Celebration of Life for Missing Mount Marathon Racer

Family and friends still hope to find LeMaitre

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By Corey Allen-Young
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Story Created: Jul 14, 2012 at 10:45 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Jul 14, 2012 at 10:45 AM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - It had been nine days since Michael LeMaitre disappeared while competing in the Mount Marathon race. Friday night, family, friends and co-workers of the 66-year-old Anchorage man held a celebration of life service in his honor, but his loved ones say it was not a memorial service.

That's because they're still holding out hope they will find him.

It’s because of the kind of person Michael LeMaitre was that those he worked with and loved came Friday night at his celebration of life at Anchorage City Church.

Family, friends, and co-workers shared stories of how LeMaitre made people laugh. They say he was very giving, and that translated well into his work. He was a civilian employee at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, where he helped outgoing military members build resumes to find employment when they got out.

Those he worked with say many whom LeMaitre helped ended up getting successful starts to their chosen careers. “He's helped so many people get jobs, transitioning from active duty to the civilian world and I know that he's impacted a lot of individuals,” said Tech Sergeant Melissa Beaushaw, who worked with LeMaitre.

Still, LeMaitre’s family says they are not giving up hope. His oldest daughter MaryAnne LeMaitre vows to be in Seward until her dad is found, and is helping crews search for him. She says they need more volunteers in order to keep the mission going.

“As long as weather holds out, the fire chief has said that as long as he has volunteers he will be sending them out to search, everybody wants closure; they want to find my dad,” said MaryAnne.

LeMaitre was last seen on the Fourth of July just 200 feet from the top of the mountain. If you want to help out you are asked to call the Seward Fire department at 907-224-3445.

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