Michael Eugene Dederer passed away March 7, 2021 at age 88 in Seattle. Mike (Mick to his nuclear family) was born at Swedish Hospital in Seattle on April 30, 1932 to Michael and Clare Dederer. Mike’s dad, Michael, was president of the Seattle Fur Exchange, the international fur auction house, and an active figure in Seattle civic life for decades. Mike and his younger brother Gary were raised on Queen Anne Hill, attending Coe Elementary and Queen Anne High School. Mike attended the University of Washington, where he studied journalism, was sports editor for The Daily, and managed the varsity baseball team.
After graduation from the UW, he joined the Army transportation corps as an officer and was stationed first in Virginia and then in Germany. At the onset of the Cold War, Mike, age 22, was commanding officer of trains between East Berlin and West Berlin. This experience marked him indelibly, leaving him with a love of German culture, and also serves as an early example of his laconic grace under pressure.
Following discharge from the Army, Mike spent a winter ski bumming around the western U.S., visiting Sun Valley, Alta, Aspen and other areas with friends, living rough out of their cars, sleeping out, and bartering their labor for lodging and lift tickets.
Upon his return home, he began his career in public relations, working as an account executive for Kraft, Smith.
In 1962, he married Donna Jordan. They would go on to have two children, Dave and Claire.
After working on PR for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, in 1963 he joined Jay Rockey to form The Rockey Company, eventually becoming the company’s president.
Under Jay and Mike, The Rockey Company grew to be the Pacific Northwest’s premier PR shop, with clients including Boeing, Burlington Northern, Washington Mutual, Alyeska Pipeline, and Nintendo. In later years, Mike especially treasured his work with Sealaska, the Alaska Native corporation. Mike, a self-effacing and kind leader, was known among staff as “The Great One.” He loved mentoring writers and was celebrated (and sometimes feared) for his keen editing skills. He also enjoyed the day-to-day business of the office, working closely with support staff and helping computerize the office in the ’80s and moving early toward online engagement in the ’90s.
Mike was a passionate outdoorsman and helped found Crystal Mountain in the early ’60s. In the resort’s first 10 years he provided endless pro bono PR and marketing support and helped start and run Crystal’s ski school; Mike remained involved with Crystal until the end of his life. He was also an avid backpacker and fly fisherman–over the decades his boots took him over an amazing percentage of the Cascades.
After retirement, Mike spent 10 winters in Ketchum, Idaho, skiing as much as he pleased and delighting in joining the informal daily late morning gathering of Pacific NW ski legends at Sun Valley’s mountain top Lookout Lodge.
Beginning in 1974, Mike lived on a houseboat on Lake Union, a serene floating haven for his kids and grandkids. A devoted father, grandfather, and uncle, he is survived by brother Gary, son Dave Dederer, daughter Claire Dederer, grandchildren Oona Dederer, Lolo Dederer, Lucy Barcott, and Willie Barcott, and a host of loving lifelong friends.