Michael Wildasin, a longtime educator with deep ties to his native Pennsylvania and Bath County, Virginia, died December 30, 2025, at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. He was 75.

He is survived by his partner of 31 years, Jim Fechner, and his college roommate and devoted friend of 57 years, Cliff Whitham. He was cherished by an eclectic group of devoted friends and relations who spanned his years at the College of William and Mary, his time as a teacher and professional advocate of social studies and civic education, and his decades on his beloved Bath County farm.

Michael christened his land bordering the Cowpasture River, Wallatoola Farm, in memory of the early Native Americans who had lived there. He immersed himself in the life of Bath County, serving on the boards of the Bath County Historical Society, Bath County Arts Association, Garth Newel Music Center, Preservation Bath, Alleghany Highlands Free Clinic, and the vestry at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Hot Springs.

An engaging conversationalist with an impish sense of humor, Michael treasured his many friendships and received great love in return. As one longtime friend noted, “He was the best, the kindest and the dearest of all.”

He loved to roam through farmers’ markets and antique shops and was a discerning collector of 19th century furniture and glass.

George Michael Wildasin was born on April 29, 1950, in York, Pennsylvania, to loving parents, George M. and Pauline Husson Wildasin, who preceded him in death. He grew up in nearby Abbottstown and attended public schools there before matriculating at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in 1972 and a law degree from William and Mary’s Marshall-Wythe School of Law in 1978. He did post-graduate work in history at the University of Virginia and earned a master of education degree from Virginia Tech.

He taught high school social studies in the Chesterfield County Public Schools for 11 years. In the midst of his time teaching at Midlothian and Manchester High Schools, he was selected as a Fellow in Virginia Government and spent a year at the University of Virginia’s Institute of Government and Curry School of Education. There, he worked to bring vibrant social studies resources to teachers around the state.

He was asked to be the commencement speaker for the Manchester High School class of 1984, which he considered one of the highest honors of his life.

He left the classroom to serve as assistant director of the Virginia Institute for Law and Citizenship Studies and assistant professor in the School of Education, Virginia Commonwealth University.

In 1990, he joined the Fairfax County Public Schools’ Department of Instructional Services where he worked with middle and high school social studies teachers to design social studies standards, curriculum, professional development, instructional materials, and assessments.

In 2000-2001, he chaired the committee that revised the Virginia Standards of Learning for Civics/Economics and Virginia and United States Government. He also served as the project director for First Amendment Schools, a collaborative initiative between the non-profit Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and the Freedom Forum First Amendment Center.

He was a founding member of the Virginia Commission on Civic Education and served between 2005-2022. Most recently, he served on a task force convened by the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) to reinvigorate civic education in K-12 schools

His funeral service is scheduled for 11am, January 10, 2026, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 100 E Water St., Abbottstown, PA, with a visitation at 10am. A luncheon will follow at the Altland House. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church Endowment Fund.