Irving Michaels Jr.

MICHAELS Mr. Irving Michaels Jr., age 83, of Mill Lane, Torrington, died on Sunday, October 19, 2003, at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital. He was the husband of Zelda L. (Mason) Michaels for 57 years. Mr. Michaels was born in New Haven, on February 14, 1920, a son of the late Irving and Martha (Bauer) Michaels Sr. and lived in Torrington since 1989. His former home was in Bridgeport. He attended Edgewood and Sheriden schools in New Haven, Culver Military Academy in Indiana for four years, one year at the Berkshire School in Sheffield, Mass., two years at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business and graduated from U.S.C. after serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps serving in the 1st and 26th Infantry Division as bombardier/navigator and instructor. Mr. Michaels joined the family business, Michaels Jewelers in 1946 serving as ceo and chairman of the board, retiring in 1986. He was a member of the American Gem Society where he became a registered jeweler and a certified gemologist. He was a member of the Board of Directors, and was honored with the Shipley Award in 1986. He had been a member of the 24 Karat Club of New York and the Boston Jewelers s Club of which he was president in 1984-1986. He had been a member of the Jewelry Industry Council where he had been a director, the Jewelers Vigilance Committee and the Retail Jewelers of America. He had enjoyed hunting, coin and stamp collecting, and photography. Besides his wife he is survived by, three sons, Irving Michaels III of Leggett, Calif, William Mark Michaels of Monroe and Victor Paul Micahaels of Bethany; cousin, Richard W. Michaels of Southbury; seven grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. A Memorial gathering will be held on Sunday, October 26, 2003, at 2 p.m. at the Cornucopia (Exit 46 off Route 8, Torrington). Gleeson Services, is in charge of arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor choice.