In Memory Of
Raymond J. Michel
1924
2017
Raymond J. Michel
September 16, 1924 — August 24, 2017
Raymond J. Michel, 92, a longtime resident of the Orlando area and former leading man of the local professional theater, died peacefully on August 24, 2017 at his residence in the Renaissance Retirement Center of Sanford, FL.
He was the widower of Jamielee Schnabel Michel. Raymond is survived by his sister, Dorothy Merriam of Waretown, NJ, his children, Debra Blaker of Longwood, FL, Keith Michel of Amherst, MA, and Grant Michel of Washington, NC, his grandchildren, Amy Blaker, Allan Blaker Jr., Sophie Michel, Henry Michel, William Michel and Madeline Michel, his great grandson Dylan Resendes and a loving extended family.
Born in West Haven, CT to the late Joseph G. and Dorothy Petersen Michel, Raymond graduated from West Haven High School and worked for a time in his family's plumbing business. He was drafted in 1943 and proudly served during World War II in the Army tank corps in France, Germany and Austria. Acting and singing were Raymond's twin passions and, following his return from the Army in 1946, he moved to New York City, where he joined a singing quartet called "The Limelighters" and appeared on the Dick Clark Show. While in NYC, he studied drama under the G.I. Bill with the great Stella Adler at the American Theater Wing.
Raymond settled into the Orlando area for good in 1967 and went on to become the popular leading man of the local professional theater scene, starring in multiple productions of Fiddler on the Roof, Man of La Mancha, The Sound of Music, South Pacific and many more. He accomplished all of this while holding down a full-time day job from 1967-1989 as a Chief Production Control Manager in the microelectronics division at Martin Marietta. He was a deeply committed Christian throughout his life and extended his love of music to the singing of religious music. He sang right up until his final days and is, no doubt, singing still.
A memorial service will be held at Sanlando United Methodist Church, 1890 W. SR 434, Longwood, FL 32750 on Sunday, Sept. 24 at 2pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in honor of Ray's life may be made to Sanlando United Methodist Church to benefit the Winter Park High School Theater Department.
He was the widower of Jamielee Schnabel Michel. Raymond is survived by his sister, Dorothy Merriam of Waretown, NJ, his children, Debra Blaker of Longwood, FL, Keith Michel of Amherst, MA, and Grant Michel of Washington, NC, his grandchildren, Amy Blaker, Allan Blaker Jr., Sophie Michel, Henry Michel, William Michel and Madeline Michel, his great grandson Dylan Resendes and a loving extended family.
Born in West Haven, CT to the late Joseph G. and Dorothy Petersen Michel, Raymond graduated from West Haven High School and worked for a time in his family's plumbing business. He was drafted in 1943 and proudly served during World War II in the Army tank corps in France, Germany and Austria. Acting and singing were Raymond's twin passions and, following his return from the Army in 1946, he moved to New York City, where he joined a singing quartet called "The Limelighters" and appeared on the Dick Clark Show. While in NYC, he studied drama under the G.I. Bill with the great Stella Adler at the American Theater Wing.
Raymond settled into the Orlando area for good in 1967 and went on to become the popular leading man of the local professional theater scene, starring in multiple productions of Fiddler on the Roof, Man of La Mancha, The Sound of Music, South Pacific and many more. He accomplished all of this while holding down a full-time day job from 1967-1989 as a Chief Production Control Manager in the microelectronics division at Martin Marietta. He was a deeply committed Christian throughout his life and extended his love of music to the singing of religious music. He sang right up until his final days and is, no doubt, singing still.
A memorial service will be held at Sanlando United Methodist Church, 1890 W. SR 434, Longwood, FL 32750 on Sunday, Sept. 24 at 2pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in honor of Ray's life may be made to Sanlando United Methodist Church to benefit the Winter Park High School Theater Department.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Raymond J. Michel, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Memorial Service
Sunday, September 24, 2017
Starts at 2:00 pm (Eastern time)
Sanlando United Methodist Church
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