Michelle Foxx Winschel

Michelle Foxx Winschel passed away at home on Friday evening, October 14, 2022, following a courageous battle with MS.  

Born on Saturday, November 2, 1963 at Hahnemann Hospital in Philadelphia,PA Michelle was the first child and only daughter of Richard Max Foxx and Elaine Struhl Foxx.  

Her early years were spent in the New Jersey suburbs east of Philadelphia. In 1969 her family moved to Newport Beach, CA, where Michelle and her brothers, Brian and Loren, grew up in sight of the Pacific Ocean.  In grade school Michelle enjoyed reading and swimming and was an active Girl Scout. She graduated with honors from Newport Harbor High School in 1981 and subsequently pursued a degree in broadcast journalism at USC.

Upon graduation from USC in 1985, Michelle worked in the front office of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Community Relations Department. She coordinated player appearances and charity events.  When the Dodgers won the 1988 World Series she planned the victory parade.  Retiring from the Dodgers in 1992, Michelle found her voice writing newsletters, corporate training materials and official executive speeches for Countrywide, Chicago Title and CenFed Bank.

Michelle was a lifelong volunteer.  As a teenager, she was a Candy Striper at Hoag Hospital. At USC she was in the Helenes, Co-Chair of SONGFest and a Tour Guide.  As a Tour Guide she perfected the art of walking backwards, in heels, while answering questions and then taught her fellow guides to follow her lead walking backwards.

Moving to Pasadena in the mid 1980’s, she was volunteer member and organization leader for the Pasadena Jaycees, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses and the Pasadena Junior League.

In May 1994, Michelle married Eric Winschel. They made their home in northeast Pasadena where her first daughter, Alix, was born in January 1998.  Kate, her second daughter, arrived in May 2000 and completed their family.  

At All Saints preschool Michelle served as a room parent and twice coordinated the “yearbook.”  At St Philip the Apostle School, Michelle served as Room Parent, School Move Coordinator of Volunteers, PR Chair, Vice President and ultimately PTO president. At Mayfield Senior School she was a member of the parent board.

Michelle’s deepest joy came from watching her daughters grow into articulate, creative, sophisticated young women. She cheered for them on the soccer field, the basketball court and the track, at speech and debate tournaments and on stage. She reviewed their projects and edited their term papers and college application essays. She added punctuation to Kate’s run on sentences and removed commas from Alix’s flow of words.

Diagnosed with MS in late 2015, Michelle transitioned from walking, to walking with a walker to being in a wheelchair.  In 2019 she spent three months in hospital and six months at a board and care facility.  She returned home on hospice in November 2019. At home her door was literally always open. She loved seeing visitors. Michelle always greeted friends, family and medical staff with a BIG smile.  Her room was filled with family and friends during the last hours of her life, watching the Dodger game, telling stories and laughing.  No doubt her beloved miniature poodle Teddy greeted her at the Rainbow Bridge and they are walking together again.

Michelle is survived by her daughters Alexandra and Katharine; her husband Eric; her mother Elaine; her father Richard and his wife JoAnn; her brother Brian and his wife Jennifer, nephews Matthew and Nicholas; and her brother Loren, and his wife Jennifer, nieces Maggie and Libby and many many friends. 

A great big hug to her devoted caregivers and friends, Kiana and Toni. And to Eric’s mom, Judy, who spent many afternoons with Michelle. Heartfelt hugs to everyone who visited Michelle over the last three years.  Alix, Kate and Eric are certain your love is why Michelle smiled so often.

Honor Michelle’s life by serving as a volunteer, visiting a sick friend or by just by smiling at another person.  

A Celebration of Life for Michelle will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2022 at 12PM                     at St. Philip The Apostle Chruch, 151 South Hill Avenue, Pasadena, CA

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Michelle’s honor to the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Foundation or Danny’s Farm.

 

Danny's Farm Charitable Foundation

3241 Crestford Dr, Altadena, CA 91001

 

Pasadena Tournament of Roses Foundation

391 South Orange Grove Blvd.

Pasadena, CA. 91184