Pierre-Michel Kronenberg

Pierre-Michel Kronenberg, fondly known as “Mike” by many of his friends and colleagues, passed away peacefully on December 5, 2024, in Boulder, Colorado. He was 63. His life was a remarkable journey of adventure, innovation, and love.

Pierre-Michel was born in Neuchatel, Switzerland. He spent his childhood surrounded by Switzerland’s natural beauty and rich traditions. From an early age he was filled with curiosity and a love for learning. School came easily to him and his natural talents shined when it came to academics. However, he preferred to dedicate himself to his true passions – alpine skiing, car engines, and souping up his moped to go as fast as possible. He was fearless and mischievous at times, with a knack for getting himself into trouble and keeping his parents, Hilde and Sebastian, and local law enforcement on their toes.

After graduating high school, Pierre-Michel joined the Swiss Special Forces and worked his way up the ranks to officer. His time in the military gave him the excitement he was looking for and exemplified his courage, leadership skills and loyalty. His platoon remembers him for his strategic mind, sharp shot and dedication.

Pierre-Michel’s commitment to excellence extended into all areas of his life, including his academic pursuits. He was accepted into one of the most prestigious technical research universities in Europe, EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédéral de Lausanne), where he earned a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering.

He met the love of his life, Jennifer, at a costume party near Zurich and the two of them became instant friends. Pierre-Michel was smitten by Jennifer’s beauty, kind heart, and sharp mind. The couple were married in 1989, and shortly after they embarked on a new adventure together, moving to the United States. They began their graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Pierre-Michel pursued a PhD in Mechanical Engineering focusing on thermodynamics.

While studying in Wisconsin, Pierre-Michel and Jennifer welcomed their children Melanie and Eric into the world and embraced their role as parents. Around this time, Pierre-Michel created a data management computer program that quickly grew in popularity around campus. This inspired the couple to team up and launch their first business, Mijenix.

In 1997, Pierre-Michel and Jennifer decided to move their family and business to the up-and-coming tech hub of Boulder. The family felt quickly at home with the landscape, lifestyle and freedom of Colorado. Pierre-Michel was glad to be surrounded by mountains again and wasted no time teaching Melanie and Eric how to ski. He loved being a father and watching his kids grow. His children brought him much pride and joy with their laughter, athletic and creative talents, and academic pursuits.

Over the following decades, Pierre-Michel held a long and successful career as an entrepreneur and executive, building software businesses and working as CTO for several companies. Mike’s career in technology and engineering was marked by innovation and dedication. He was respected and admired by his peers for his expertise, mentorship, and desire to help others succeed.

Outside of work and family, Pierre-Michel found joy in his hobbies. He loved working on engines, cars and motorcycles, often spending hours perfecting every detail. He felt a sense of freedom behind the wheel and loved going on cross-country motorcycle trips and racing cars. He was also an avid cyclist who enjoyed long rides as a way to connect with nature.

Pierre-Michel is survived by his wife, Jennifer, his children, Melanie and Eric, son-in-law Archie, parents, many in-laws, nieces, nephews and countless friends and colleagues who will remember him for his intelligence, humor, enthusiasm and kindness. His legacy is one of love, strength, and inspiration.

A memorial service will be held January 11, 2025, at the Boulder Chautauqua Community House

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the JAG Fund (Foundation for brain cancer research) at www.jagfund.org (http://www.jagfund.org/) or at Penn Medicine’s The Brain Tumor Lab Support Fund at https://giving.apps.upenn.edu/fund?program=MED&fund=841207