Michael Menashe Israel

Michael Menashe ISRAEL With profound sadness we sharewith family and friends the passing of Michael Menashe Israel, Saturday April 10th at sundown, Shabbat Shemini. Even though it was expected, it is nevertheless so very painful to say goodbye. Born February 13, 1927 at home, the home his parents Estreya Alhadeff and Morris Israel built in the Leschi-Madrona neighborhood - a tight knit community that forged lifetime friendships. Mike liked to joke that he did not go far geographically and that was true - Leschi to Mt. Baker to Mercer Island and his entire working career within a few downtown Seattle blocks. His education went from Leschi to Garfield to graduation from the University Of Washington, class of 1949 and a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi. From the UW, a call to duty in the US Army Signal Corps as a Morse code operator in the Lesser Antilles and a lieutenant commission in ROTC. His Morse code skills were so firmly entrenched, that in his last weeks when speech failed him, his family found him tapping out what we perceived as loving messages. One of Mike's favorite expressions was "my partner". His partner for life was Daisy and in just a few days they would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. His working partnerships were also strong and long lasting. With David G. Sprague he grew an insurance brokerage, Sprague Israel Giles, which just last September celebrated its 50th anniversary. The partnership grew to include Leon Giles and Sean Corry and now new young partners who continue to grow and serve. He proudly served as trustee of the SAMIS foundation helping to further Jewish education throughout the Seattle Area. He was a past master of Ionic lodge #90. Served on the boards of the Stroum Jewish Community Center, The Pacer Foundation and fundraised for the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. He will be forever loved and missed by his wife Daisy, sons Maury, Kenneth, daughter and son-in-law, Jane and Aaron Rosenstein and grandsons Nathan and Sam. His family includes sister Mary Piha Cohen and husband Leon, brother Jack and wife Marilyn, sister Sara and husband David Franco, sister-in-law Frances and the memory of beloved brother David. He also leaves behind a wonderful clan of nieces and nephews, many of whom considered him like a beloved grandfather. Daisy and family would likepublicly to thank the wonderful support from family, friends and special caregivers, Esmerelda Franco, Maretta Evans and the Group Health Hospice team led by the wonderfully skilled and always loving Kim Motais de Narvonne. Each day was a challenge that he met with quiet dignity and trust. Services were held on Monday, April 12th. Remembrances can be made to the Kline Galland Performing Arts Program, Northwest Parkinson's Foundation or to Herzl-Ner Tamid.