OK Obits

© Duncan Banner
29 Jul 2003
Submitted by: Gene Phillips

Richard Michael "Mike" Sanders

Dec. 12, 1950 ~ July 26, 2003

HONOLULU, Hawaii - Richard Michael "Mike" Sanders, 52, of Honolulu, Hawaii, died Saturday, July 26, 2003, at his home. The family will hold a private service Saturday in Honolulu, with a public "celebration of life" service to be held that afternoon.

Mike was born Dec. 12, 1950, and was reared in Duncan by his parents, Robert and Betty Zoe Sanders. He graduated from Duncan High School in 1969. In tandem with his public schooling, he attended the Storey and Barton School of the Dance in Lawton from 1960 through 1969. During high school, he received summer scholarships in ballet at Southern Methodist University, Harkness School of Ballet in Rhode Island and ballet programs in New York City, and he danced with the Russian Ballet in San Antonio, Texas.

Upon high school graduation, Mike received a scholarship to North Carolina School of the Arts, and thereafter joined the North Carolina Dance Theatre. In the early 1970s, Mike joined the Netherlands Dance Theatre, The Hague, Netherlands. Mike was a principal dancer with the Netherlands Dance Theatre for over 10 years, and performed on stage on every continent of the world.

In 1987, he married Evelyn Walstrum, also a principal dancer with the Netherlands Dance Theatre. Upon their retirement from the Netherlands Dance Theatre, they moved to Honolulu.

Mike managed Island Camera Store for several years and, more recently, worked for Chanel Inc. Additionally, he taught classes at the Queen Emma Ballet School operated by his wife, Eve, and Suzanne Rowland. He was beloved by his students, young and old. Mike also choreographed ballet productions for Ballet Hawaii and Queen Emma Ballet. In recent years, during his visits with his mother in Duncan, he taught as a guest instructor at the school of his mentors in Lawton, Storey and Barton.

Mike was preceded in death by his father, Robert Sanders, and by his brother, James Sanders.

He is survived by his mother, Betty Zoe Sanders of Duncan; his wife, Eve Sanders, of the home in Honolulu; and by relatives and friends throughout the world.

For information, contact Ultimate Cremation Services, 2162 Nuuanu Ave., Honolulu, Hawaii 96817.

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