San Luis Obispo dentist Dr. Michael Colleran died of West Nile virus on October 25, 2026. He is remembered for his humor, kindness, intelligence, generosity and dedication to his family.
San Luis Obispo dentist Dr. Michael Colleran knew how to make people laugh, especially during difficult times. His humor was part of his strength, according to his son Sean Colleran.
“He was very strong as a person,” Sean said. “He was always trying to keep everyone around him calm – someone we could lean on and rely on.”
After a two-month battle with West Nile virus, Colleran died on October 25 at the age of 63. He is remembered for his sense of humor, kindness, intelligence, generosity and dedication to his family.
“I always loved how kind and funny he was,” Sean said. “He would always be there to listen and give good advice.”
West Nile virus in California
Toward the end of the summer, Colleran traveled to Anaheim for about a week and a half before becoming ill.
The virus started with flu-like symptoms and progressed to the stomach flu. He quickly developed neurological symptoms that resembled a stroke. He was then intubated and, a few weeks later, was diagnosed with West Nile virus.
After Colleran spent a month at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, his family moved him to a long-term care facility in West Covina, Los Angeles County, where he died.
Colleran was one of 29 people to die from West Nile virus in California in 2026, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Statewide, 502 people have tested positive for the mosquito-borne illness this year. Only one person has contracted the virus in San Luis Obispo County.
Death is not necessarily a common consequence of West Nile virus.
This summer, West Nile virus saw its highest level of activity in five years in California, according to the state. This spike did not necessarily impact San Luis Obispo County, according to the county public health department.
“Increased activity statewide does not necessarily mean that every county is experiencing the same level of transmission,” the county said in a statement. “Local activity depends on several factors, including mosquito populations, weather conditions, temperature, water availability and the presence of infected birds and mosquitoes. »
The county encouraged people to take precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites. They should use an insect repellent that contains an EPA-registered active ingredient, including DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus, and follow the directions on the product label. Wear protective clothing, especially at dawn and dusk, and eliminate standing water around the house.
The SLO dentist always showed up for his family
Colleran met his wife, Cyndee, in the 1980s while they were missionaries in Michigan for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They married nine months later and moved to California, she said. They were married for 41 years.
Cyndee taught Colleran how to water ski, and the couple loved spending time together at Lake Shasta. They eventually bought a boat and returned to the lake every year.
“She was just a fun, fun person,” Cyndee said.
The couple eventually adopted their two children, Megan and Sean.
“He was such a good father,” Sean said. “He was always joking.”
Sean spent a lot of time with his father — visiting the lake or Disneyland, playing card games and watching old TV shows like “The Twilight Zone,” he said.
Colleran was also a “fixer guy,” Sean said.
About two years ago, Sean’s car mirror wouldn’t stay in place, so he asked his father for help. Colleran chewed a piece of Bazooka bubble gum and used it to put the mirror back in place. The mirror still hasn’t moved.
“He would find the simplest, easiest way to understand something, and he would do it,” Sean said. “He was amazing at that.”
Build a Dental Office in San Luis Obispo
Colleran chose to become a dentist because he wanted to work in the medical field in a job that would allow him to spend weekends and evenings with his family, Cyndee said.
“Dentistry seemed to fit all of that,” she said.
He ran a private practice in Placerville, but the couple wanted to return to San Luis Obispo County — where they lived when Colleran attended Cal Poly.
“We’ve always loved this place,” she said. “The community is very tolerant.”
He eventually purchased his dental practice in San Luis Obispo in 2001, at 1250 Peach St. The entire family moved full-time to San Luis Obispo County in 2002 and lived in Templeton.
Colleran was dedicated to learning and expanding his practice, Cyndee said. He took courses in orthodontics, sleep apnea treatment and laser dentistry. He even became an instructor in laser dentistry later in his career, she said.
“He was always expanding his knowledge and what he could offer his patients,” she said.
He strove to be a “pain-free dentist,” she said.
“He took great pride in making every effort to make everything as painless as possible, so people would feel comfortable coming to see him,” Cyndee said.
Colleran was a man of few words, so he hired a “talkative” staff to make his office welcoming to patients, she said.
“There was always a lot of laughter at that workout,” Cyndee said. “He wasn’t a real serious guy. He liked to keep things light.”
The practice experienced a major upheaval in 2024 when it was destroyed in an arson, forcing Colleran to temporarily relocate the business.
They repaired the building and moved in about a year ago, but the Colleran family is still paying off their loans, Cyndee said.
Now the dental office is for sale, Cyndee said. In the meantime, a few of their dentist friends are volunteering to cover appointments so the office can continue serving patients.
Help the Colleran family with medical bills
The community can support the Colleran family by donating to GoFundMe to help cover medical expenses and business loans.
The family is facing large medical bills due to a heart attack Colleran also suffered recently and his battle with West Nile virus.
Find the GoFundMe online at gofundme.com/f/support-cyndee-after-mikes-passing?cp_src=d.
“Any support, whether through a donation or sharing in this fundraiser, would mean a lot to the Colleran family,” the GoFundMe said. “Your kindness and generosity can help give Cyndee a little more respite as she grieves and begins to face the days ahead.”
Sean’s fiancée, Megan Mathews, started the fundraiser on behalf of the family.
Colleran’s family will host a celebration of life at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Atascadero, 2600 Ramona Road, on Nov. 14 at 10 a.m.
“We have a strong faith, and that’s what gets me through this,” Cyndee said. “His mind is in a better place and we will see him again.”
This story was originally published October 31, 2026 at 10:00 a.m..
Gn Health
