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Michael Joel Kanz

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Roosevelt High School Indiana University

Michael Kanz Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Oct. 18, 2023.

Michael Joel Kanz, a beloved father, mentor, and friend, passed away on August 15, 2023, in Concord, California, at the age of 71. Michael was born January 29, 1952, in Columbia, Missouri, to Lois (Specter) and Morton Kanz. He grew up in East Chicago, Indiana, graduating in 1970 from Roosevelt High School, before completing his degree at Indiana University at Bloomington.

Following in the footsteps of his father and his grandfather Melvin Specter, Michael studied law, obtaining his Juris Doctor in 1977 from Oklahoma City University School of Law.

As a newly minted lawyer, Michael moved to California and worked as a Vista lawyer with Legal Assistance to the Elderly in San Francisco, providing free legal services to the aged and disabled population. This began Michael's long and successful career as a tireless advocate for justice, litigating such issues as the retention and access to habitable housing, safe working conditions, fair compensation and housing for farmworkers, and protection of the vulnerable from unfair consumer practices. He was a formidable opponent in litigation with a brilliant and tenacious legal mind.

His legal advocacy led him from San Francisco to Fresno, where he worked as a staff lawyer at Fresno-Merced Counties Legal Services, Directing Attorney at California Rural Legal Assistance, Director of Litigation/General Counsel at Central California Legal Services, Inc., and finally as an Administrative Law Judge for the State of California, Department of Social Services, from where he retired in 2021.

The flip side to Michael's legal career was his all-consuming passion for music. He loved to read about and listen to music, but he also took great pleasure in creating music compilations for friends and family. These compilations are works of art, containing all kinds of music, and there were few, if any, genres he did not appreciate. His alter ego, Nervous Biff, appears in several YouTube videos, "Turntable Manners," where Michael explores his musical journey. In 2015, he actualized his dream to open a record store, Dynamite Vinyl in Fresno, with co-owner Paul Cruikshank. When the business closed in 2017, Michael said good-bye to Fresno and returned to the Bay Area.

He is survived by his daughter Olivia Kanz of San Francisco, his uncle Dr. Michael Specter of Paris, as well as his ex-spouse Carolyn Phillips of Fresno. In addition, Michael leaves behind many friends, co-workers, and music enthusiasts, all of whom cherished his presence.

Michael had a kind, open and generous spirit. He delighted in creating an atmosphere filled with laughter and joy. He would want us to celebrate his life, as he celebrated life itself with a passion for justice, love of laughter and music, and an unwavering dedication to making the world a better place. He will forever remain in our hearts.

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Recent Activity

November 6, 2023

Dave Grabski posted to the memorial.

November 1, 2023

Paul Babwin posted to the memorial.

October 17, 2023

Brenda Carlee posted to the memorial.

3 Entries

Dave Grabski

November 6, 2023

Mike and I first met in Zelma Neal's second grade class at Harrison elementary school in East Chicago, IN. He invited me to his birthday party and a friendship was born that would last all through grade school and high school.
After Mike finished law school, he moved to the west coast and we became long-distance friends. We would write the craziest, zaniest letters to one another, trying to outdo each other in comedy and creativity. I think we both succeeded, but his letters to me left me rolling on the floor in stitches. He even wrote one in care of my place of business, which according to protocol was routed thru my boss. I don't know who my boss thought was nuttier--me or him.
The one thing I most admired about Mike was his absolute dedication in representing the poor and underserved. He was zealous and sincere advocate on their behalf. I was able to meet some of his clients during a visit to him in San Francisco. I was introduced as "the new lawyer from Indiana" (my job at the time was writing computer software). I knew just enough about the law to pull off the charade.

I will miss my old and life long friend.

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Paul Babwin

November 1, 2023

I met Michael in 1981 and we were colleagues at (as it was then called) Fresno-Merced Counties Legal Services. We were also teammates on the office softball team and fellow owner/managers in the office fantasy baseball league. Michael was intensely committed to all these endeavors. As I shared at the celebration of Michael´s life, one of my favorite memories was he and Carolyn showing up at my house for the office Halloween party in thematically matching costumes (their theme was, I think, something like "bathing beauties") with Michael with a towel and wearing swimming trunks. What I´d forgotten was that he also performed a rap that he had composed (although that may have been at another Halloween party.) His performance was creative and intense, which also describes his approach to his work. As I said the other day, he was a wonderful combination of intensity and goofiness.

Brenda Carlee

October 17, 2023

I´m sorry to hear of Michael´s passing. I was fascinated by his room filled with all types of music and his wired magazines that were laying around. I cleaned his house for several years. I remember hearing him root for his baseball team. He had boundless energy and love of sweets. His love for Olivia was very evident and he liked displaying her artwork from her younger days. He will be missed By family and friends. My heart felt condolences go out to Olivia and Carolyn. Warmly Brenda Carlee

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