Michael Yaeger

1941-2016

“An Islander

Through & Through…”

Michael Yaeger, a true islander who called Bainbridge Island home for nearly 36 years, passed away on Saturday Aug. 20, 2016. Born in Washington D.C., in 1941, Yaeger traveled the world in his youth and became an artist, a writer, a filmmaker and actor, a storyteller, and an activist who fought fervently to protect the uniqueness of the “Soul of Seattle”, the Pike Place Market.

A devoted husband, Yaeger first met his wife Sarah Clementson in Rome, Italy where they lived and married before moving to Spain to start their business, Studio Solstone. They had two children.

Michael Yaeger was an explorer of nature who led his daughter and son, and many other lucky island kids, on weekly “trail blazing” excursions through Bainbridge Island forests, along paths of his own creation. Before many of the island woods were saved and became parks, Yaeger carved makeshift trails through them for his children to wander, some of which are still visible today if you know where to look around Fort Ward and Gazam Lake.

He adored the island culture and sense of community, and began many a morning in typical island fashion: a cup of coffee from one of the island’s cafes, Pegasus being his favorite, then boarding the ferry for a day of work in the market.

After he and his wife relocated to Poulsbo, he still made the rounds on Bainbridge several times a week, even up to his last days. Michael produced the Pike Place Market/Seattle calendar for nearly 40 years, featuring watercolors painted by his wife. He believed it his duty to document the changing landscape of the city and the Northwest, featuring the old and highlight the new, and many loyal customers still save the calendar as a way to preserve the past while embracing the future. Nearly every year it included one or more paintings featuring Bainbridge Island. The couple remained close to the island’s beautiful community.

Michael Yaeger is survived by his wife, Sarah; his daughter, Mercedes and her husband, Rafael; his son, Antony and his wife, Emmie; and his grandchildren, Tristan and Alexander. A memorial will be at 6 p.m. Sunday Oct. 16 at Pike Place Market on the Desimone Bridge. Condolences can be sent to Studio Solstone, 93 Pike St., Seattle, WA 98101.