Mitchell R. "Mickey" Spector Obituary (1931 - 2012)

Mitchell R. Spector, 80, died peacefully at home on Tuesday, March 20th. Preceded in death by parents, David and Violet Spector; brothers, Donald and James Spector; niece, Mollie Joe McIlvain and granddaughter, Zoë Bee Makovetsky. “Mickey” to a host of friends and-- most dearly-- to Kaye, his loving wife, “Katsie” and partner of 53 years, he was “Dad”, ‘Zer” “Tat” and “Scrod” to children, Joe and Takako Spector and Sally and Alex Makovetsky, “Annie Mickey” to niece, Erin McIlvain and sister- and brother-in-law, Barbara and Greg McIlvain, and, with great pride, “Grandpa Da” to cherished grandsons, Max and Eli Makovetsky. To his colleagues in the law he was Mitch and in his 50+ year as an attorney—a profession he loved-- he earned the respect and friendship of colleagues and adversaries alike for his outstanding courtroom abilities (and antics) and easy sense of humor. Possessed of a booming laugh, a ready smile and a profound joy for life, our beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend leaves us a legacy of unconditional love, a belief in the transcendent power of music, theater, literature, and poetry, an object lesson in the value of being a life-long learner, an appreciation for the delight that skiing, skating, rollerblading, golfing, running and walking brings in all of Minnesota’s seasons (especially when followed by a good nap) and countless stories, sayings and jokes that will keep him alive in our hearts forever. A memorial service celebrating his life will be held THURSDAY, APRIL 5TH at NOON at TEMPLE ISRAEL 2324 Emerson Ave. S., Minneapolis. In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials to the Zoë Bee Music Fund at Lake Country School, 3755 Pleasant Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55409 or the Neighborhood Involvement Program (N.I.P.) Community Clinic, 2431 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55405. SHIVA at Temple Israel, Thursday evening 7 pm.