Michael Edward Plate

He was born July 13, 1954, in Oakland, CA and grew up in San Leandro’s Washington Manor where he attended Argonne Elementary, Barrett Junior High and Marina High School. He attended college at UC Berkeley where he graduated with a degree in Mathematics and worked for many years as a programmer.

Michael lived life to its fullest while he was alive – a dream he shared with the rest of his family. He was a lover of adventure. His wanderlust took him far and wide, from beautiful vacations to his ancestral Italy, to all the US baseball parks and daring visits to all of America’s National Parks (including an eventful encounter with a bear down the Yukon)!

Michael had a passion for collecting classic vehicles which included owning a 1999 Indian Chief motorcycle with Princess sidecar (the only bike built with a side car in the Gilroy, CA factory), a 1966 Mustang Fastback, a 1958 “King of Chrome” Oldsmobile and hot rodded a 1959 El Camino. He made cross country, west coast to east coast, trips 6 times on his Indian motorcycle over the years including a trip to Sturgis.

Other unique hobbies Michael enjoyed were collecting and working on antique railroad pocket watches, restoring old radios, reading science fiction, and collecting comic books.

He told tales and jokes and gave the biggest bear hugs. A giant of a man with an even bigger heart – he loved his family, his adventures, and his freedom. Michael was not one to mince words, as sharp as he was witty.

We could say “Rest in Peace”, but that somehow does not seem fitting. Our great adventurer is on his grandest adventure yet. “Explore in Peace, Michael”. May you find all that Heaven has to offer. So that one day, when we join you, you can show it all to us”

There will be no services as per Michael’s wishes. His ashes will be taken to the Yukon and laid to rest in his favorite place, watch out for the bears Michael.

Love you always,

Michele, Don, Veronica, Corinne, Audrey, both Gregs and Alex