Michael Joseph Budnick

Michael Joseph BUDNICK Jr.
September 17, 1943 ~ August 17, 2013

Mike was born in Pasco at the Pasco Naval Base to Marge (Morse) and Mike Budnick Sr. With his dad serving in the Navy in the South Pacific during World War II, Mike and his mom moved back to her hometown of Wenatchee to be with family.

Upon his return from the war, Mike’s father continued his career as a pro baseball player, therefore the family lived in a variety of cities including: Wenatchee, Seattle, New York, San Francisco, and San Diego before making Seattle their home. The family lived in New York when Mike Sr. pitched for two seasons for the New York Giants. During this time Michael was a toddler running around the Polo Grounds in his own Giants uniform his mother Marge had made for him.

With his family settling on Queen Anne Hill, Mike attended grade school, junior high, and high school there. Mike’s dad was a pro baseball player, a King County Sheriff’s Deputy, and he owned several bars and taverns around the Seattle area. His Uncles Gus and Don both fished for a living and many times it was a family affair. There were several years where Mike and his cousins would be allowed to finish school early to go help his uncles, aunts, and his grandmother work on the Columbia River fishing. Even as little kids they worked hard, and of course played hard, having a great time fishing and playing.

Mike graduated from Queen Anne High School in 1961. As a young boy Mike followed in his dad’s footsteps by playing and excelling in baseball. Born a natural right hander, Mike’s dad turned him into a left handed baseball player by tying his right hand to his right leg and making him learn and practice this way. As a pro player, Mike Sr. knew that left-handers were in high demand, and by the time he was a senior in high school Mike Jr. had become one of the best pitchers in Seattle. Mike was right handed at everything else except for shooting a basketball. He threw very hard left handed, but he always wondered how hard he would have thrown with his dominant right hand…. Mike had a few pro offers as he graduated, but…it did not work out. Mike Sr. and Jr. had different opinions and stories as to why a baseball career did not work out for him, but it was clear he loved the game his entire life. Watching a Mariner’s game was the last thing Mike and his family did together.

After attending the UW for one year on a baseball scholarship, in 1963 Mike embarked on a successful career with King County Public Works. Dividing his time between the Survey department and the Building and Land Development department, Mike retired after 30 fulfilling years of service where he gained many life long friends. Upon retiring Mike took a week of vacation and then went to work for Baima & Holmberg, Inc. Land Surveyors for another seven years before retiring for good.

In 1964 Mike married Karyn Kunkel of Port Angeles and two years later they began their family with Will arriving in 1966 and Scott in 1969. The family settled in Lake Forest Park where all of the neighbors in the cul-de-sac had either played fastpitch together or the kids had played sports together. Mike and Karyn divorced in 1987.

Playing baseball since childhood, Mike started playing fastpitch softball in 1966, a game he played into his 50’s. Will and Scott eventually joined Mike on his team and the THREE enjoyed playing several seasons together. Baseball also kept calling his name, so in 1985 Mike joined the semi-pro team the Studs in the Western International League (WIL) and revived his pitching career. It had been twenty years since he played in the WIL, so Mike’s arm was fresh after the long break. Though he was the oldest player in a league full of college players and ex-pro players Mike pitched very well. He even pitched against Will’s semi-pro team that summer though they never faced each other. After a couple of years with the Studs, Mike moved to the newly formed Puget Sound Senior Men’s League in the 30 and over division, being drafted by the Brooklyn Dodgers. This was a problem at his dad’s house. When Michael walked in to his parent’s house for Sunday night dinner. Mike Sr., - a former NY Giants pitcher whose biggest rival was the Brooklyn Dodgers - demanded that Michael take off his Dodgers uniform or get out. Mike also played in the Redmond 23 & over league for Athletic Supply for many seasons. Other hobbies Mike enjoyed were bowling, fishing and watching all kinds of sports. He bowled in several leagues over the years and played in tournaments every year as well.

In 1997 Mike married Yvonne Chapman. They loved the sun and enjoyed traveling to Hawaii every year and eventually purchased a vacation condo in Kona. Searching for sun in Washington Mike and Yvonne decided to retire in Manson, on Lake Chelan, where they built a home. For fourteen years they enjoyed catch and release fly-fishing, landscaping, gardening and cheering on the Mariners and Mike’s new favorite college basketball team, The Zags and “Coal”, their cat who only they could have loved.

In November of last year Mike experience a difficult stomach pain; in March he was diagnosed with bladder cancer; in July it had metastasized to the lining of his lungs and after battling cancer for nine months and spending five weeks in the hospital, on August 17 at Wenatchee Valley Medical Center, he peacefully passed away.

A loving father, grandfather, cousin and friend, Mike will be missed by all. He was a wonderful, loving and devoted husband to his wife Yvonne, who survives him, as well as his sons and their wives Will and Jennifer of Edmonds, and Scott and Lisa of Bothell. Mike is also survived by his four adoring grandchildren Ryan, Tate, Kelsey and Cameron, his uncle and aunt Chuck and Charlotte Morse, wonderful cousins who were like his siblings, along with a large, extended family who loved him dearly.

A celebration of Mike’s life will be held on October 5, 2013 at the Shilshole Bay Beach Club from 1-4pm, with the program beginning at about 2pm. As per Mike’s request please wear casual attire! Please sign the online guest book at www.smartcremation.com.