Mike Linnard, 61, of Stillwater, passed away on December 20, 2022 in Saratoga Springs.  Michael Murray Linnard, known to all as Mike, was born on May 24, 1961 in Toledo, OH as the first child to Lawrence and Jean Linnard. His family moved to Pennsylvania briefly before settling down in Latham, NY.  Mike attended Shaker High School where he doubled up his class schedule during junior year in order to hasten his graduation by a year. Thus Mike graduated from Shaker in 1978 instead of 1979 and then his "real education" began to unfold. Mike liked to say that he majored in Life at the University of Highway 101.

Mike's spirit longed for travel and adventure out West, so his hitchhiker's thumb took him to Flagstaff, AZ, a town that held a special place in Mike's heart throughout his life. Other notable places Mike lived included Texas, New Mexico, Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada and Washington. Mike also learned a number of diverse trades and had unusual work experiences from carpentry and construction to culinary work to building rugged canyon trails to replanting the forest that had been devastated by the eruption of Mount St. Helens.

One of Mike's more extreme adventures involved bicycling solo from Houston, TX across the Rockies to Las Vegas, then to California and down into Mexico.  This months-long sojourn took  Mike nearly 4,000 miles on his trusty bike "Free Bird" with a guitar strapped across his back and a 35mm camera to record the memories. Music was a huge part of Mike's life since his early high school days. Mike loved rhythm & blues music in particular. He played in several bands, most notably one called Yukon that featured Southern Rock. In his later years Mike concentrated on his carpentry and contracting business. Eventually, Mike started a property management business focused on owning and maintaining residential properties in the Capital District.

Those fortunate enough to know and love Mike will always remember his big heart, generous spirit, and adventurous soul. Mike had a devilish sense of humor and knack for storytelling that often left those around him in fits of laughter. Mike was also known for enjoying absurdly spicy food and robust coffee. In recent years Mike could be found outside his Sillwater home along the Hudson River enjoying the beauty, peace, and tranquility at the water's edge.

As Mike's health declined, he was blessed by the kindness and generosity of friends and neighbors — his "extended family" —who visited regularly to spend time, provide needed help, meals, etc. and show they truly cared about him. Mike's family is tremendously grateful to those friends and neighbors along with the compassionate healthcare professionals at Saratoga Hospital.

Mike is predeceased by his loving parents and survived by his devoted sisters Deborah Azuaje in North Carolina and Nancy Biskup in Florida, and his brother Tom Linnard in California. He is also survived by eight nieces and nephews and two grand-nieces living in the US and Europe.

Mike's family plans on holding a private celebration of life event next summer somewhere in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains where Mike spent many joyful years.

All are invited to sign the guest book at legacy.com and upload any photos to help celebrate Mike's life and legacy.

We bid farewell to Mike with a few selected lyrics from Lynyrd Skynyrd's Free Bird:

"For I must be traveling on now

'Cause there's too many places I've got to see

… I'm as free as a bird now

And this bird you cannot change…

Won't you fly high, free bird, yeah"