Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jun 09/99) - City residents are mourning the sudden and tragic death of prominent businessman Mike Stilwell.

Stilwell (left) died Saturday evening at his home. He was 50 years of age.

He leaves behind his loving partner, Barbara O'Neill, daughters Kerry and Dawn and five brothers and sisters.

For the past 11 years, Stilwell owned and operated Sail North. He also ran a management consulting business.

Stilwell was a resident of the North for the last quarter century. Before entering the marina and boat business he worked as a teacher. He also served as a bureaucrat with the territorial government. Stilwell entered the private sector after attaining the position of deputy minister of economic development and tourism.

More recently, Stilwell was a partner in a consortium that tried to establish a diamond-cutting and polishing business, Arctic Diamonds, in Yellowknife. The proposal was recently turned down by the territorial government.

A driven man, Stilwell was not shy about speaking his mind. As recently as last month he roundly criticized the city's proposed revision of its zoning bylaw.

In an interview for YkLife last year, Stilwell spoke about the importance of working with and learning from others. He referred to himself as a builder and a dreamer and looked back fondly on his days as a teacher.

"I love teaching," he said. "What's most satisfying out of it is seeing somebody use the knowledge and go off on their own, and take that knowledge, expand on it and then come back and teach you."

A celebration of Stilwell's life will be held Saturday at the Great Hall of the legislative assembly starting at 1 p.m.

A memorial will also be held later this month in Montreal.