Kenneth Louis Mickel

1938 - 2024

Kenneth Louis Mickel

Kenneth Louis Mickel:

The Final Escape

Father, husband, jiddo, brother, son, friend to many, enemy to none, Kenny Mickel, in one final twist managed to escape the bonds and boundaries set for him by society and his frustrating medical condition, when he refused to awake to the demands of family and friends, who for days insisted he revive and get back to the golf course, family parties and his office where clients were patiently waiting for him to finish with "depositions." On Friday, September 13, 2024, at Flower Hospital surrounded by family and friends from both sides of the transcendental divide, Kenny adjudicated his celestial discharge and has now taken his case to the highest court where he will no doubt charm, entertain and enlighten all souls who surround him.

The grandson of Lebanese immigrants, Kenny was born at the Ontario Street home of his parents, James Alexander Mickel and Laura Hanna Zraik, on October 9, 1938. There in the North end of Toledo, he grew up surrounded by a bevy of cousins, aunts and uncles of first and second generation immigrants from the middle east, Italy and Greece which began his lifelong fascination with other cultures, and his tolerance and embrace of different ways of thinking. He graduated from Woodward High School in 1956 and earned a bachelor's degree in 1961 from the University of Toledo where he was president of his fraternity Phi Kappa Psi. In 1965, he graduated from UT's law school, where he was an officer of Delta Theta Phi.

Kenny was a founding partner of Mickel & Huffman, where he practiced for nearly 60 years. His specialty was personal injury law. In the early years of his practice, he and his former law partner, Joseph A. Canon were one of the few, perhaps only attorneys willing to defend and sue on behalf of minority and disadvantaged clients. In a time when an injury could send a family spiraling into debt and worse, their compassion and sense of justice demanded they advance clients' money prior to adjudicating their claims. "Uncle Ken pioneered the first loan sharking service in reverse," joked his nephew Tony Abood. His sister Fadwa Abood recalls a young mother with five kids coming to Ken with a slew of utilities bills. "He paid off at least $800 worth of bills and she paid him back $5 a week...if she could." In his storied career there are countless stories like this, says daughter Melissa Mickel-Portala. "If he could use his brains or his funds to help you, he never hesitated." His unflinching support of his clients no matter their social or economic situation earned Kenny enormous respect in the legal community and beyond. Generous to a fault, but smart as a whip and a tough adversary for any legal opponent, Kenny loved his work so much he never retired. When asked what he enjoyed most about his profession, he always said: "There is no greater high than a satisfied client."

Kenny was an avid reader who was fascinated by and embraced new technology. His insatiable curiosity and keen intellect had him consuming information from disparate sources and gave him a remarkable ability to research and synthesize information. He contributed to the medical canon by discovering that people of middle eastern descent had a life threatening genetic allergy to blood thinners after noticing that commonality in their medical reports. Tired of seeing children die, he designed and patented a gun safety lock which he intended to share with the industry before loosening gun laws deemed the device inconsequential.

Outside of work, Kenny had a magnetic personality and squeezed every ounce out of his life. He loved golfing, fishing, gambling and dining with his family and friends. His reservoir of energy was legendary. Even in his later years, when health issues forced him to utilize supplemental oxygen, Kenny could golf in the morning, have lunch with his cousins and drive to Detroit for an evening at the casino. His keen intellect, insatiable curiosity and lightning wit made him great company. Kenny's three children recall a man who was endlessly supportive of their ideas, be they genius, or wack-a doodle and was quick to offer both advice and financial support. Son Alex Mickel, says his philosophy was never to disparage but rather to suggest alternative ways to view a subject or problem. "Let me show you how to win" would be a good working title for his biography, says Alex.

Daughter Molly Mickel, who worked by his side as his legal assistant for over twenty years, recalls his stubborn but charming refusal to adhere to the status quo, or to believe there was any situation he couldn't reason, talk or walk his way out of if necessary. "As he lay in the hospital, immersed in an ice bath with pneumonia, he called and bribed my teenaged sister and myself to bring him clothes so he could sneak out of the hospital" says Molly. Other friends recall similar incidents where he would tear the IV's from his arms and head back to the office. Upon emerging from open heart surgery his first words were "bring me my phone" - where he immediately contacted friends and office staff with advice and instructions as to how to conduct their lives and his business.

Perhaps due to his early years, throughout his life, Ken embraced and was fascinated by other cultures. He found the love of his life in his wife of 18 years, Lena, a Ukrainian doctor with whom he was first introduced through mutual friends. They met in Warsaw for the first time, 22 years ago, and fell in love in Turkey as they traveled the country together. Their connection transcended continents and timelines and their mutual support of one another was an example and inspiration to all who knew him.

He was a member of the Toledo Bar Association and Highland Meadows Golf Club.

Kenny was preceded in death by his brother, Ronald James Mickel; and half-brother, James Alexander Mickel. Surviving are his wife, Lena [Isapchuk] Mickel; sister, Fadwa Catherine Abood; children by his first wife [Marilyn Dee Miller Mickel], Melissa Mickel Portala [Andrew Martin], Molly Ann Mickel and Alexander James Mickel [Molly Northup]; grandchildren, Michael Andrew Huettner, Eli Addison Portala, Gabriella Rose Mickel, Emma Rose Portala, Benjamin Alexander Mickel, Trudy Ella Mickel, Charlie James Mickel and Freddie Montana Mickel; great- grandchildren, Michael Jr. Huettner, Samantha Rose Vermilyea and Harper Mae Vermilyea; and multiple beloved nieces and nephews, to include Karen Grau, Norman [Tony] Abood, Corinne Cassis, Laura Jajko, Mark Mikel, Dana Dunbar and Matthew Mickel.

Friends may visit at the Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 S. Reynolds Rd., on Wednesday, September 25th, from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Interment will be private.

Donations can be made to:

Toledo Helps Ukraine. Website: 4ua.org

and/or

The University of Toledo Mickel Family Memorial Public Interest Scholarship Fund.

Mail checks to the Mickel Family Memorial Scholarship Fund. PO Box 9301, Toledo, OH 43697. Please view and sign our online "guest registry" at CoyleFuneralHome.com

www.coylefuneralhome.com