Michael B. Durant, age 75 of Fort Wayne, passed away on July 22, 2026, at home. He was a 1969 graduate of Lawrence High School, Indianapolis, and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University in 1975. He followed that with post graduate work towards a master’s degree also at Purdue. His career began with Essex Controls and later Navistar in Fort Wayne. He then became the Director of Information Services for Fort Wayne Plastics. For about 35 years he worked part-time for Belmont Liquors in sales with a specialty in the knowledge of wines. He shared his knowledge of wines with wine tasting classes taught at IPFW. Prior to his retirement in 2013 he helped open and was assistant manager of the Belmont Liquors store on Illinois Road.

Michael was a man of many accomplishments and interests in his life. In the gaming industry he was instrumental in building and testing modules and platforms the games ran on, most notably D & D (Dungeons and Dragons). Developers would send new games to him for testing so that his knowledge of the platforms could be used to the fullest extent in the development of various games. He was one of the founders of NIGA (Northeast Indiana Gaming Association) and Pentacon gaming convention in Fort Wayne. He also was an early part of internationally known Gen-Con which has become the largest gaming convention in North America.

While in college he became interested in radio and had his own campus radio program. In Fort Wayne he was a volunteer for NPR at WBNI radio hosting a late-night jazz program and later would host “The World of Blues” internet program from his home.

He also participated in the theatre department at Purdue Lafayette in several productions. He volunteered at Fort Wayne Civic Theatre with his wife by working backstage on numerous productions. He also acted locally in a few productions for Fortney Enterprises. He was a busy magician for several decades. Part of that time he worked with his colleague Lana. As a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians he was Master of Ceremonies at their conventions for many years, while also participating in events at the Magic Castle in Los Angeles. He danced with the Fort Wayne Dance Collective for a short time. Having been a Boy Scout himself in his youth Michael became involved in scouting with his sons, acting as an assistant scout leader. He was instrumental in the founding of the Explorer program for scouts in Fort Wayne and loved caving, rock climbing, camping and hiking. He enjoyed volunteering at the Historic Old Fort playing the character “Dr. Wells” for several years. He was also a participant in the “Save the Old Fort” project when it was in jeopardy of being dismantled.

Michael B. Durant was born on May 4, 1951, in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Bryce and Ann (Glover) Durant. He married his wife of forty-five years, Nan O’Connell, on June 27, 1981, in Fort Wayne and she survives.

Surviving in addition to his wife, are a daughter, Lee (Bill) Hanford, of Fort Wayne; two sons, Geoff (Denise) Durant, of Fort Wayne and Jon (Andie) Durant, of Fishers, Indiana; five grandchildren, Justin (Allison) Hanford, Brian (Hannah) Hanford, Olivia (Aidan) Durant-Kline, Danielle Hough, Caleb Hough; six great-grandchildren, Brooke, Ellery, Josie, Mia, Emery and Ashlynn; and two sisters, Susan (Joe) Tomaino, of Fort Myers, Florida, and Nancy (Paul) Williamson, of Austin, Texas, plus nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, David Durant.

In accordance with Michael’s wishes there will be no public services. Private interment will take place in Catholic Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Fort Wayne Historic Old Fort.