Paul Stephen Mikkelsen

Paul Stephen Mikkelsen passed away at the age of 74 on April 12, 2026. Paul was born in Portland, Maine on March 20, 1952, spending his early years in Portland and later grew up in Auburn, Maine. Paul attended Edward Little High School Class of ’70, in Auburn and Bates College in 1974 in Lewiston Maine, and graduated with a BS in Biology. Paul soon moved to Melbourne, Florida where he attended graduate school at Florida Institute of Technology (now, Florida Tech) and graduated in 1974 with an MS degree in Bio-Environmental Oceanography.

Paul worked full time in Fort Pierce, Florida for the Smithsonian Institution, the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, the State of Florida’s Aquatic Preserves program, and then for the Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management where he started in an environmental position but later managed the Information Technology section for the office. Part-time employment included contract work for the Identification of Molluscs (snails, clams, etc.) for the Federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Ecological Associates Inc. (EAI), and Seagrass Ecosystems Analysts (SEA). Paul published a few scientific documents in the field of Malacology.

On 6/23/1951, Paul’s mother, Mary Elizabeth Fickett (2/18/1933-4/5/2011), married Paul’s biological father, Jorgen Christian Mikkelsen, Jr. (5/21/1932-1/18/2001); this marriage also resulted in Paul’s two sisters: Kathleen Doris Mikkelsen (5/10/1953-5/15/2023) and Linda Jo Mikkelsen (9/22/1955-6/16/1962). On 7/25/1958, Paul’s mother divorced his bio-father and soon married Arthur John Vanier, Jr. (aka “Jack”, 1/18/1930-9/18/1995). Paul married Paula Mae Cowles on 8/3/1973 but was later divorced (3/21/1988) and never married again. Paul’s bio-dad remarried to Beverly Isabel Roberts (1/5/1959), resulting in Paul’s two half-sisters: Brigett Alana Mikkelsen (10/11/1961-1/17/2015) and Diana Lynn Mikkelsen (6/14/1963-1/27/2016). Paul’s bio-father later married Pauline “Polly” Lorraine Bennett (10/7/1943-10/22/2012), resulting in (and survived by) Paul’s half brother Thomas Christian Mikkelsen. Paul is also survived by his long-term significant other, Nancy Louise Sherrer.

Paul’s interests included the collection and study of molluscs, stamps, coins, and sea-beans. He enjoyed traveling, boating, canoeing and kayaking-enjoying and preserving nature. Of particular interest was genealogy, and his Danish heritage. His family tree can be viewed at www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/76548406