By Carolyn Mish
Mike Rotkin–longtime UCSC lecturer and co-founder of the Community Studies program and five-time former mayor of the city of Santa Cruz—died on June 18th, 2025 due to leukemia at age 79. On Sept. 17th—what would have been his 80th birthday—friends, loved ones, collaborators, and the Santa Cruz community gathered at the Abbott Lighthouse on West Cliff to share moments spent with Mike and celebrate his life.
Mike loved Santa Cruz. That adoration and respect for this town colored all he did. He worked tirelessly throughout his life in many capacities—to improve our city buses, to preserve green spaces, to rebuild Downtown after a devastating earthquake, and to enhance our libraries.
“Mike absolutely loved the libraries,” said Ryan Coonerty, Santa Cruz native and former third district supervisor. “He cared passionately about creating spaces where people could learn and engage with one another, and where kids could gather after school. The vibrancy of our libraries is not just a legacy of Mike’s but a duty of ours to carry forward.”
Coonerty and Rotkin’s paths crossed as their terms on the Santa Cruz City Council overlapped. A dedicated public servant and experienced councilmember, Rotkin served as an exemplary mentor for Coonerty and other activists looking to make a change.
“He was incredibly focused on some of the unsexy issues of government that make the biggest difference in improving people’s quality of life here. Everything from trash pickup to water to funding basic safety services. He was passionate about making sure that government worked well for people. He was always willing to work with anyone as long as the impact created was good for our community.”
Mike and Pacific Cookie Company co-founder Larry Pearson met working on Vision Santa Cruz, a citizen-led nonprofit working to rebuild downtown following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. A mix of business owners, community leaders, and activists, the group took a moment to find their footing in the aftermath of the disaster, but was ultimately successful in rebuilding downtown from the ground up.
“Mike’s role in that was very important and pivotal in many ways. He claimed the title of a socialist-feminist and I was a businessperson and we had no obvious common ground, but what we found with his help was that we all had one in common: we loved Santa Cruz,” Pearson said. “Once we knew that, we began to trust each other, and everything we did almost without exception was by a unanimous vote.”
Pearson elaborated on Mike’s collaborative spirit and unique ability to move initiatives forward.
“That happened because after thorough discussion of an issue, Mike could express what we had discussed and agreed to in the form of a motion that we could all vote for and pass. It sounds ordinary, but it’s absolutely not. He was simply brilliant, and it was the way that he used his skills to further his love of Santa Cruz.”
Mike’s impact on Santa Cruz cannot be overstated. Residents now benefit from his work every day, whether they walk down West Cliff or dip into the Garfield Park library to check out a book. His achievements are felt in big ways, through the little things.
“Mike was the mayor of Santa Cruz, yet he was always the first guy putting out chairs and the last one folding them up when an event was over. He was always the one doing the little things making sure events worked, that we were being inclusive and everyone was having fun. There are a lot of big arguments and fights to be had that were worthwhile, but we also can’t forget to put out the chairs and take them in when we’re done, and that’s a lesson I learned from Mike.”
To make a gift towards a named tree planter on the roof deck of the new Downtown Library in honor of Mike Rotkin, be sure to designate “Mike Rotkin” on the donation form or contact us Friends@fscpl.org
Carolyn Mish holds a position at the Division of Undergraduate Education at UCSC as a Student Writer. She reports on events and community stories in order to highlight voices and perspectives.