LETTER TO JHS 13

Dear Wonderful Community,

Thank you so much for the e-mails, text messages, phone calls, and conversations in the last four days. As I have mentioned, my uncle was an amazing person and a huge influence on who I am today. His death was a hard hit for me and especially for my family. Your words have provided comfort and support. I hope I have done the same for you and if I haven't, then that needs to change because it feels good to be supported. It makes difficult times like this less painful. One of my goals is to make sure we are doing things like this for all us at all times.

I want to take his life on earth and celebrate it by being the best that I can be and helping others to do the same. He had a huge heart and he always put others before himself. If you get a chance please read the obituary to find out how much of an impact he had on the world around him. I only hope I can make him proud with the work we do in our school day in and day out. Thank you again for being the best community ever. You are great people. Keep up the amazing work you do.

With Love and Devotion,

Jacob T. Michelman
Principal

His Obituary:

Stanley Michelman
MICHELMAN--Stanley Brent, a well-known adoption attorney who devoted his life to eradicating the devastating effects of childhood genetic diseases, died May 7, 2009 in Ft. Lee, New Jersey. Cause of death was a heart attack. Through his private adoption practice, Mr. Michelman was instrumental in arranging adoptions for more than 5,000 adoptive parents. His book, Private Adoption Handbook, provided guidance for hopeful adoptive parents. After the loss of his grandson, Evan, Mr. Michelman turned his attention to battling childhood genetic diseases. He founded the Evan Lee Ungerleider Foundation, in his grandson's honor, as well as the Jewish Genetic Disease Consortium and the Genetic Disease Foundation, affiliated with Mt. Sinai Hospital. In 2004, together with Ira Bailey, Mr. Michelman formed M&B Funding, a financial firm. Mr. Michelman was born July 29, 1941 in Brooklyn, New York. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn. His first wife, Lenore and grandson Evan predeceased him. Mr. Michelman is also survived by two daughters by his first wife, Shari Ungerleider of New Jersey and Marcy Michelman of New York, a son-in-law, Jeff Ungerleider, three grandchildren, Justin, Leigh, and Sydney and two step children, Lauren and Justin Kotcher of Manhattan. He is also survived by his brother, Harvey Michelman (this is my dad) of New Jersey. Contributions in Mr. Michelman's honor can be made to the Evan Lee Ungerleider Foundation.

An article involving my uncle:
http://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/27/opinion/l-insurance-program-benefits-adoptive-parents-978291.html