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.