| Notes |
- Obituary published in The Globe and Mail from July 4-8, 2026:
Lawyer, mining executive, globe trotter, and unrepentant character – Michael Hugh Somerled McSorley – "Mike" to all who knew him – died on February 24, 2026, in Estero, Florida, at 73 years. A lawyer by training, he built a distinguished career in the global mining industry and never lost his appetite for the next horizon, living at various times in Brussels, the United Kingdom, and Oakville, Ontario, before settling in Shadow Wood, Estero, Florida. The only child of Alex and Marion McSorley, Mike had roots that ran deep into the red soil of Prince Edward Island through his mother's McIver family, with his father's line reaching back to Scotland. He was proud of both. He earned his law degree at the University of Toronto, where he forged lifelong friendships, and went on to the Stanford Graduate School of Business as a Sloan Fellow. He was sharp, endlessly curious, and always several steps ahead. He never shied from controversy or a vigorous argument, and he could be blunt, gruff, and thoroughly exasperating – he made no apology for it. But the same sharp edge came with a sharper wit and a deep, unshowy loyalty to the people he cared about. His career took him to nearly every corner of the world, from Europe to Southeast Asia, Africa, and Russia. Travel was not merely his work, but his great passion – he logged well over a million miles with Air Canada, a tally he wore with no small pride. An avid scuba diver, he set himself a quiet goal to return – and on his last trip to Thailand, he made one final dive. Mike was, by universal agreement, a character – an unapologetic bachelor who never married and never pretended to want to, and a man who savoured life's good things: fine food, red wine, a single malt whisky, and a good cigar. He built instead a life of friendships richer than most families. He had a remarkable curiosity about the world and a lifelong passion for learning – for art, history, and literature – and he delighted in sharing what he knew. Whether admiring a fine work of art, tracing a thread of history, or lingering over a memorable meal, he met every experience with curiosity, insight, and joy. A proud Canadian and a generous supporter of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, he kept deep ties to Prince Edward Island, where he started and ran the Abby Villas cottage business with cousin, Ken and his wife, Klasina. Friends recall dinners out, his habit of asking after everyone, and a manner that was simply Michael being "Mike." He leaves no immediate family, but something rarer: a worldwide community of friends, colleagues, and chosen family who regarded him with deep affection. Closest among them was his first cousin, Linda Forbes, who was like a sister to him. He was godfather to Lucas, Marie, Diewke, Michael, Cole, Levi, Katherine, and David, and a lifelong friend to Marcus, Miriam, Rosetta, and Linda Adams. He made those around him better – sharper in thought, steadier in conviction, and more aware of what truly matters. May he rest in peace. A celebration of Mike's life will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2026, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at The Oakville Club, 56 Water Street, Oakville, Ontario. Donations in his memory may be made to Oakville Hospital, 3001 Hospital Gate, Oakville, ON L6M 0L8 (Registration No. 13145-3490-RR0001), or to Médecins Sans Frontières USA, Inc. (Doctors Without Borders), 40 Rector Street, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10006. *Portrait photo of the late Mr. Michael McSorley has been used with permission by the Henry N.R. Jackman Faculty of Law, University of Toronto.
|
McIverPEIAncestry.ca Electronic Family Tree
1952 - 2026 (73 years)
