Obituary for William “Bill” David Mitchell
Bill passed away on March 30, 2023, after a several-year fight against the effects of ALS.
Bill is survived by his husband, Ray Martini; and three sisters, Ann (Lyle) Mather, Janice Mitchell (Robert Wilson) and Linda (Bruce) Rockwell. Bill and Ray were together for almost 45 years, and they were legally married in November 2014. Bill was beloved by many as a husband, brother, uncle, son, friend, and even travel agent. In the last few months of his life, when ALS was weakening his body, he and Ray had a steady stream of friends from both near and far coming to spend time with them. These friends brought love and comfort to him in his final months.
Bill was born on March 19, 1948 in Indianapolis, IN when his parents were students at Indiana University. After several family moves, Bill grew up in Saginaw, MI, then attended Albion College. It was during college that Bill discovered he had inherited a passion for travel from his paternal grandparents and great aunt, who were all world travelers. A college semester in Grenoble, France was all it took to start Bill on a lifetime of travel and international friendships.
Bill’s love of travel eventually led him to his career as a travel agent. He worked for over 30 years in this profession and used all his travel knowledge to help clients plan extensive trips, as well as organizing many of his own interesting trips. He had a special love for France, especially Paris and The Pyrenees. He maintained a 50-year plus pen-pal relationship with his French friends. This pen-pal relationship was a continuation of a connection that began when his grandmother supported a young French girl whose father was killed during WW I, making that connection now over 100 years old. His frequent visits with this French family grew his relationship with them as though he were one of their family.
Bill’s list of travel destinations is extensive. Some of the trips were his and Ray’s own planning, but others were trips sponsored for travel agents so they could become familiar with the destination. These trips to France, England, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Spain, Africa, Germany, Thailand, Alaska, Transatlantic cruises on the QM II from New York to England, and many US locations kept expanding his desire for travel.
Bill was also an excellent cook and somewhat of a “foodie.” His pies were always a treat for those lucky enough to be present when he was baking. Bill also enjoyed gardening, opera, classical music, and reading.
In addition to Bill’s love for Ann Arbor, he and Ray became “snow birds”, spending much of the winter months at their place in St. Petersburg, FL. Both Ann Arbor and St. Pete provided Bill with the opportunities for being able to walk to places and events, rather than drive, something that was very important to him.
Bill also treasured his time spent at the Mitchell family cottage on Klinger Lake, MI. It held many family memories from his childhood and a great deal of enjoyment there long into later life.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, August 19 at 2:00 pm at Nie Family Funeral Home, 3767 W. Liberty Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103, followed by a luncheon.
In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made in Bill’s name to one of two organizations that provided help and support during Bill’s fight with ALS:
Team Gleason Foundation
PO BOX 24493
New Orleans, LA 70184
teamgleason.org/donate.
Arbor Hospice
2366 Oak Valley Dr
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
www.arborhospice.org/donate.
These two organizations provided support and care during Bill Mitchell’s fight with ALS.
Team Gleason
Steve Gleason played for The New Orleans Saints from 2000-2008. As a counter-culture athlete who spent his off-season adventuring in third world countries, he will always be remembered for his blocked punt on the night the Louisiana Superdome reopened for the first time after Hurricane Katrina.
In January, 2011 Steve was diagnosed with ALS, considered a terminal neuromuscular disease. Beyond his faith that there is a solution to heal, it is his mission to show that patients can not only live but thrive after this diagnosis. In doing so, he hoped to inspire others to do the same. With that in mind, Steve and his wife, Michel, formed “Team Gleason” to help him accomplish those goals and more.
As an advocate on the national stage, Team Gleason has brought ALS to the forefront. In 2015, both the US House of Representatives and the Senate unanimously passed “The Steve Gleason Act” to ensure the availability of life sustaining communication devices. The Act was signed into law on July 31, 2015, but had a 3-year sunset. In 2018, the Steve Gleason Enduring Voices Act was submitted to replace the original law and passed in February.
Team Gleason provided two grants that provided Bill with enhanced quality of life. The first was a grant for the “iLevel” feature on his electric wheelchair. This feature allowed Bill to raise the seat of the chair so he would be able to converse at eye-level with someone standing. This was a $6,000+ option on the wheelchair and, for many of you who witnessed it, you know that Bill loved it!
The second grant covered the cost of voice banking. Preserving one’s voice through voice and message banking maintains each individual’s unique voice for themselves and for those around them. The Steve Gleason Act in 2015 ensures that all those who need communication devices will get full access to them.
Arbor Hospice
Arbor Hospice provided both medical support and emotional support that allowed Bill to remain at his home in Ann Arbor for his final months. The nursing care ensured that Bill was comfortable and had the medical resources to reduce pain and discomfort. The emotional support from all the Hospice individuals, but especially the Social Worker, helped relieve a great deal of anxiety. A special treat for Bill was the afternoon that the volunteer massage therapist came to the condo and gave Bill a massage.
Arbor Hospice also provided Ray a 24/7 resource for advice and instructions for caring for Bill’s needs.
Bill is survived by his husband, Ray Martini; and three sisters, Ann (Lyle) Mather, Janice Mitchell (Robert Wilson) and Linda (Bruce) Rockwell. Bill and Ray were together for almost 45 years, and they were legally married in November 2014. Bill was beloved by many as a husband, brother, uncle, son, friend, and even travel agent. In the last few months of his life, when ALS was weakening his body, he and Ray had a steady stream of friends from both near and far coming to spend time with them. These friends brought love and comfort to him in his final months.
Bill was born on March 19, 1948 in Indianapolis, IN when his parents were students at Indiana University. After several family moves, Bill grew up in Saginaw, MI, then attended Albion College. It was during college that Bill discovered he had inherited a passion for travel from his paternal grandparents and great aunt, who were all world travelers. A college semester in Grenoble, France was all it took to start Bill on a lifetime of travel and international friendships.
Bill’s love of travel eventually led him to his career as a travel agent. He worked for over 30 years in this profession and used all his travel knowledge to help clients plan extensive trips, as well as organizing many of his own interesting trips. He had a special love for France, especially Paris and The Pyrenees. He maintained a 50-year plus pen-pal relationship with his French friends. This pen-pal relationship was a continuation of a connection that began when his grandmother supported a young French girl whose father was killed during WW I, making that connection now over 100 years old. His frequent visits with this French family grew his relationship with them as though he were one of their family.
Bill’s list of travel destinations is extensive. Some of the trips were his and Ray’s own planning, but others were trips sponsored for travel agents so they could become familiar with the destination. These trips to France, England, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Spain, Africa, Germany, Thailand, Alaska, Transatlantic cruises on the QM II from New York to England, and many US locations kept expanding his desire for travel.
Bill was also an excellent cook and somewhat of a “foodie.” His pies were always a treat for those lucky enough to be present when he was baking. Bill also enjoyed gardening, opera, classical music, and reading.
In addition to Bill’s love for Ann Arbor, he and Ray became “snow birds”, spending much of the winter months at their place in St. Petersburg, FL. Both Ann Arbor and St. Pete provided Bill with the opportunities for being able to walk to places and events, rather than drive, something that was very important to him.
Bill also treasured his time spent at the Mitchell family cottage on Klinger Lake, MI. It held many family memories from his childhood and a great deal of enjoyment there long into later life.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, August 19 at 2:00 pm at Nie Family Funeral Home, 3767 W. Liberty Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103, followed by a luncheon.
In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made in Bill’s name to one of two organizations that provided help and support during Bill’s fight with ALS:
Team Gleason Foundation
PO BOX 24493
New Orleans, LA 70184
teamgleason.org/donate.
Arbor Hospice
2366 Oak Valley Dr
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
www.arborhospice.org/donate.
These two organizations provided support and care during Bill Mitchell’s fight with ALS.
Team Gleason
Steve Gleason played for The New Orleans Saints from 2000-2008. As a counter-culture athlete who spent his off-season adventuring in third world countries, he will always be remembered for his blocked punt on the night the Louisiana Superdome reopened for the first time after Hurricane Katrina.
In January, 2011 Steve was diagnosed with ALS, considered a terminal neuromuscular disease. Beyond his faith that there is a solution to heal, it is his mission to show that patients can not only live but thrive after this diagnosis. In doing so, he hoped to inspire others to do the same. With that in mind, Steve and his wife, Michel, formed “Team Gleason” to help him accomplish those goals and more.
As an advocate on the national stage, Team Gleason has brought ALS to the forefront. In 2015, both the US House of Representatives and the Senate unanimously passed “The Steve Gleason Act” to ensure the availability of life sustaining communication devices. The Act was signed into law on July 31, 2015, but had a 3-year sunset. In 2018, the Steve Gleason Enduring Voices Act was submitted to replace the original law and passed in February.
Team Gleason provided two grants that provided Bill with enhanced quality of life. The first was a grant for the “iLevel” feature on his electric wheelchair. This feature allowed Bill to raise the seat of the chair so he would be able to converse at eye-level with someone standing. This was a $6,000+ option on the wheelchair and, for many of you who witnessed it, you know that Bill loved it!
The second grant covered the cost of voice banking. Preserving one’s voice through voice and message banking maintains each individual’s unique voice for themselves and for those around them. The Steve Gleason Act in 2015 ensures that all those who need communication devices will get full access to them.
Arbor Hospice
Arbor Hospice provided both medical support and emotional support that allowed Bill to remain at his home in Ann Arbor for his final months. The nursing care ensured that Bill was comfortable and had the medical resources to reduce pain and discomfort. The emotional support from all the Hospice individuals, but especially the Social Worker, helped relieve a great deal of anxiety. A special treat for Bill was the afternoon that the volunteer massage therapist came to the condo and gave Bill a massage.
Arbor Hospice also provided Ray a 24/7 resource for advice and instructions for caring for Bill’s needs.