By Ben Olson
Reader Staff
Sandpoint lost one of its cherished small business owners on June 13.
Randi, Michaella and Mike Hammersberg. Courtesy photo
Mike Hammersberg, 72, was embarking on a summer vacation with his wife Randi, 66, and daughter Michaella, 35, when an 18-year-old driver struck them while speeding and failed to maintain her lane of travel during an attempt to pass. The speeding vehicle collided with the Hammersbergs’ SUV and caused it to roll over several times.
Mike was declared dead at the scene. Randi and daughter Miki were flown by helicopter to hospitals in Missoula and Seattle, respectively, where they are fighting for their lives.
To call this a tragedy doesn’t begin to approach how devastating of a blow it is to those who knew and loved this wonderful family, which has owned and operated Image Maker — the only camera shop and developer in Sandpoint — for many years.
Mike would be an immediate inclusion in any novel filled with Sandpoint characters. He wore flowing Hawaiian shirts, played in a Hall and Oates tribute band and always had a smile on his face. You’d be hard-pressed to meet a nicer guy.
I grew to know Mike, Randi and Miki over the years before I ran this newspaper, when I worked as a freelance photographer who shot only film. Mike and I often stood at his counter discussing my recent travels, photography, Sandpoint in general or anything else that came up. He was usually the first person I’d see after returning home, toting a half dozen rolls of black-and-white film to develop. Afterward, when I would pick up the film, we’d stand for another half an hour talking about where I’d been, my favorite part of the trip and how much he enjoyed the images he saw while developing them.
Mike loved to talk. He was interested in all his customers, and always asked me how the Reader was doing, ending the conversation with a promise to get in another ad soon.
The last time we spoke he was so excited to embark on this summer’s vacation to visit a location where his ancestors had gathered while making their way west to homestead.
I was going to connect with him when he got back in the hopes of writing an article in the Reader about it. It sounded like a really cool plan, but ended in tragedy.
I felt a kinship with Mike for many reasons, mainly because we both operated anachronistic businesses that defied the odds by continuing to exist in today’s digital world. Knowing ImageMaker was there, just around the corner, always gave me happiness. It’s one of those old-school Sandpoint businesses that, when it’s gone, it’ll likely never be replaced. It is, as was Mike, quintessentially Sandpoint.
When I heard Mike was gone, it was like a chair was pulled from under me. He was such a wonderful man. With Randi and Miki in critical condition, now is the time to do what Sandpointians do when our fellow residents are in trouble: help.
Family and friends started a GoFundMe page to support Randi and Miki on the long road of recovery ahead of them. As of June 25, $46,518 has been raised toward the $50,000 goal. Donate here: bit.ly/Hammersberg.
Thank you for all the great conversations, Mike. We’ll take care of your family as best we can from here. Rest in peace, brother.
