ARTHUR MICHEL

Arthur H. Michel June 4, 1927 - May 28, 2012 Art was born in Hackensack, N.J. and spent his childhood in Hasbrouck Heights, N.J. He attended the public schools there, graduating from Franklin High School shortly before the end of World War II. Art served briefly as a Naval Aviation Cadet at Hampden Sydney College and then transferred to Wagner Memorial Lutheran College to complete work for his BA which he received in 1949. He returned to active duty in the U.S. Naval Reserve during the Korean War and served on the USS Pocono. Art and his first wife Eleanor met in Ann Arbor, Michigan where they were both students at the University of Michigan. They had two children, Jeffrey and Melissa. Art pursued a career as a clinical social worker from 1955 until 1983 when he took a position as an electrical transit mechanic with the San Francisco Railway. Art had been a rail fan since childhood and the opportunity to work on modern as well as vintage rail cars was the fulfillment of a lifelong interest. After a divorce from Eleanor, Art married Ellie Rezac in 1991 and they bought a house together in San Francisco. Ellie died in 2001 and a year later he met Margaret Massialas on the "green" at the San Francisco Lawn Bowling Club in Golden Gate Park. They remained life companions and this relationship brought many new family members and friends into Art's life. He served several years as President of Market Street Railway, Muni's partner in initiating the F historic streetcar line and also served one term as the Vice President of the S.F. Lawn Bowling Club. Art and Ellie joined St. Mark's Lutheran Church about 1992 and both Art and Margaret have been active at both St. Mark's and in Grace Cathedral to which Margaret belonged. Art leaves his son Jeff of Oakland; his daughter Melissa (her husband, Trevor Moore) of Burlington, Ontario, Canada, two grandchildren, David and Katie; his sister Florence (her husband, Dale Charpentier) of Santa Barbara as well as his nephew David and his nieces Debbie, Cindy and Barbara. A memorial service will be held at St. Mark's Lutheran Church - 1111 O'Farrell St. San Francisco on Sunday June 3, 2012 at 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in Art's memory can be made to St. Mark's Church, S.F. Food Bank or St. Anthony's Foundation.