Michael I. Olevitch DVM

He and his late sister, Sally (late Harvey) Simms, grew up in St. Louis surrounded by their loving aunts, uncles and cousins as well as their parents, the late Max and the late Esther (Gellman) Olevitch.

From childhood, Michael adored animals and the outdoors. There could have been no better choice than for him to become a veterinarian. It was truly his passion and his calling. He served his four-legged friends and their families for 47 years, spending his career at Rock Road Animal Hospital. He also specialized in exotic animal care, for which he consulted at the St. Louis Zoo and elsewhere. Michael saw his role in this world as “taking care of G-d’s critters,” and he was more than up to the task. For his personal “menagerie,” he chose Chihuahuas as his favorite breed, with his beloved Yanni above all others.

He was an avid outdoorsman and fisherman, as well as a creative painter (mostly of animals, of course), a Revolutionary War-era reenactor, and a fan of Native American culture.

The beloved partner of Kathy Schneider for more than 27 years, Michael was the dear father-figure to Jonathan Schneider and loving paw-paw to Olivia Schneider. He was also the dear uncle and a proud father-figure of Joe (Susan), Ed (Julia), and Charlie (Daniela) Simms, as well as great uncle to Emma, Micki, Jonny, Max, Spencer and Jack, and dear cousin of Hedy, Ava, Sybil, Jimmy and Ellen.

Michael will be truly missed by all who knew and loved him – especially the animals to whom he dedicated his life – and his memory will forever be a blessing.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Michael’s name to SAPA (St. Animal Pet Adoptions), www.sapamo-rescue.org