Richard D. (Mike) McMichael, 86, died of lung cancer on September 27. Mike was a bartender extraordinaire at San Francisco’s finest and most popular restaurants including Vanessi’s, Ernie’s, Enrico’s, and Perry’s. Mike quickly made friends of strangers including locals, tourists, and celebrities.
Mike was born November 17, 1933, Taft, Calif., to Willie Berneice Phillips McMichael and Charles Dean McMichael.
Mike was a man who loved deeply, had a big heart, laughed easily, and thoroughly enjoyed his life. Mike genuinely loved his wife Rosemarie McMichael and in the fifty years that they were married, their longest separation was the three weeks during Mike’s most recent hospitalization. It was impossible to speak with Mike without his mentioning Rosemarie several times.
He is survived by his wife Rosemarie McMichael, San Francisco; daughter Pam Harries, son-in-law Paul Harries, and grandchildren Molly Harries and Jack Harries, Sydney, Australia; brother Bob McMichael and wife Pat, Lompoc, Calif.; sisters Penny Elliott, Sacramento, Calif.; and Marie Brown, Folsom, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews, including his very special niece, Julie “Juju” Kirkpatrick, and her husband Mike, Clear Lake, Minn.
Golf was Mike’s game and he played weekly until recently. Mike was also an avid fan of the SF 49ers and Golden State Warriors.
The family remains grateful to all the people who cared for him especially during his last weeks. They wish to thank all the doctors and nurses at Helen Diller Medical Center at UCSF Parnassus who tended to Mike so kindly and lovingly, as well as the doctors who treated Mike over the years, and the EMS team from SFFD Firestation House 26 who treated him so gently and went out of their way to calm Rosemarie.
His family and friends everywhere will miss him. Mike was a man loved by many. He was compassionate and knew that as you do, so shall you be done unto.
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