Obituary for Michael George Slaughter
Humanitarian, lover of nature, devoted husband, father, brother, uncle and friend
Michael died suddenly on March 14, 2022 at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital.
He was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on January 6, 1949, the son of Thelma (Guest) and George W. Slaughter. He attended Kalamazoo Public Schools, graduating from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1967, where he was on the debate and tennis teams. He obtained a BA in political science from Michigan State University in 1971, a JD from the University of Michigan Law School in 1974, and a BS in physical science from MSU in 1989.
Michael practiced law from 1974 to 1988, including a stint as assistant prosecutor for Kalamazoo County. In the late 1980’s, he began a new career path as a science educator. He taught in the Lansing Public Schools and several other systems. Prior to retirement, he was a science specialist at New Morning School in Plymouth, Michigan where he inspired many young scientists. He retired in 2015, but continued to teach at Summer Discovery, a private institute for gifted high school students, held at the University of Michigan. There he taught courses in criminal justice and crime scene investigation.
In 2010, he married Vivian Robles Dettbarn. As a couple, Michael and Vivian enjoyed travel, nature, museums, theater and concerts. They often went on coffee dates as a reminder of the first time they met. Through this relationship he gained a son and daughter-in-law, Ryan and Stephanie, who immediately accepted him into their lives. He was a loving father to them and was so proud of them, sharing news about their busy lives with friends and colleagues.
Michael was passionate about the natural world and about social justice. He loved the southwest, and went there on working vacations to study desert ecology and geology. As a proud Michigander, he had interests in freshwater ecology, Michigan geology and archaeology. As an appreciator of the arts and architecture, he became a docent at the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Affleck House in Bloomfield Hills, where he led tours for over 10 years. He supported Ozone House, a community-based, nonprofit agency that helps young people lead safe, healthy, and productive lives through intensive intervention and prevention services. Every day, he spent time reading history and keeping up with the news in economics and politics, and was a fan of film noir and MSU basketball.
Michael is survived by his loving wife, Vivian Dettbarn-Slaughter; and son and daughter-in-law, Ryan and Stephanie Dettbarn; also survived by his sister, Diana Slaughter, and her husband, Bill Wilcox; nephews, Isaac Wilcox, and his wife, Crystal; and Jesse Wilcox; great-nephew, George, and sister-in-law, Janet (David) Hagerty; niece, Danielle; nephews, Corey and Jeffrey; great-niece, Victoria; and great-nephew Connor.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 26 at Nie Funeral Home, 2400 Carpenter Rd., Ann Arbor, Michigan. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. The service will follow at 2:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served after the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are requested for Ozone House. Donations may be made online or mailed to Ozone House, 1600 N. Huron River Drive, Ypsilanti, MI. 48197.
Michael died suddenly on March 14, 2022 at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital.
He was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on January 6, 1949, the son of Thelma (Guest) and George W. Slaughter. He attended Kalamazoo Public Schools, graduating from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1967, where he was on the debate and tennis teams. He obtained a BA in political science from Michigan State University in 1971, a JD from the University of Michigan Law School in 1974, and a BS in physical science from MSU in 1989.
Michael practiced law from 1974 to 1988, including a stint as assistant prosecutor for Kalamazoo County. In the late 1980’s, he began a new career path as a science educator. He taught in the Lansing Public Schools and several other systems. Prior to retirement, he was a science specialist at New Morning School in Plymouth, Michigan where he inspired many young scientists. He retired in 2015, but continued to teach at Summer Discovery, a private institute for gifted high school students, held at the University of Michigan. There he taught courses in criminal justice and crime scene investigation.
In 2010, he married Vivian Robles Dettbarn. As a couple, Michael and Vivian enjoyed travel, nature, museums, theater and concerts. They often went on coffee dates as a reminder of the first time they met. Through this relationship he gained a son and daughter-in-law, Ryan and Stephanie, who immediately accepted him into their lives. He was a loving father to them and was so proud of them, sharing news about their busy lives with friends and colleagues.
Michael was passionate about the natural world and about social justice. He loved the southwest, and went there on working vacations to study desert ecology and geology. As a proud Michigander, he had interests in freshwater ecology, Michigan geology and archaeology. As an appreciator of the arts and architecture, he became a docent at the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Affleck House in Bloomfield Hills, where he led tours for over 10 years. He supported Ozone House, a community-based, nonprofit agency that helps young people lead safe, healthy, and productive lives through intensive intervention and prevention services. Every day, he spent time reading history and keeping up with the news in economics and politics, and was a fan of film noir and MSU basketball.
Michael is survived by his loving wife, Vivian Dettbarn-Slaughter; and son and daughter-in-law, Ryan and Stephanie Dettbarn; also survived by his sister, Diana Slaughter, and her husband, Bill Wilcox; nephews, Isaac Wilcox, and his wife, Crystal; and Jesse Wilcox; great-nephew, George, and sister-in-law, Janet (David) Hagerty; niece, Danielle; nephews, Corey and Jeffrey; great-niece, Victoria; and great-nephew Connor.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 26 at Nie Funeral Home, 2400 Carpenter Rd., Ann Arbor, Michigan. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. The service will follow at 2:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served after the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are requested for Ozone House. Donations may be made online or mailed to Ozone House, 1600 N. Huron River Drive, Ypsilanti, MI. 48197.