Max Jean-Pierre Michel was born the 9th of December 1951 to Marie “Imma” Bien-Aime and Levius Michel in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. As a youth, he attended Freres Polycarpe School in Port-au-Prince, where he developed a love for music and the culinary arts. In his teens, Max moved with his mother Imma to Nassau, Bahamas. It was during this move that Max found his true calling in entrepreneurship. He began working for a small travel agency booking flights and cruises. He later moved to Miami, FL, holding different positions at Alamo Rent-A-Car. In his spare time, he pursued his passion for music as a member of the band “Les Diplomates” that performed in and around Port-au-Prince, Miami and New York. While working in Miami, Max discovered his love of cars and trucks. He formulated a plan to create his own shipping company that would ship automobiles and goods to his beloved Haiti. Even after the sinking of one of his ships in the ocean, Max never got discouraged. Through his perseverance, he eventually formed Express EAU, a water company based out of Port-au-Prince. His bright blue and white water trucks became a staple in Southwest Haiti for decades. Known for his generosity, he employed several members of his extended family and friends and helped them find success. Max had metaphors and proverbs for every life situation, many of which were comical. One of them was, “I’ve made a lot of mistakes, so many that I’d rather read my book learning from my mistakes than that of a perfect man. When you learn from your mistakes, they make you better but if you’re perfect, you can only make mistakes to look worse.” As we close this chapter of Max’s life, his family and loved ones will take these lessons that he’s imparted to write their own stories for generations to come.
Max is survived by his wife Marie Carmel Michel, son Michael Michel, daughters Melissa Michel, Carla Maxine Michel, Cynthia Desravines, and Jennifer Antoine;
Grandchildren: Jeremiah Michel, Janelle And David Prophete;
His beloved sisters and brothers: Marie-Yvrose Lamothe, Roselaure Volel, Wallace Aristide, Gibson Aristide, Lesly Michel and Myrlande Michel;
Nephews and Nieces: Axel Lamothe, Max Allan Volel, Steven Volel, Ishmael Aristide, Karyne Charles, Naomi Lamothe, Zion Aristide, and Zeneè Aristide.
As well as a host of extended family: Margaret Suffant, Bolniva Aristide, William Aristide and friends that loved him.