Leonard Michaels

Leonard Michaels "An Angel has gone to Heaven" Leonard Michaels, age 88, passed away on March 16, 2008. He was surrounded by his family and beloved wife, Elsa. The longtime San Mateo resident was born November 1, 1919 in London, England. In 1937, he attended Jesus College at Cambridge University in England, where he studied mathematics and architecture. In 1940, he interrupted his studies to join the British Royal Navy. He was assigned to the 'Fiji,' which patrolled the Atlantic and Mediterranean before being sunk by the Germans after nightfall. Everyone on board was instructed to abandon ship. He survived by swimming alone in rough seas toward two British destroyers that he spotted on the horizon. Upon returning to England, he became a navigation officer and reported to the Intelligence Department of the Admiralty. He was assigned to the Ultra Intelligence Unit, where he was one of three officers to receive incoming information from Bletchley Park where they were deciphering the German Enigma code. In 1942, he married the love of his life, Elsa Michaels, with whom he had three children. After completing his naval service, he returned to Cambridge University and received a degree in architecture. In the years following WWII, he worked in London designing public housing projects, and published his thesis in a book titled "Contemporary Structure in Architecture." In 1950, he brought his family to the USA aboard the ship Normandie. He worked for the architectural firm of Eric Mendelsohn in San Francisco for a brief time, and then opened his own firm, working in commercial and residential architecture. He contributed several public buildings for the County of San Mateo, including the Downtown Beautification project, and the Central Park Recreation Center, which received a design award from the San Mateo County Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Other projects include The Towers Condominiums, Peninsula Temple Beth-El, and Peninsula Temple Sholom in Burlingame. Michaels was a man with a huge heart, devoted to his family, compassionate, kind and generous to many. He had a gift with the English language, loved to read, learn and write special poems for family and friends. He survived by his loving wife, Elsa of San Mateo; daughter, Elizabeth Hearne and her husband John Hearne of Malibu, CA; son, George Michaels and his wife Cathy Baum of Atherton, CA; son, Peter Michaels of Redwood City, CA; three grandchildren, Brendan and Megan Hearne, and Lauren Michaels; and step-granddaughter, Jennifer Hearne, as well as in-laws, Greta and Felix Wimpfheimer of New York, and Eric and Jutta Freudenstein of New York. Private services are scheduled for March 21, 2008. In lieu of flowers, donations may sent to charity of choice.