Jane Elizabeth Michael

November 3, 1944 - September 14, 2024. Jane Michael was born to Lenore and Peebles Pfeiffer in Houston on November 3, 1944. She grew up in the old Montrose area and graduated from Lamar High School in 1962. She started at The University of Texas in Plan II and was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority. On the weekend of the Cuban Missile Crisis in October that fall, she had a blind date with her love James Michael, an architecture student. They married on June 11, 1966 and were together for 58 years. They had two sons, David and Daniel. Life was busy with sports, camping, and vacation trips.

Jane’s professional life centered around teaching. She had a degree in History from The University of Texas and eventually an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Education and G/T certification. After student teaching in the basement boiler room of the old University Junior High, she continued in Austin ISD, at Pearce Middle School, Dobie Middle School, and McCallum High School. In her 22 years at McCallum, she taught a variety of Social Studies courses, but mainly Honors World History and Philosophy and Religion. She was Social Studies department chair, a curriculum writer, and a G/T lab school teacher. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma for almost 40 years. She was honored with awards, including the University of Texas Teachers Award for Outstanding Teachers, but mainly, she loved teaching her students and watching them flourish. In 2000, James and Jane moved to Washington, DC. While there she taught at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville, Maryland.

When she returned to Austin and retired, she served on the board of St. James’ Episcopal Preschool, enjoyed her book clubs, and participated in the Assistance League of Austin. In ALA, she worked in the retail store and in various programs to help provide school clothes for children, scholarships for ACC students, and to address other unmet needs in Austin. She served on the Board of Directors several times.

A commitment to Christ and participation in a church community were always a part of Jane’s life. She grew up and was married in the Methodist Church, was active in First Baptist of Austin, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church of Washington, DC and before and after the time in DC, in St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church of Austin. There, she served on the Vestry, taught Sunday School, chaired committees and worked with the Good Faith Fund.

James and Jane also enjoyed travel in Europe and the Holy Lands, camping in their RV, sailing their Catalina, and fly fishing in many beautiful places. But Jane’s greatest joy was poetry -- reading poems, sharing them, writing them.

Jane is survived by her husband of 58 years James Michael, her son David Michael, daughter-in-law Ming-ru Chu, grandson William Michael, sister Susan Bantz (John) of The Villages, Florida, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in passing by son Daniel Michael (1973-2017) and by sister Patricia Kiddy of Napa, California.

A funeral is scheduled for Jane on Saturday, September 28, 2024, 2:00 p.m., at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 8134 Mesa Dr., Austin, TX 78759. A reception will follow at the church. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Jane’s life. Flowers in her honor can be delivered to St. Matthew’s and donations in her honor can be made to Assistance League of Austin (https://www.assistanceleague.org/austin/donate/).