Michael Mahlon Quealy

Michael died on September 11, 2025 due to ARDS, a complication of esophageal cancer. He was a well-known natural resources and water law attorney during his 41-year legal career. 

Mike was born in Honolulu, Hawaii to Jay A. and Virginia W. Quealy. He spent a wonderful youth in the charm of Hawaii in the 1950’s, where his father owned several businesses. Mike was considered 3rd generation “haole” Hawaiian and could slip into the local “pidgin” dialect easily.  During his teen years, Mike and his close friends spent the summers exploring the “outer islands,” camping, fishing, and hunting. There was always great anticipation when the 4 x 4’s were loaded with gear to be shipped out by barge. 

Mike graduated from Punahou School in 1967 and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Denver in 1971. Mike then enrolled at the University of Wyoming Law School, receiving his Juris Doctorate in 1974. 

Following several years in private practice where he met Kay Gleave, the love of his life, Mike joined the Utah Attorney General’s Office, Natural Resources Division, and became director of the division for many years. In his practice, and elsewhere, Mike had an uncanny ability to use colorful language or make a joke about most any topic. 

Mike was involved in many interesting water law and inter-state water issues concerning the Colorado River. He sat second chair in two cases at the United States Supreme Court that involved the ownership of the bed of Utah Lake and jurisdictional issues on the Ute Tribe Reservation in the Uinta Basin. Mike also worked on resolving Federal Reserve water rights claims and helped negotiate water agreements for Zion, Bryce and Arches National Parks, as well as the Utah Navajo Nation, and the Shivwits Piute Band. 

Mike and Kay were the perfect complement to each other in spite of their personality differences. When things got serious, they always stood side by side and rode out whatever storms came along, spending 50 years together. 

Fishing was Mike’s addiction. He would fish for anything, anywhere, any time. In 1969 Mike worked as a deck hand on a charter boat in Kona, Hawaii, chasing Blue Marlin and Ahi Tuna. After moving to the mainland Mike shifted to fly fishing where he found art and peace of mind while fishing The Green and many famous rivers in Idaho, Wyoming and Montana. He was a Yellowstone Park Ranger one summer, operating the Park’s boats on Yellowstone Lake. Mike and Kay passed along their love of the outdoors and Mike, his love of fishing, to their three sons. 

Mike had one great adventure in his life. In 1966 Mike’s parents and family sailed his father’s newly built 75-foot sailboat from Holland to Hawaii, via the Panama Canal. He said sharing the midnight watch with his brother Pat in the mid-Atlantic was mesmerizing. 

Mike is survived by his wife, Kay, his three sons, Scott (Kami) , David (Audrey), Mark (Amber), and four beloved grandchildren, Norah, Miles, Ian and Benjamin. He is also survived by his brothers Patrick (Elizabeth), Timothy (April), Shawn (Lisa), and sister, Susie Woolley, as well as a special nephew Dar (Biz).  

A celebration of Mike’s life will be held at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, Millcreek, on Saturday, October 11, 2025, from 6-8 PM to gather however you are comfortable—in aloha shirt or suit—enjoy food, and celebrate memories of Mike. 

In lieu of flowers Mike would appreciate donations to the Utah Chapter of Trout Unlimited at www.tu.org, or Salt Lake County Search and Rescue at saltlakeserachandrescue.org