Michael H. McCurdy

Feb. 1, 1949 – March 15, 2019

Michael H. McCurdy died at Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage on March 15, 2019.

Michael’s story began on Feb. 1, 1949 in Santa Monica, California and ended in Alaska due to complications from a brown recluse spider bite.

Born to Harvey and MaryAnn McCurdy, he was their only child.

Michael had a love for music due in part to a great-uncle who had an orchestra, who played in Cataline when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt announced the New Deal for America, and a cousin who played harmonica for the Charlie Daniels band.

Michael was a poet, songwriter, composer and singer who played the piano and guitar, and rocked the drums.

After receiving a full pardon from President Gerald Ford in 1974 for being a conscientious objector, Michael made his way to Homer and helped form a rock and roll group called Bambu with friend Fred Fernandez. The group played regularly at The Club Bar in Homer and elsewhere in the state. He was also in the group The JJ’s with Sallie Dodd Butters and Tom Crane.

In the 1980s, Michael left Homer to pursue music in California. Afterward, he lived in Oregon, Washington state, Nevada and eventually Florida working for Microsoft.

Living with an abusive, alcoholic father when he was younger set the stage for his own dark days. At times “the bottle” thought it was going to beat Michael to the finish. Through his own self dignity and belief system, Michael never threw in the towel even in his darkest moments.

He made it his mission to return to Homer seven years ago to find the peace within that he first experienced when arriving in 1974. He was proud to say that he was able to come “full circle” by the power of God.

Michael is survived by his mother, MaryAnn, age 94 of Nevada. He will be remembered by his Sabrina Road neighbors Nancy, Debbie, Howie, Kelly and Brian; and by his good friends Annie “Bo” Vogel, Sallie Dodd Butters, Kerry Kiser, Wikima Butters Etheridge, Jennie Weldin and Fred Pernandez.

A celebration for this wonderful but stubborn Irish man’s life will be held sometime this summer on the Homer Spit. A notice will be made when the date has been set.

Memorial donations in Michael McCurdy’s name may be sent to the Homer Animal Shelter, Homer Alaska, 907-235-3141.