In memoriam: Dr. Michael Stephen Wise
Dr. Michael Stephen Wise, a beloved member of the VCU School of Education family, died May 2, 2020 at the age of 76. From 1972 to 2005, he taught and eventually became the director of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism in the VCU School of Education.
Wise was born in the Bronx, New York in 1943. He was raised by his mother and grandparents while his father was overseas during World War II. The reunited family moved to Greensboro, North Carolina where Wise and his younger sister grew up.
He served in the United States Navy and later earned a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Georgia. He and his wife Barbara moved to Richmond in 1972, where Wise began his career as professor of Parks, Recreation and Tourism at VCU SOE.
Wise served on numerous community committees, most notably at the Weinstein Jewish Community Center where he served as president in the late 1980s and led the planning committee for the JCC summer camp, Camp Hilbert, in Goochland, Va. He was recently honored among the select few of the JCC's most influential people at its 70-year commemoration ceremony.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Dr. Wise's honor to: Weinstein JCC PGA Michael S. Wise Playground Fund, in care of Donna Peters, 5403 Monument Ave., Richmond, Va. 23226.
Read the obituary on the Times-Dispatch website.
Read the obituary on Bliley’s Funeral Homes website.
Read the Facebook posts from Scott and Eric Wise, honoring their dad.