Mike Eldon – RIP

I am deeply saddened to share the peaceful passing of Mike Eldon, my former husband, dear friend, and loving father of our children, Dan and Amy, on January 29th, at his home in Nairobi, Kenya. Mike lived a life defined by his sparkling wit, his service to others,his integrity, and his enduring commitment to young people—particularly the youth of Kenya, a country he deeply loved, and since our arrival in 1977, called home.

A graduate of University College London and the London Business School’s Sloane Fellows Program, Mike was known not only for his professional leadership as the CEO of the Kenyan headquarters of International Computers, Ltd., Wang, and IBM, but also for his belief that business should be a force for good. His father, Bruno Eldon, who narrowly escaped from the Nazis in Romania, oversaw Management training at Shell in the UK and taught him that true progress comes from investing in people. This was the ethos that Mike extended far beyond the workplace. His nearly 50-year involvement with the Rotary Club and his many board and advisory positions across numerous Kenyan organizations reflected the same belief in service above self, as he worked tirelessly to integrate new theories of management training into his youth mentorship programs and community-led development initiatives that uplifted countless lives and organizations.

Mike’s devotion to Kenyan youth was both practical and deeply personal. He believed young people flourish when they are trusted, challenged, and given the opportunity to imagine a future larger than their circumstances. This belief found lasting expression in the founding of the DEPOT, the Dan Eldon Place of Tomorrow, in 1993 to commemorate our son Dan—a visionary artist, activist, and Reuters photojournalist whose life and values continue to inspire young changemakers around the world. Through this exciting place of learning and creativity, Mike sought to honor Dan’s legacy by nurturing the curiosity, courage, and compassion of future generations. Using the DEPOT as his base, Mike consulted with companies across Africa, organizing executive leadership training seminars and peace-building retreats that bridged cultural divides, often behind the scenes.

At the heart of Mike’s life was his family. He was a devoted husband to Evelyn Mungai, whose partnership and shared love for Kenya grounded his work and widened his sense of purpose. Mike was a proud father of each member of Evelyn’s wonderful extended family.

I will remember Mike for his wicked sense of humor, his courageous leadership, his absolute belief in young people, and his conviction that one person’s commitment can help shape a better tomorrow. His extraordinary legacy lives on through the hundreds of articles he wrote, the individuals and institutions he touched, and the thousands of young people he encouraged to believe in themselves and their ability to make a difference.