Obituary: Michael Avelar, 1983-2025
Michael Avelar of McKinleyville passed away on November 29, 2025, at age 42 after living for years with Machado-Joseph Disease.
He was born March 15, 1983, in Arcata to Henry and Maria Avelar. From his arrival, a life of curiosity, creativity, and meaningful connection began. Michael grew up within a warm, tight-knit family that routinely gathered with relatives and friends—sharing abundant food, laughter, and love.
As a boy, he enjoyed Magic: The Gathering, exploring computers, and reading fantasy novels late into the night. In his early teens, he played golf and joined a model rocket club, building rockets with friends and his cousin Jason Lowe, taking pride in launching them high into the sky. His fascination with the universe spurred countless nights of stargazing and astrophotography. Michael always sought to understand how things worked and why, a relentless curiosity that shaped much of his life.
At McKinleyville High School, Michael excelled academically, combining intellect with a passion for science and learning. He thrived on challenging projects, often putting in extra hours simply because he loved learning.
His love for computers led him to a career in programming. After attending Humboldt State University, working in the photo department at Longs Drugs, and living in Arcata, Michael moved to Seattle, Washington. There, he built a substantial portion of his professional career as a valued computer programmer at Moodlerooms, collaborating with his longtime childhood friend Mark Nielsen, before returning to McKinleyville in 2012.
Michael enjoyed camping, fishing with his father, mushroom hunting, and traveling. He explored Japan and Europe with Mark, spent a summer in the Azores with family, and cruised the Bahamas and Alaska. He also undertook numerous road trips, including two cross-country RV journeys through the United States and Canada to visit national parks and monuments.
In later years, Michael turned inward toward spirituality. He found joy in time spent with family, scenic drives, and culinary experiments—making jams, cider, preserves, and baked treats, all in the spirit of science. His love of nature remained a constant thread, and he continued to enjoy evenings playing video games.
Michael was preceded in death by his mother, Maria, and his brother, Nelson. He is survived by his father, Henry; his sister, Melissa; his aunt Elizabeth and her husband Geoff Wright; and cousins Grace, Gavin, and Garrett.
The family expresses deep gratitude to all of Michael’s healthcare providers, especially to Jeremy, who lived with Michael as his primary caregiver and friend.
In Michael’s honor, donations may be made to the National Ataxia Foundation to support research for a cure and relief for those affected. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
https://www.ataxia.org
The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Michael Avelar’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost publishes obituaries for Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here: https://lostcoastoutpost.com/faq/#obituaries
