October 26, 1951 �" October 18, 2010
John Louis Michels Jr., passed peacefully on Oct. 18, 2010, surrounded by family and friends. He died of a massive brain hemorrhage. He would have been 59 on Oct. 26. John was born in Chicago to Jack and Jean Michels.
John was always a great thinker and planner and transformed the dusty little Oakville grocery in Napa into a food lover's dream come true. This venture was a springboard for a career in the food and wine world that extended to San Francisco and other cities.
John began a spiritual quest that led him to work tirelessly toward finding meaning beyond the material world. As a result he pursued a master's degree in transpersonal psychology, which he received in June 2010, as well as a certificate in Integral Life Coaching. To John, becoming a life coach in order to help others along their spiritual path was a way of fulfilling his own life's purpose.
He is survived by his partner, Gabriel Moses; his children, Gianna and Jordan (Laura); his former wife, Pamela, and her husband, Greg Imbach; his mother, Jean Michels of St. Helena; his sister, Judy Winckler and her husband David; nephews, Chris, Robert (Liz), Steve (Jen), and Jeff (Becky); six grand-nieces and -nephews; and his pup, Ripley.
John had an amazing group of friends who shared celebrations, trips abroad, and spirited conversations together. They will miss him terribly. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Human Rights Campaign.