Eleanor Greco Michels

Eleanor and her identical twin sister Gloria were the youngest of nine siblings born into a large Sicilian family. She was the last surviving member of that generation of the Greco family. She was an adventurous woman who loved to travel, go on hiking adventures, relished cooking and enjoying gourmet meals and champagne, adored doggies and had a fierce and protective love of her family.

In her early 20’s, she dabbled in acting, moving to Los Angeles and staying for a year. She became homesick for her family and moved back to the east coast, where she began her administrative work. Her then-boss and his wife took her under their wing, taking her with them across the sea to Europe for some travel. They returned home on the SS Andrea Doria ocean liner just three months before it sank.

Shortly after her return from that trip, she temped in an office in New York where she met a highly charismatic and handsome executive named Joseph Michels. There was an instant spark. After three weeks of dating, they became engaged, and after three months they were married. They settled in Westchester, New York. She became a full-time wife and a year later their first child Leslie was born. Three years later, after being transferred to Atlanta, GA, their second child Hilary was born. A year after that, the family moved to Elm Grove, WI where they would live for the next 10 years.

In 1970, Joseph retired, and he and Eleanor traveled extensively to Mexico for a few weeks. Eleanor, having the wanderlust that hit her in her 20’s, decided with Joseph that they wanted to move the family down to Guadalajara to expose Leslie and Hilary to a different culture and way of life. They stayed for four idyllic years, and eventually made their way back up to the U.S., settling in La Jolla, California.

Throughout Eleanor’s adult life, one class at a time, she pursued her undergraduate college degree requirements. In 1978, the same day that her youngest daughter Hilary graduated from high school, Eleanor graduated from UCSD Magna cum Laude with a degree in English Literature. In the late 1970’s she worked briefly for a La Jolla based filmmaker, and upon her graduation, segued her administrative talents to work at UCSD Medical School for 10 years. First, she served as the head administrator for the MD/PhD graduate student program and later as the executive administrator for Dr. Robert Terry in the Department of Neuroscience. “Ellie”, as she was known at UCSD, was revered for her hard work, impish smile, elegant style, genuine kindness and a big sparkle in her eyes. Ellie was also a talented matchmaker, fixing up at least one couple at UCSD who are still married 31 years later.

Eleanor’s husband Joe passed away in 1980 and she lived for the next 43 years as his widow. At the age of 66, she embarked on a trek to Pakistan with a dozen or so members of UCSD faculty and friends. They camped in the cold and snow and hiked to the base camp of K2. She pushed herself to do things out of her comfort zone for that grueling trip and returned spent yet energized. She enjoyed many camping and hiking excursions during the 1980s.

Upon her retirement she was an active member for many years of the La Jolla Playreaders Group, enjoyed spending time with her two adult daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and lavished love on her two puppies, Cooper and Cookie.

Eleanor was pre-deceased by her husband, Joseph Michels, her parents Nicola and Eleanora Greco, her siblings Anita, Michael, Mary, Peter, Rosalie, Francesca, Angela and Gloria, and her three stepchildren Patricia Kellogg, David Michels and Susann Lucero. She is survived by her two daughters: Leslie Michels Thompson (Michael) of Costa Mesa, CA; and Hilary Michels Dunning (Hal) of San Diego, CA, along with her stepson, Joseph Michels Jr. (Beth) of Maryland. She is also survived by her grandchildren Jennifer Thomas (Jason) of San Diego, CA, Christopher Thompson (Megan) of Costa Mesa, CA and Haley Dunning of San Diego, CA, along with her great-grandchildren Sierra Thompson of San Diego, CA and Bryce Thompson of Costa Mesa, CA.

In lieu of flowers, her family asks that you enjoy a nice bowl of ice cream in her honor, her favorite food.