AARC Mourns Loss of CoARC President

July 10, 2013

The AARC joins CoARC in mourning the loss of Steve Mikles, EdS, RRT, FAARC, who lost his long battle with cancer on July 4. As president of CoARC’s Board of Commissioners, Steve was actively engaged in leading the organization up until the time of his death and will be greatly missed by all of his colleagues.

His loss will also be felt throughout the AARC, where he served in numerous capacities since becoming a member of the Association in the 1970s.

“The respiratory care profession has lost one of its best and brightest respiratory therapists, educators, and leaders with the passing of Steve Mikles," says AARC President George Gaebler, MSEd, RRT, FAARC.

Steve Mikles earned both his associate and bachelor’s degrees from SUNY Upstate Medical Center, graduating with high honors. He received his master’s degree and education specialist degree from the University of South Florida. At the time of his death he was serving as program director at St. Petersburg College in Pinellas Park, FL, where he had been on the faculty for 34 years.

In addition to his many volunteer activities with his professional organizations, Steve was a competitive runner for more than 25 years and also enjoyed biking and kayaking. The Stephen Mikles Scholarship Fund has been set up at St. Petersburg College to receive donations in his memory.

To read more about Steve and the legacy he is leaving behind, read this article written by his colleagues at CoARC.