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| Photo from S.F. Chronicle/Brant Ward |
| Michael has had many bridges to cross. He was orphaned as a young
child, but grew up surrounded by the love of family members who adopted him. Michael has had to overcome other tragedies, such as the death of his wife at 50 and, a year later, the burning of his house and all his worldly possessions in the Oakland Hills Fire. "There are bridges to cross, bridges to burn and bridges to
build"
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| Photo from S.F. Chronicle/Brant Ward |
These experiences
have motivated him to encourage other seniors to face their fears, to move out of their comfort zones, and to experience life to the fullest.
In 2002, Michael amazed his friends and family when, at 71, he took up tightrope walking. He would later fly to New York to
study with the legendary tightrope walker, Philippe Petit. For Michael, balancing on the high wire is a metaphor for having balance in one’s life. "Face
your fears, move out of your comfort zone."
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| Photo from S.F. Chronicle/Brant Ward |
Michael has discovered, that the key to happiness is gratitude. He is
the proud father of 3 children and 8 grandchildren. He is an avid tennis player and runner. His life has been enriched by
the pursuit of art and artistic ideas. For 30 years, Michael taught art in Bay Area schools. In 2005, his paintings were featured
in Elder Arts at the De Young Museum in San Francisco. His work has also been exhibited in galleries and corporate spaces
throughout the Bay Area, and
it can be seen on his website www.michaelgrbich.com. "The key to happiness is experiencing gratitude."
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