It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of our former General Counsel and dear colleague, Franklyn (Frank) Michaelson, who died on Tuesday, January 11 after a short (non-COVID) illness. Frank was truly beloved in our community, touching and enriching the lives of many at Pacifica. His involvement with the school and its personnel extended over several decades, including serving as Pacifica’s first Chair of the Board of Trustees in the early 1990s through his retirement as our General Counsel in December 2020. Frank leaves a lasting legacy, not just through his years of dedicated work and expertise at Pacifica and in the Santa Barbara community, but as an outstanding mentor to so many whom he personally affected with his integrity, humor, and sincerity. We send our heartfelt condolences on this deeply felt loss to Frank’s friends and family, notably his wife, Kathy, children and grandchildren.
We hope to host a memorial service for him when conditions allow for a gathering. In the meantime, we will offer a place for those wishing to share their thoughts and reflections about Frank. Written reflections can be sent to this email address, and we will collect, collate, and share them with the family and our community. We are planning to hold an informal virtual space for anyone at Pacifica who may want to gather in honor of Frank. Additional details about this and services, as well as where one can direct condolences or offerings of sympathy to the family, will be sent once more information is known.
