Born in the Bronx, New York in 1941. Her family moved to California when Michele was a young girl settling in Covina, CA. She began her nursing career in 1966, graduating with her LVN from Citrus College in Glendora, CA. Michele soon earned her RN from Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, and her Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from UCLA. Later she would earn her BSN, MSN, and Ph.D in Nursing.

After earning her PNP, Michele was instrumental in beginning the Head Start program in Los Angeles County, CA. She was listed in Who’s Who in the West for her contributions. As her career matured, Michele shifted her focus to Quality Management. Michele always strived for excellence in nursing, and was a staunch advocate for the health and welfare of nurses, studying nurse fatigue and patient harm.

Michele’s career spanned from 1966 to 2016, when she was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s DiseaseShe was a beloved colleague to many, and was affectionately known as Dr. Mom to her three children, Michael, Stephanie, and Andrea. She passed peacefully in her sleep on March 7th, 2026 while under hospice care.