Thank you all for sharing your memories with us. We’ve enjoyed reading every one of them immensely. Here are a few excerpts…
“I have fond early memories of Mike. As children of immigrant parents growing up in the San Fernando Valley, we shared a special bond—our parents had accents, loved classical music, and formed a close-knit community. Decades later, Mike reached out to me out of the blue, and we reconnected over a walk around my neighborhood.
Soon after, we began what we called our ‘BLOP’ gatherings—Brook-Levine-Odenheimer-Pfister—where we shared food, stories, jokes, and a lot of laughter. It was a joy to get to know Mike again in this new chapter of life. He was always so warm, intelligent, and wonderfully silly with his puns and observations. I’ll cherish those times forever.”
Tom Pfister
“Mike was part of my Italian ‘family’ at the Italian Cultural Institute. I was immediately drawn to his sense of humor, his interest in architecture, and his love of travel. His puns really spiced up our class—‘Ar-money’ comes to mind, and I still think of him whenever I see an Armani store!
We grew closer as friends, and I appreciated his perspective on local politics and community engagement. I also loved hearing his tales of living in London. After his spine surgery, when I visited him, he insisted on making me a proper Italian coffee. Even though it was a struggle for him to shuffle to the kitchen, he did it—fastidiously and with genuine pride.”
Margaret Reeve
“I’m so blessed to have been a friend of Mike. We spent hours discussing economics, business, and everything in between—he was always so thoughtful and well-read.
Mike introduced me to Peet’s Coffee back in the day, and we’d share orders for Major Dickason’s or other blends from their Berkeley store, delivered by USPS! He also rekindled my love for cycling. He had a beautiful Merlin road bike and encouraged me to get back on two wheels, something that’s been a huge part of my life for the past 45 years. His passion was infectious, and his strength and positivity will always stay with me.”
Ray Rath
“Mike was, many years ago, the most important person who put me in touch with Baerwald ‘cousins’ all over the world when I began researching my family. Since my English is quite poor and he spoke German so well, we could communicate easily. He was always so friendly, and I’ll never forget how he even brought my husband a collection of Heinrich Heine’s poetry books in his suitcase because he knew my husband had worked on Heine.
Thanks to Mike, we also received the typescript of Max Baerwald’s memoirs—very precious to us. I can’t express enough how much we loved and appreciated him. We are very sad we will no longer read his emails, always full of humor and wonderful remarks.”
Eva Werner
“1) Building a snowman with Mike when we were both three years old, after a rare snowfall in the San Fernando Valley in 1949. 2) Taking baths together as toddlers, toe-to-toe, whenever I stayed overnight at his house.
We go back almost as far as humanly possible—you can’t make up memories like that!”
Vincent Brook
“In January 2022, your mom and dad went on a trip to Ojai. They scored a table at The Dutchess, a new restaurant in town, and texted me, ‘Guess where we are?!’ It still makes me smile that they beat me there. Mike truly was one in a million, and I’m proud to continue the community spirit he championed.”
“I had the privilege of serving with your dad on our Crestwood Hills Association board since 2018. He was more than a colleague—he was a mentor, a guide, a cheerleader, and a true friend. Not a day passes that our community of about 350 homes isn’t positively influenced by his thoughtful and patient leadership.”
Kate Blackman
We could include many more messages, not to mention the memories shared directly via text, but we thought others might enjoy these. If you have more memories, please continue to send them our way—each one is a gift, and we appreciate every story.
Michael Odenheimer, Public Servant and Family Man, Dies at 79.
Michael Odenheimer, a former Los Angeles City Council aide and international banker, passed away at home on Thanksgiving day after a courageous battle with cancer.
Known for his sense of humor and unwavering moral compass, Michael touched countless lives. A son of German-Jewish immigrants who settled in Van Nuys, Michael attended UC Berkeley in the 1960s, where he was deeply influenced by the era’s activism. Returning to Los Angeles, he entered public service, first as a City Council aide to Ernani Bernardi and then at the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission. Later, leveraging his fluency in German and ties to Europe, he transitioned into international banking. His sense of adventure and intellectual curiosity brought him and his family to London, where he lived for over two decades before returning to Los Angeles.
Family was central to Michael’s life. A devoted husband and father, he encouraged those around him to connect more deeply with family and fostered close bonds with both his own cousins and his wife’s extended relatives. He was particularly proud of his two children, Stephanie and Max, and took immense joy in the birth of his first grandchild last year.
Michael’s grit was evident in his battle to learn to walk again, defying the odds, he regained function in his legs fully two years after undergoing spinal surgery that left him in a wheelchair in 2019. In the face of immense health challenges, Michael kept his nurses and caregivers laughing with his signature jokes and puns, a testament to his warmth and humor.
Michael’s passion for service and community extended to his later years. Leaning into his German roots, he served as President of Friends of Goethe Southern California and was a dedicated board member of the local homeowners association, remaining actively involved until the final months of his life.
Michael is survived by his loving wife, two children, and one grandchild, with another due to arrive.
