Edward Michael (“Mike”) Caraccioli, creative artist, adventurer and outdoorsman, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday March 15, 2018, in Menifee, Calif.
He was 63.
Born on September 28, 1954, in Oswego, NY, to Edward (deceased) and Barbara Caraccioli, he, along with his fraternal twin sister, Mary Anne, was the eldest of seven children.
Throughout his life, Mike was an avid outdoorsman known as “Trapper Ed” to readers of outdoor lifestyle magazines in which he was published and to his followers on social media.
In 1973, when he was 19, he set out on his motorcycle across the Canadian countryside ending up in British Columbia and the Yukon territory, working on the Yukon River, and then eventually into Alaska.
His travels in the 1970s also brought him to the Southwest where he lived in Arizona and New Mexico.
He graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque.
He was among the first computer programmers hired by various Silicon Valley start-up companies in the emerging technology industry.
Mike worked for Intel, Hewlett-Packard and Sequential Circuit where he built synthesizers for some of the biggest rock bands and musicians of that era.
He eventually settled in Southern California where he worked for Oberheim Electronics, Tektronix and Rockwell International.
Mike found solace in spending time outdoors, making music, painting, drawing, hiking, writing and other artistic endeavors.
Mike is survived by his spouse of 36 years, Esther; his children. Michele (Robert) O’Neal, Francis (Maegen) and Christian; as well as three grandchildren, Kory, Gavin and Hunter O’Neal.
He will be fondly remembered by his mother Barbara and siblings, Mary Anne, Paul, John, Kevin, Gerard and Thomas.
A memorial service is being planned in Oswego, NY, on a date to be determined at the convenience of the family.
Condolences can be left on the Evans Brown Sun City Chapel website at www.evans-brownmortuary.com/tributes/Edward-Caraccioli.
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So very sorry for the loss of Mike. I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers.
I am so sorry for your loss. I didn’t know the family personally but I am a fellow Oswegonian and was very surprised to see that he lived in Menifee. I live in Murrieta. God bless you all.