Michael Lee Thiele II

Michael was born in Beiruit, Lebanon during the war in 1974 while his father worked overseeing Middle East operations. His family evacuated from Lebanon then spent the next 2-1/2 years in Saudi Arabia, returning to the States in 1979. He grew up in Houston attending St. Cecelia Elementary and Strake Jesuit High School. During those years he did the usual things young boys do - playing ball and other sports. He later got involved with Indian Guides and had some great adventures with his dad and almost lost his ear. While dad was showing him how to shoot a bow and arrow, it seems he got a little too close looking down the arrow while the string was released which caught his ear resulting in a large yowl from Michael. Canoeing resulted in everyone in the canoe getting dunked when dad tipped it over. They always laughed about that one. Luckily the water wasn't too deep. He tried his hand at karate and earned a black belt. Later joined an Explorers Scouting group and had the excitement of white water rafting. Spring skiing was always a lot of fun and Michael was quite a good skier. He always tried to entice his dad to hit the black diamond slopes

After graduating high school, Michael was off to Tulane University and the School of Architecture where he earned a Master’s degree in architecture and worked in that field in New Orleans for Eean McNaughton getting involved with various different projects around the city and elsewhere. He eventually bought a house and settled down in New Orleans enjoying what the city had to offer never missing a Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest or many of the other festivals with his friends. He always enjoyed his friends as they all got together for different events or a weekend trip out of town. He was always there to listen and have a good conversation or enjoy some good music at a local venue.

Photography piqued his interest showing his creativity. With camera in hand, photos were taken whenever he joined his parents on European trips or in other cities in the U.S., or, just walking around New Orleans. After developing the photos, he proudly hung them on almost every wall of his home, sharing the story that went along with that photo.

Christmas was a special time of the year and he especially had great fun with dad while doing their Christmas shopping which almost always involved a stop to rest and imbibe in an adult beverage while sharing tall tales and what to get Mom as a "fooler gift". One that she would never guess. One year it was a grass blower that the landscapers use. Imagine the look on her face when she saw that!

He wrote this poem in the fifth grade which shows what a caring person he truly was.

LOVE

To me love is caring for other people, it is sharing, it is having faith in people. If I care for someone, if I have someone to share with, If I have faith in a person, I have love. If I have love for someone, they are a friend. I think that having love for a person is one of the best things I can do.

Michael Thiele

Michael will be dearly missed by his family, aunts, uncles, cousins and his many friends in New Orleans.