Edward Michael "Mike" Loftus

Edward Michael “Mike” Loftus January 6, 1957 – December 21, 2019 Edward Michael “Mike” Loftus passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by loved ones, after a five year battle with prostate cancer. Michael was a generous soul driven by a boundless optimism. He was often heard to exclaim “Never give up, Never surrender!”. Mike fought to the very end, always giving the two thumbs up. Michael was born in 1957 in Falls Church, Virginia, the first of five children, to Edward and Virginia Loftus. Mike grew up in western New York State and graduated from Perry High School with the class of 1975. At Perry High, Mike established his lifelong reputation as a tech wiz, when Mrs Ruth Gibson recruited him to manage the lighting and backstage equipment for the Drama Club. Mike also served as student body president. Mike went on to receive degrees in computer engineering and marketing from Rochester Institute of Technology, where he further established his tech credentials by wiring the dorm lounge with a multi-line phone so students could take their calls even when they were away from their rooms. In 1983, Mike was recruited by Digital Research Inc in Monterey, California where he worked as the marketing manager of system software, supporting GEM, DRI’s graphical computer interface, an early answer to Apple’s Macintosh. Over the years, Mike worked at a number of high tech companies in California and Oregon. Most recently, Michael served as VP of Marketing at Zentera Systems. Michael had for many years also been involved in the high tech startup world, mentoring young entrepreneurs through Anza Technology Network and acting as Entrepreneur In Residence at The Angel’s Forum. Mike also became a founder of venture platform F50. Michael was known widely for his selfless generosity, helping friends and strangers alike, especially where he could apply his technical wizardry. He served for many years as an usher at St Nicholas Catholic Church in Los Altos, where he also served on the Liturgy Committee. He was preceded in death by his sister Nancy and his father Edward “Eddie” Loftus. He is survived by his mother, Virginia, sisters Mari and Theresa, brother William, nieces Meredith and Emma, nephew Edward “Eddie” Everett, and good friend Erik. He will also be missed by his two white shepherds, Rosie and Rudi. A vigil service will be held at 6:30 PM, Friday, January 3rd at Spangler Mortuary in Los Altos, with viewing between 4:30 and 8:30pm, and a Funeral Mass will be held at 11AM, Saturday January 4th at St Nicholas Church in Los Altos. Following the mass on Saturday, a reception will be held at St William Parish Hall in Los Altos.
A graveside service will be held in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Perry in the spring. Times and dates will be announced later.
Donations in Mike’s memory may be made to St Nicholas Catholic School (https://www.stnicholaslah.com/ways-to-give) or the Stanford Cancer Center (http://med.stanford.edu/cancer/about/help/make-a-gift.html).