Michael Leonard Jaworski, 35, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on the night of March 5, 2026.

Michael or “Mikey” grew up in Shokan, NY. As a child, he spent countless hours outside helping his dad stack wood, catching crayfish in the creek with his sisters and working in the yard with his mom. Playing with neighborhood kids, whether it was badminton, dirt biking, building forts or ping-pong, Mikey was always all in. During the summers, Mikey cherished canoe camping trips with his family in the Adirondacks, a place he would become synonymous with.

Some notable milestones of Mike’s life began at SUNY Oneonta. Here he would meet and fall in love with his wife, Amanda. Geology class was the start and from there, Mike would adjust his days to pass her in the library or find a reason to run into her. What started as a close and solid friendship created the foundation for their loving, fun, and incredibly full life together. At Oneonta Mike also joined the mountain bike club, which would prove to be a pretty perfect outlet to channel the many nuances that made Mike, Mike. He loved the outdoors, physically challenging himself, pushing excellence, and any reason to get into the woods and cut down a tree or clear a path. Mike built biking trails for family and friends to enjoy all the way from Oneonta to “Fronhofer State Park”.

Anyone that knew Mike instantly learned of his undeniable passion, drive, and intensity for any and all tasks. It was infectious really. While he never forced anyone to join in with him, pretty much everyone wanted to anyway. Mike drew you in, taught you lessons, pushed you beyond your own limits, and helped people achieve things they may have never thought possible. What a unique gift that was. Mike loved to challenge his friends and loved being challenged himself.

Mike understood that some of the most meaningful parts of life often involve sore legs, tired hands, and a little uncertainty. He leaned into these with enthusiasm. In January 2020, Mike and his friend Nick completed the first known winter through-hike of all 46 Adirondack High Peaks, finishing in 10 days, 8 hours, and 58 minutes. They currently hold the FKT (Fastest Known Time). For many people that would have been enough, but not for Mike! That June he did it again. This time, with his cousins Dan and Paul, unassisted in 6 days, 5 hours, and 40 minutes.

But Mike’s passions weren’t limited to just outdoor activities and living for time on the weekends. He really loved working for BDP. Mike worked alongside his uncles Carl and Socrates, who taught him so much about how the machines worked and how to fix them. He brought friends into the company and worked alongside them, too. When the time came to step up and manage the assembly building at BDP, Mike was eager to take on that kind of challenge. He quickly became an efficiency wizard, always optimizing and looking for the quickest way to get things done without compromising quality. Even during chemo treatments, he always wanted to go to work if he could. Mike truly enjoyed each and every aspect of his very full life.

Mike was a modern-day Renaissance man. He had many hidden talents.

He taught himself how to sew for practical reasons, like patching torn pants or making his niece Clara an octopus costume that stole the show at her local Halloween parade.

Need your knives sharpened? Call Mike- he had a tool for that.

His vast knowledge of tying knots always made for the perfectly hung hammock or bike backpacking set up.

With little to no real knowledge, Mike made Amanda a beautiful white oak table that sits in her shop, just because.

Even Mike’s hair became a topic of conversation and he always cut it himself. He cut his cousin Luke’s hair for his wedding, which Mike also officiated. Making it one of five weddings where he was the officiant.

Perhaps Mike’s proudest accomplishments and creativity came while building the home he would share with Amanda, their two children, William and Valerie, and their dog, Toast. From countless walks by a vacant, untouched plot of land, Mike sold Amanda on his vision for their future home. He would, of course, involve himself more than most in this massive construction project. Mike took the lead for the overall layout, down to the small details. His favorite being truly epic rock walls that he built by hand, scattered throughout the property.

The house quickly became a place where friends and family gathered regularly. It was the start and end point for long bike rides with Erin and Elaine, and home to countless summer days on the porch with his parents talking through his latest hobby, accomplishment, or future endeavor.

Everyone that visited became accustomed to discovering new contraptions when walking through the home. It was so fun to see his Jaworski Innovations on baby gear once the kids arrived and fatherhood became his latest adventure. A paracord bottle holder on Valerie’s bassinet or the kitchen filled up with custom-modified high chairs, swings, and booster seats for William. Mike’s love was engrained wall-to-wall and the house was filled with the warmth and smell of lemon ricotta blueberry pancakes, his specialty.

Mike’s absence will certainly create a shift in all the lives that were lucky enough to cross with his. Mike is not defined by cancer, or how his beautiful life was cut much too short. Mike wanted the opposite and lived each day fully. Remember, we can all visit Michael anytime we want. Just take a ride in the woods or go on a hike in the Adirondacks - the trail between Wolfjaw and Gothics is one of his favorites. He’ll be there, just keep an eye out for him relaxed, in his hammock, enjoying the breeze and views with you.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, William and Patricia Jaworski, and Leonard and Minerva Fronhofer, as well as his uncles, Van, Frank, and Socrates Fronhofer. He is lovingly survived by his wife, Amanda Podolec, and their children, William (22 months) and Valerie (4 months), along with their beloved dog, Toast; his parents, Michael and Susan Jaworski; and his siblings, Evelyn (Gregory Marvin), Elaine (Armen Khederlarian), and Erin (Max Ruderman), many aunts and uncles, cousins, and niece and nephews.

In honor of Michael's passion for continuous learning and exploration, the family requests, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to support William and Valerie's future.  You can donate in the "Give" tab.

A celebration of life was held prior to Mike’s passing. There will be no services or calling hours.

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