Michael Shara

Michael Shara passed away at age 74 from complications from Parkinson’s disease on February 26, 2026. Mike is survived by his wife, Maureen, and his children Matt, Katie, Erika and Kelly.

Mike was born in Medford, Oregon on July 25, 1951 to Jack and Pat Shara. They moved to Granada Hills, California where they grew their family and set down roots. Mike had two younger siblings, Vicki (Shara) Franklin and John Shara. His childhood was marked by a prowess and love for sport. He raced go karts with his dad out of the family auto shop and played shortstop for the Granada Hills Braves. Notably, his team advanced to compete in the Little League World Series in 1963. With Mike’s contributions, the team won the World Series and earned a celebratory trip to the White House where he met then-president John F. Kennedy. Upon their return, they were also awarded a parade and exhibition game at Dodger Stadium, a special place for Mike.

Mike moved to Santa Barbara in 1969, first attending Santa Barbara City College and later UCSB after earning a spot on the golf team, graduating with a B.S. in Geography in 1973. He worked at the Chart House restaurant in the latter half of the 70s, a formative season where he met people who would become some of his lifelong friends, as well as his late wife, Cindy. Mike left the Chart House to become a mortgage broker, and he and Cindy married in 1984.

Mike left an indelible mark on the Santa Barbara community through his work as a loan officer, spending the majority of his career with Chase Home Finance and conducting his business with integrity and compassion. He could often be found closing deals or making connections on the golf courses around town, his favorite of which was Montecito Country Club, where he was a member for over 40 years.

Even more than his career and athletic accomplishments, Mike was most proud of his family. After Cindy passed away from cancer in 2002, Mike married Maureen and became a step-dad to Maureen’s daughter, Erika. Mike was the most ardent supporter of all four kids and cheered on their sports careers, academic achievements and growth into the successful and kind-hearted adults they are today. Mike and Maureen enjoyed a marriage full of travel to their favorite tropical destinations, concerts, baseball games, and relaxing with their dogs. In 2017, they retired and moved to Le Claire, Iowa to be near Maureen’s family.

We will dearly miss Mike’s warm smile, his generosity, kind heart and compassion. We will honor and celebrate his life on Friday, March 27, with a service at Santa Barbara Community Church at 2:00 pm, followed by a reception at Glen Annie Golf Club at 4:00 pm.