Michael E. Potter, 72, Wyckoff Native Dies Suddenly

WYCKOFF, NJ — Mike Potter, 72, a township native, died suddenly July 21 while gardening in his Montana yard.

"Gardening and creating beauty in the world around him were one of Mike's greatest passions," Potter's family said in his obituary.

Potter was born in Rochester, New York. He and his brothers, Curtis and Jonathan, grew up in Wyckoff.

He attended Syracuse University and earned a bachelor's degree in art and a bachelor's of fine arts in landscape architecture.

Potter married his first wife, Dale, and moved to Billings, Montana. He worked for Ted Wirth and Associates and designed the first National Park of Saudi Arabia and many Billings area parks and playgrounds.

"Mike’s talent and passion for land use planning and designing beautiful and functional communities, neighborhoods, and spaces for people, combined with his reverence for our natural world, have left an indelible portfolio representative of his passion and drive to create beauty in the world around him," his family said. "Mike used his knowledge, philosophies and experience to mentor younger professionals throughout his career, including his nephew, Brett."

Potter's first wife died in 2007. He married his second wife, Kreta, in 2015. Together they traveled to see the crane migrations, redwood forests, Florida beaches, and frequented Yellowstone Park, his family said. He enjoyed going on walks, feeding the birds, growing dahlias, smelling the flowers, and taking photos and creating memories.

Potter is survived by his second wife, sons, Jeffrey, and his wife, Amy, and Matthew, daughters, Katherine, and her husband, Jim and Meredith, brothers Jonathan and Curtis, and his wife, Joyce; and sister-in-law, Peg.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com