August 23, 1964 – June 1, 2025
Mike Bouchet of Carbondale passed away on June 1. He was doing what he loved — mountain bike riding with a good friend.
Mike was born on Aug. 23, 1964, in the Bronx, New York, to Anna and Henry Rodriguez. He was the youngest of their three boys. His mom raised them first in the Bronx, moving them when Mike was about 4 years old to Long Island, where they lived for a number of years with family in the home that Mike’s grandfather built. Mike loved to tell amazing stories from this time on Long Island with his cousins, aunts, brothers, mom and grandfather.
When they eventually returned to the Bronx, Mike’s mom had a goal of getting him out of the city because it was during a particularly rough era. She got him a scholarship to the Hoosac School in Upstate New York where, at age 13, he went to boarding school. At school he developed a love for soccer and became a strong player. After Hoosac, he received a soccer scholarship to Southern Vermont College in Bennington, where his studies focused in the social sciences. After he returned to New York City, a favorite past-time was to join the pick-up games “with people from all over the world” that were always happening in the city parks.
Mike then became an electrician after discovering his amazing aptitude in this trade, receiving his journeyman license under the training of “Scottie,” a Scottish master electrician in the Bronx.
Everyone who knew Mike knew of his love for skiing and cycling. It was at the Hoosac School where Mike was introduced to skiing. On Wednesdays after school, a van would take students to nearby Jiminy Peak for lessons and night skiing. During his college years, Mike leveraged the college ski club for gear, transportation to the mountains and lessons. He even joined the volunteer ski patrol for a time at Stratton Mountain in Vermont.
His love of cycling started young, when he discovered the thrill of “city riding” in New York. Later, while working as an electrician in the city, he would do long commutes to wherever the job-site was on his bike, loving the intensity of riding the streets through the various boroughs. Outside of commuting, he also started to play around on his bike, experimenting with the different terrain in Central Park. This was, of course, the spark to his later love of mountain biking.
When Mike was 28, he drove out to Vail for his first ski trip in Colorado. That experience was a game-changer. He went back to New York, packed up his things, and moved to Colorado, settling in Denver. In addition to working as an electrician, he picked up a part-time job at REI, where he built a tight and long-lasting community of friends. This “REI family” was equally passionate about doing crazy adventures outside. With this community, he discovered how to thrive in the balance between “having to work” and enjoying life through deep friendships, fun and recreation. It was also at an REI party that Mike met his wife, Jen, who also happened to like the out-of-doors.
Mike and Jen were married in the mountains surrounded by friends and family on July 4, 1998. It was right before they were married that Mike made the decision to change his name from Rodriguez to his mom’s maiden name of Bouchet. He felt very strongly that the new family he was going to help create carry the last name of the person who raised him, and for whom he had deep love, gratitude and respect. Mike and Jen settled into the Park Hill area of Denver where they began that family.
In 2007, Mike began a career shift into photovoltaic systems, coming to Carbondale to train with Solar Energy International. Mike and Jen fell in love with this little town and in 2008, with a local solar job offer, they jumped at the chance to move their young family to Carbondale.
Mike’s career stayed within renewable energy from then on. He developed long-lasting, close relationships with many people through his work. His work fascinated him, and he took immense pride in doing a job as well as it could be done.
Though he worked hard to support his family, he always emphasized enjoyment, relaxation and recreation. Weekends in the winter were all about skiing with family or friends. If six inches or more of snow fell on a work day, he unflinchingly invoked the “powder clause,” and work would simply have to wait. Once the skis were put away for the season, the bikes came out, as did the camp boxes. Mike was always on a quest to balance his lifestyle, and relaxation was key. He could be found many days a week at the Glenwood Hot Springs, soaking his aches and relishing in the friendships of his “pool buddies.”
In all spheres Mike engaged, he had an uncanny ability to connect with people. His enthusiasm for life was truly infectious. He was a connector. He took the time. He lived simply. He cared little for possessions (except his bikes and skis). Instead, he sought experience, exploration, laughter, connection and time with others. That is what truly fed his soul, which in turn is what endeared him to others. That was his magic.
Mike is preceded in death by his mother, Anna Rodriguez. He is survived by his wife, Jennifer Bouchet; his daughters, Justice and Joy; his son, Elan; his brothers, Jose and Richard Rodriguez; and his nieces, Jennifer and Jacqueline Rodriguez.
Like his mom, he leaves an incredible legacy of how to live your life in alignment with what is important to you. There will be a Celebration of Life for Mike on July 12. More information will be forthcoming. Donations to support education and the training goals of his three children can be directed to gofund.me/3cff3fdd