Michael S. Shanes

Those left to cherish his memory are his brother B. Adam Shanes, M.D. (Staci), niece Alexis Shanes, nephew Sam Shanes, cousins Howard Bender (Ellen), Jody Ress (Jim), Neil Young (Wendy), Brian Young (Didi), Darrell Young (of blessed memory) (Andi), and Steven (Ellen) Young, and friend Dawn Smith. Michael was also blessed to receive the special loving care of dear friends Griffin M. Allen, Nancy Hancock Griffith, Kelly Grossberg, Scott Gruden, Liz Shapiro, and Amy Simon. Preceding him in death were his parents Irving and Audrey (Wolstein) Shanes.

Services will be held at Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz Memorial Chapel, 1985 S. Taylor Road, Cleveland Heights at 11am Sunday, October 5th. To watch the service via livestream, click here: bit.ly/msshanes

Interment will take place following the service at Bet Olam Cemetery, 25796 Chagrin Blvd, Beachwood, OH 44122. A Celebration of Life will follow directly at the Club House in The Village, 26000 Village Place, Beachwood until 8pm.

Michael was a graduate of Cleveland Heights High School and attended Ohio State University. Alongside his late father Irving Shanes, he led his family’s legacy business, Express Painting. When the time was right, he transitioned to a fulltime role as a motorsports executive, fulfilling his deep, lifelong passion for racing and motorsports. Michael held key operational and officiating positions with several racing organizations. IndyCar, GT World Challenge, GT Sport Racing, GMG Motorsports and others benefitted from his exacting standards and disciplined work ethic. A popular and well-liked fixture throughout the paddock, Michael was widely respected for his ability to create robust solutions to complex challenges by way of his unmatchable creativity and extensive personal relationship network. People never hesitated to help Michael when asked.

Michael never missed an opportunity to get an autograph from the world's top names in racing - Andretti, Unser, Mears and other legends knew him on a first-name basis. He collected countless signed one-of-a-kind racing artifacts, prints and Hot Wheels - countless Hot Wheels. Michael amassed one of the country's largest and most complete privately-owned Hot Wheels collections. He enjoyed buying, selling, trading and talking Hot Wheels - even at national conventions.

Michael forged a unique and cherished personal and professional closeness with multi-champion race driver Jack Baldwin and his family. Coincidentally, Jack raced cars bearing the Hot Wheels livery.

Did we mention that Michael liked Hot Wheels?

A collector of prized full-sized cars as well, Michael pampered the 1972 Corvette that his father purchased new. His 1974 Jensen-Healey Mk II won top prize at Auto-rama Car Shows over the span of decades - most recently this past spring, when he was featured on Fox 8, WEWS and other networks threading together the unique and moving story of his car, Tucker (a Budsie-creation Pal), and "I'm not done".

In the spirit of making the world a better place for others, Michael put Tucker to work as an ambassador of hope and happiness for other UH oncology patients. A fundraiser in Michael and Tucker's honor more than tripled its original goal to make Budsies available to other patients who could benefit in the same manner as did Michael.

Michael's passion for making the world a better place for others also was seen in his serving as an instructor for Put on the B.R.A.K.E.S. - a national teen driving safety training program.

Michael found community through a shared passion for cars - and this gifted him the greatest of joys and personal accomplishment.

In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting the Michael Shanes and Tucker Budsies Pals Fund by clicking here: bit.ly/budsiespals

Arrangements entrusted to Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz Memorial Chapel