John (Jack) Herman Michel, a 38 year resident of Pacific Palisades and a third- generation member of a Santa Monica pioneer dairy family, passed away on March 3. He was 80. Born on November 23, 1931, Jack attended St. Monica High School and then the University of Wisconsin, where he studied dairy sciences. He later attended UCLA’s executive MBA program. Jack’s grandfather, Herman, came from Switzerland and built one of the Westside’s largest and oldest dairies, Edgemar Farms. In addition, he was Santa Monica’s first mayor in 1925. At Edgemar, Jack worked in sales and management until the dairy was sold in 1984. His strong business acumen led him to the banking field, where he served on various boards, including chairman of the board of CenFed Financial Corporation (1992-1998) and then as a board member of Excel National Bank. His involvement in our community is where he will be deeply missed. Jack served as president of the Santa Monica Boys and Girls Club, the Santa Monica Rotary Club, the Santa Monica Rotary Foundation and the Santa Monica College Foundation. He also presided as president of the Huntington Palisades Property Owners Corporation for three years. St. John’s Hospital was the beneficiary of most of Jack’s efforts. His relentless dedication led to many deeming him, ‘Mr. St. John’s.’ An active trustee for many years, he served as Chairman of the Board of the Health Center (1995-98) and as president of the Health Care Foundation (1999-2001). He was instrumental in the hospital’s recovery from the 1994 earthquake and helping with the dreaming, vision and building of the new St. John’s Health Center. In 2010, Jack and his wife Joan were awarded the Spirit of St. John’s award for their unwavering support in so many arenas. Jack is survived by his cherished wife of 53 years, Joan, who is so glad she said yes to his repeated dinner invitations on Christmas Eve 1957. Joan was a flight attendant on United when Jack was flying to Seattle to visit his sister Noralie and brother-in-law-Jack. She told him, ‘I don’t date passengers!’ Thankfully, Jack never gave up. He was immensely proud of his three children, Tom (wife Kimberly) of the Palisades Highlands, and Bob (Laura) and Megan of Alamo, California. He also adored his four grandchildren, Jack, Meredith, T.J. and Marcus. He will be greatly missed by his loving sisters, Noralie (Jack) Clinton and Clare Frederick. A memorial mass will be held at Corpus Christi Catholic Church on Friday, March 9, at 11 a.m., with a celebration to follow for truly a distinguished man who was one of a kind. Donations in Jack’s name may be made to St. John’s Health Center, the Santa Monica Rotary Foundation and the Santa Monica Boys and Girls Club.
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