Michael was born in Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, England. He attended Loughborough University where he received a degree in Mechanical Engineering. While in Loughborough he met and married his wife, Sheila Collington.
They emigrated to Canada in 1955 where he worked as an Engineer in Montreal, QC and Owen Sound, ON before joining St. Lawrence College, Kingston in 1967 as a professor.
While working at St. Lawrence College, he spent several years abroad teaching at colleges in St. Lucia and Nairobi, Kenya. Michael enjoyed playing tennis and golf well into his later years.
He was an avid traveller throughout his life, from family vacations to retirement cruises and trips.
Michael is survived by his sister Marie Cole, children Neil MacKinder (Lynn) and Kim MacKinder, and grandchildren Nicholas MacKinder and Rebecca MacKinder. He is predeceased by his wife, Sheila.
Mike was one of the pioneers of the college system, hired as an Associate Teaching Master in the Engineering, Technology, and Trades Department when St. Lawrence College first opened. He also coordinated the Mechanical, Civil, and Water Resources programs. Effective September 1983, he became head of the Engineering Technology Department.
Mike and Sheila, his loving wife of 50 years who pre-deceased him on July 6, 2006, were very active in the social life of the College in the early days. They organized or hosted a number of the social events held then to help new faculty get acquainted and settled in to Kingston.
Mike worked in St. Lucia during the 1981-82 school year and also worked in Kenya, Africa for several years during the late 1980s. This latter assignment called for Mike to revert from teaching to his professional background in engineering, since he was responsible for the physical facilities of the college in Kenya. He established a program of preventive maintenance and staff training. He set up a library security system and also used his experience and contacts to assist the college in purchasing lab equipment and various learning aids.
Mike also had at least one other out-of-country assignment, but of a much less demanding nature. He was one of the numerous St. Lawrence College retirees who spent some winters enjoying the weather and social life of Myrtle Beach.