Notable Contributor
Mike Kilgus
Kilgus brought laughter, fiscal expertise to GC
CFO, who died suddenly in 2013, still fondly remembered
Mike Kilgus
The laugh – it's everyone's first memory of Mike Kilgus.
"I can still hear his laugh in my mind when I remember him," said Dr. Lillian Mitchell, who served as Garrett College's dean of academic and student affairs when Kilgus was dean of administration in the early 2000s. "That says something very special about him."
"He had a larger-than-life personality," said Julie Yoder, GC's current dean of continuing education and workforce development, who was a program director when Kilgus worked at Garrett College in the early 2000s. "And he had that booming laugh, which was contagious and could be heard all over campus."
"Everybody loved Mike – his laugh was infectious," said Marcia Knepp, Garrett College's executive assistant to the president. "And he was so knowledgeable about finance and budgets. We missed him so much when he left Garrett."
Kilgus spent seven years at GC before accepting a vice presidency at Chesapeake College in 2007. He remained at Chesapeake until 2013, when he suffered a fatal heart attack at age 44.
"His passing left two college communities, at opposite ends of the state, in mourning," said Garrett College President Richard Midcap, who served as a Chesapeake College vice president throughout Kilgus' tenure at the Eastern Shore institution.
The Kilgus personality – somewhat unusual for someone with financial and administrative expertise – left an indelible imprint at both GC and Chesapeake.
"Mike Kilgus was a highly skilled CFO [Chief Financial Officer]," recalled retired Chesapeake College President Barbara Viniar. "But when his booming voice and laughter echoed in the corridors of Chesapeake, what was most apparent was his enthusiasm. His dedication to our students and the people with whom he worked was apparent in everything he did."
Mike Kilgus
"Mike was an incredibly positive and optimistic person," said Midcap. "And that laugh of his could be heard all over our administration building. Over and above that wonderful personality, he was a gifted financial expert."
"It is probably in their [CFOs'] nature to question every dollar expended and put the advocating administrator on the defensive," said Mitchell. "I never felt that way in working with Mike on budgets or academic expenditures. Every discussion was conducted with collegiality, good listening to rationale on his part and, of course, some humor."
Marcie Molloy, director of public information at Chesapeake College, said her initial introduction to Kilgus was typical of the man.
"One day I came around a corner in the administration building and ran smack into Mike," said Molloy. "It was a full-contact crash into a total stranger. Mike was on campus for a job interview.
"It could have been a very awkward moment, but Mike instead introduced himself and made a joke," continued Molloy. "That was a signal of the kind of colleague he would be. Mike was approachable, gracious, funny, and incredibly kind."
"Mike enjoyed life and he made work fun," said Chesapeake College Director of Human Resources Susan Cianchetta. "We always worked hard, but we also always found something to laugh about, no matter what the situation."
Cianchetta also praised Kilgus' leadership skills.
"We usually agreed on how situations should be handled, but if we didn't, we would have healthy debate," she said. "Mike was always respectful of others' opinions, and he was always fair. And he had the three things that I find are most important in a leader: intelligence, drive and energy."
Kilgus came to community college administration after working in the telecommunications private sector. He worked for MCIWorldCom in the late 1990s and early 2000s, eventually overseeing a telecom and data services contract with the U.S. Postal Service valued at more than a billion dollars. Prior to joining MCI, he worked as a senior financial analyst with an international consulting firm.
"It was clear from Mike's first year at GC that he truly loved this college environment," recalled Mitchell. "I believe [President] Steve Herman played a big part in developing that feeling as Steve was a great guide and mentor to Mike as Mike got his bearings in an academic setting.
"Mike's energy and outgoing personality made him a favorite with every area of the college," said Mitchell. "He was enjoyable to work with even in difficult times and facing difficult decisions. When he decided to leave, I know there was a feeling of loss and sadness around the campus."
Kilgus became deeply involved in Eastern Shore community initiatives after becoming Chesapeake College's vice president for administrative services. He became president of Shore Leadership – an organization dedicated to creating a new generation of regional leaders – and was on the Executive Committee of the Talbot County Chamber of Commerce.
Kilgus earned both a Bachelor's of Science degree in marketing and a Master's of Business Administration (MBA) from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Kilgus was survived by his wife, Becky, daughter Kelcie Polce and son Tanner Polce. In 2014, Chesapeake College named its basketball court The Michael Kilgus Court in honor of his leadership role in the planning and building of the Health Professions and Athletics Center.
