, thank you for sharing him with all of us these many years.
A life well lived is one in which you have made a difference. Mike made a difference.
Kristine Kraig krisrine.kraig@gmail.com
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A tree was planted in memory of Mike Watson
Friday, April 29, 2022
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My thoughts are with Mike's family. I hope planting a tree in his honor is a living remembrance. Join in honoring their life - plant a memorial tree
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Tim Welch uploaded photo(s)
Friday, April 29, 2022
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I, too, had the privilege of working with Mike and learning. He was Vice President of the Washington Federation of State Employees/AFSCME in 1987 when I was hired into the position that became Public Affairs Director. He helped me immensely -- he knew my oldest brother, also named Mike, and I think my brother asked Mike to look out for me. At the time of his death, Mike was a member of RPEC/AFSCME (Retirees) Chapter 2 after I became president. He left the Federation, RPEC and Chapter 2 better off than when he came. At our next Chapter 2 meeting on May 12, we will have a special moment of silence for Mike, our union brother, mentor and a good and decent role model. I'm adding a photo I found in my files from when I edited the Federation newspaper. It shows Mike Watson (standing in the right foreground), Evergreen graduate 1997, on the picket line during the Federation's 1-day strike at The Evergreen State College on May 28, 2013, in support of a fair contract for staff. This photo taken by Laura Reisdorph has never been published until now. He really was a dedicated trade unionist.
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Andy & Heidi Rose uploaded photo(s)
Friday, April 29, 2022
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We first met Mike in 2016 when he and Sarah came to Vancouver so she could run the half-marathon here with Heidi. We had been running buddies with Sarah way back in the 1970s in New York and had recently reconnected. The first things we learned were 1) Mike’s preferred cocktail was a Manhattan, about which he was very particular (no citrus!), and 2) he would tolerate nothing green on his dinner plate. Beyond these somewhat endearing quirks, we quickly saw how Sarah was smitten with this kind and lovely man, who so obviously and unabashedly adored her. After more than 20 years together, “public displays of affection” were the rule, not the exception, with them.
Sarah and Heidi went on to run the same race together every year until the pandemic. They were wonderful visits in which Mike and Andy were happy to be the support team. We caught up on each other’s lives and we tried to make sense of our changed and fractured world. We also drew on Mike’s expertise about pensions, as we were looking toward retirement. His advice literally meant thousands of dollars to us, as he explained about benefits we were entitled to but had overlooked.
During these years we also visited Mike and Sarah in Olympia a few times. Mike clearly enjoyed giving us the grand tour, as he was a fount of knowledge about local history, politics, geography, and the built environment. Although Mike was not one to trumpet his own accomplishments, we gradually learned about his impressive history of commitment to the rights of Native people and workers, how as a young man he had literally put his body on the line in their defense. We saw glimpses of how, throughout his long career both as a union leader and a civil service administrator, Mike continued efforts to advance the health and safety and human rights of workers.
We grieve the fact that we were never able to see Mike in person again after his cancer resurgence and treatment, as these coincided with the border closures due to Covid. We grieve the loss of this fascinating, funny, warm, and generous friend. And we feel gratitude for the time that we did have him in our lives.
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Marie posted a symbolic gesture
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
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Carrie Tellefson posted a condolence
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Sending love and peace to Sarah, Marnee, Jennifer and the family. Mike was a good friend and mentor to me - he was a pivotal person in my life - he was there at critical "fork in the road" moments. I first worked with Mike at L&I when I was in the Governor's Executive Fellowship Program under Governor Gardner (during law school). I had felt somewhat rudderless, not sure which direction I wanted to head in my career. Mike took me under his wing and inspired me to go into public service. Because of Mike, after law school I decided to look for a permanent job with the state and went to work for the Gambling Commission. We always kept in touch and he later recruited me to come work for the OIC, a decade after I had worked with him at L&I. After I left the OIC, I still looked forward to getting together for lunch at Mekong periodically (Mike always ordering the Swimming Angel with no spinach lol), catching up and hearing about his daughters, grandchildren and Mike and Sarah's latest trips. When I look back on it, it was a simple thing - Mike just kind of kept track of me and made a point to reach out/check in. He was always someone I could go to when I needed an impartial sounding board. I have taken that to heart and tried to be a mentor for others who are starting their careers like Mike was for me. I know I am not the only one - there are lots of people like me who benefitted from Mike's sound advice, guidance and friendship. I will truly miss him!
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Wendy Conway uploaded photo(s)
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
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To Mike's family and friends, I am so sorry for your loss. I hope you can find some comfort in knowing Mike had a positive impact on so many people and that many of us thought he was one helluva a guy. Firm but fair, smart, and he really listened. I worked with Mike for 11 years and sat across the table from him too many times to count, he was on the side of Management and I was on the Union side. I worked along side him when one of our co-workers' homes was flooded and we helped clean out their basement. He was charitable in actions not just words. I requested that he be in my 15 year service award photo because he mattered - I admired him far more than I let on. His integrity, his ability to listen and his willingness to find solutions are just some of the reasons I thought highly of Mike. After he retired for real, I would ask him to come back every time I saw him. He'd always smile and tell me he had more important things to do, adventures to go on. I hope he did. Thank you for everything Mike. Wendy
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Kathy Gookin posted a condolence
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
We very much enjoyed Mike's friendship in Olympia and in Maui. We will miss him and wish his loved ones all the best, especially his children and Sarah. I told Mike he was like a cat with nine lives because he overcame cancer so many times. He fought a hard battle and made the most of life...a wonderful example for us all. Kathy Gookin
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Pat Mount posted a condolence
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Mike lived immersed in integrity, honesty and trustworthiness. These qualities were apparent to me by his deportment on the tennis court, where my friendship with Mike flourished. Because of the TT Tennis program and USTA, he always greeted me as “Boss”. I will miss that.
On the tennis court he showed no quarter in his desire to win. However, he also showed respect to his opponents across the net, to his partner at his side, and to the game itself. He played by the rules on the court and in all the aspects of his life that I had the privilege to share with him. I believe that is how Mike lived all the other aspects of his life also. I admired all these qualities that embodied Mike’s life and was humbled and thankful to be his friend.
Pat Mount
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Nikki Meador lit a candle
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
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Many heartfelt condolences to Mike's family. He was our Chief Deputy Commissioner for many years. He was firm, a good leader, had a great sense of humor and always fought for the employees rights! I was sad when he retired but happy for him. He will be greatly missed by many.
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Terri Osborne lit a candle
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
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My thoughts and prayers go out to the family.
Mike Watson made a huge impact on how I try to live my life, honest, hardworking, kind, and enjoy life. I had the wonderful opportunity to work with him and get to know him at the OIC where he gave such integrity and honor to our agency. He will always live on in my heart.
Terri Osborne
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Stacey Warick posted a condolence
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Mike was the best! He set the bar so high as a senior leader. I will always remember him--how he supported me, how he always called ME 'boss', the occasional ear flick, and how he would thank me for coming in on my day off when I dressed Friday casual! ha ha! I also always appreciated and admired how he fearlessly called a spade a spade. I will never forget him.
Love, thoughts and prayers to his family during this heartbreaking time.
Stacey Warick
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The family of Mike Watson uploaded a photo
Monday, April 25, 2022
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