Michael Lapine Cole

Cole, Michael Lapine passed away on November 8, 2017, of cancer, surrounded by Sharon, his wife of 54 years, his daughter Michelle, and his grandson Elijah. He was born in Tientsin, China, on December 18, 1937, of a Russian mother and a French father. He spent his early years there during WWII when the Japanese occupied China, coming to America when he was in middle school. He attended many schools as his step-father was in the military, but he graduated from Fullerton Union High School, earned his BA from Cal State Fullerton and his Master's degree from Chapman College.
His family and friends thought of him as a Renaissance man as he had many interests and pursued them with passion. He was an elementary school teacher, a school principal, an owner of a liquor store, a real estate agent, and an owner of a mortgage company. He was a masterful storyteller, and in retirement he wrote and had published 15 novels. He spent hours at the computer researching background for his stories so, although most were archaeological adventure stories or science fiction, they were based on facts. He enjoyed golf, cooking, winning at bridge, traveling and barbequing at Lake Forest Golf Course. He was an avid gardener and took so much pride in his flowers and plants, but most of all, he loved making memories with his friends.