Michael Andrew Ponsano

Michael Andrew Ponsano Michael Andrew Ponsano was a passionate learner and shared knowledge generously. On June 13th, 2024, he left this Earth in the company of family, after battling cancer. His spirit ticks on in us all like the vintage clocks he maintained and cherished.

Those close to Michael knew that to ask “what are you up to?” was to set 45 minutes aside as he shared the gift of explaining not just what he was working on, but how it works, who invented it, what it sounds like when it breaks (“ka-chunk-CHUNK”), and how we’re going about fixing it, together. And it always ends up as a together project, because that was his spirit; his joy to witness and participate in the miracle of it allof science and light and life and wonder. This spark could draw anyone in.

He inspired all around him to wonder why, how, and what if? As a young man, Michael was a handsome and talented trumpet player and drum major in the marching band at Bret Harte High School in Angels Camp, CA. He married his high school sweetheart, Catherine Randall, in 1978 before joining the Air Force. They were stationed in England when their first two children, Angela and Nicholas, were born.

While Michael served as a radar technician over the next four years, the family enjoyed exploring Western Europe and visiting family in England and France. After he was honorably discharged, they returned to the US and the family welcomed two more children, John and Jessica. From 1990, the family built their li.