GILFORD ---- Michael Todd Wallace, 86, of Glendale Place, died at his home on Friday, November 10, 2023. He is survived by daughters Reed Wallace MacHaffie and Tracy Wallace Serabian, along with her husband David Serabian, as well as his son Steve Norton and his wife Tina; grandchildren Amanda Fallon and her husband, Joe; Raymond Kloc and his partner Christine Springmeyer; David Kloc; Mia Wallace; Anders Norton and Greta Norton and two great grandchildren, Brady Kloc and Amelia Fallon. He is predeceased by his brother, Peter Wallace and his wife of almost 50 years, Deborah Wallace.
Michael was born on July 19, 1937, in Clearwater, Florida the son of Todd Wallace and Jean (Cameron) Wallace but was a lifelong resident of Gilford, NH moving here at the age of 2.
After graduating Laconia High School in 1955, Mike attended Boston University graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts where he was captain of the BU Men's Ski Team. An accomplished, talented, graceful and fearless skier, Mike was invited to the US Olympic trials but those ambitions were dashed when he broke both legs the summer before in a serious motorcycle accident. Mike continued to ski as a ski instructor and coach racing teams. Like many Gilfordites in the '60s and '70s, he could be found on the slopes of the Gilford Outing Club, teaching kids the sport he loved and occasionally showing off his skiing 'tricks.'
Mike deepened his Gilford roots when he purchased the Gilford Village Store in 1968. A fixture of Gilford Village at that time, Mike enjoyed interacting with the “village kids”' creating extravagant costumes to represent the store in the annual Old Home Day parade and offering a Bazooka bubble gum for each wheelie revolution performed on a bicycle in front of the store. This practice came to an abrupt end when one of the local teens causally rode his wheelie down to the elementary school and back.
At the age of 17, Mike became a NH licensed hunting and fishing guide, one of the youngest to do so. An ardent hunter, fisherman and outdoors man, Mike’s love of the outdoors would last throughout his lifetime and would come to define his life’s passion - his art. Drawing upon his outdoor experiences, Mike was an award-winning and extremely talented artist concentrating in watercolors. His paintings were exhibited both throughout New England and nationally. His works were published in Trout Unlimited magazine; exhibited in the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History and appeared in McCleery-Cummings’ Artists of America calendar that annually features twelve of the country’s finest artists, to name just a few.
He formed the “Artist’s Loft Group” a group of local artists which met weekly at the Laconia Belknap Mill to enjoy each other’s creative company and work on life drawings. In addition to his NH Art Association Membership, Mike was a member of Boston’s prestigious Copley Society.
In 1982 Mike combined all his talents and passions, resurrecting a dilapidated 1935 lobster boat. Having restored numerous wooden canoes over the years, Mike used those skills to restore “Still Life” to its original condition. He would enjoy Still Life for entertaining on the Lake, salmon fishing, as well as conducting art classes. In 1983 Still Life took Second Place at the Annual Antique & Classic Boat Show on Lake Winnipesaukee. Mike once said, “I just loved the character and the lines. It was such a non-plastic boat”. Mike Wallace, an original non-plastic man with a deep love of art and the outdoors.
At Mike’s request, there will be no Calling Hours. Instead, take a moment to enjoy the quiet of the outdoors.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/ 603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, NH, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, please visit wilkinsonbeane.com.