Michael died peacefully at home in Freeland on June 2.

He was born April 5, 1936, in the Yakima Valley in the town of Zillah to a Greek immigrant father, Emanuel Katsaros, and his wife, Beatrice (Huit) Katsaros from Bickelton, Wash.

Michael is survived by his wife of 55 years, Kristina (Sander) Katsaros; son, Anthony Katsaros and his wife Corvidea; and daughter, Ester Katsaros, her husband John Fogarty and their children, Hugh and Sander Fogarty. Michael’s brother-in-law, Olof Sander, is a Whidbey Island resident. Michael’s one living sister, Elaine McCann (Walter), lives in the Boston area.

During high school in Zillah, Michael was a star athlete lettering in three sports and playing clarinet in the school band. He was given the inspirational award in his senior year.

Michael attended the University of Washington, where he graduated with a degree in architecture and construction management.

He spent most of his working years as a designer for Safeway Stores in Bellevue, Wash.

He and Kristina retired to Whidbey Island in 2003, living in their long-time summer home, a parcel of the August Hermanson homestead, which they bought in 1965 as their first child was on his way.

They were married at the Malmo home, south of Bush Point in 1959 and have had many old-time friends on the island. They became members of the Nordic Lodge of the Sons of Norway in Coupeville soon after retiring.

Michael was a liberal thinker with strong feelings for social justice and international cooperation.

He supported his wife’s work with foreign students at the University of Washington in the 1970s and 1980s. Each summer course ended with a day of fun and food on Whidbey Island.

The farewell and burial will be with the immediate family at Sunnyside Cemetery in Coupeville. A celebration of Michael’s life will take place at a later date.

Michael’s family expresses our heartfelt thanks to Group Health Cooperative in Seattle’s Capitol Hill and to Hospice of Whidbey General Hospital. In lieu of flowers, we suggest a donation to Compassion and Choices, for whose kind service we are very grateful, or to your favorite charity.