MICHELE ALEXANDER

MICHELE ALEXANDER BANGOR – Michele Alexander, full of life, and who lived it to the fullest, died in a car accident on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2003, in Bangor. She was 37. A mother, a wife, a friend, a sister, a daughter, a colleague, a teacher, life-learner, a world traveler. She laughed every day and made every moment count. Friends describe Michele as deeply genuine and an inspiration to all. Passionate, compassionate, funny, she had unparalleled enthusiasm for life and love. Her contagious laughter and radiant smile never failed to lighten a room. No stranger to tragedy from early years, she had an uncanny resilience. She was extremely optimistic, quietly powerful, and silently persuasive. Michele, a professor of social psychology at the University of Maine, was an extraordinary scholar who inspired students’ confidence and interest. Her students often exclaimed she was energetic, highly upbeat, always happy. In the classroom, Alexander’s enthusiasm was infectious, and she soon became one of the University’s most popular professors. While her lectures were rigorous and well-organized, her students could also count on having fun. A dynamic and exuberant teacher who, students described as “awesome” and “she made me want to switch my major to psychology.” Michele had a natural understanding, appreciation and empathy for other people. Her strength empowered others. She was a person so true to herself that she brought out sincerity in others, the type of person who added to your life and who made you a better person for knowing her. Michele graduated from Ursuline Academy in Dallas, Texas and then went on to Texas A & M, where she earned her B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. She loved a good chili cook-off, real Texas barbecue and anything Tex-Mex. Even though she was a citizen of the world, Michele enjoyed surprising others by turning on the Texas drawl at will. Michele always felt fortunate to have met the love of her life, Steve, who knew they were each other’s “missing piece.” Their friends state unequivocally “they just went together.” Michele Alexander is survived by her husband, Steven and their son, Camden, 11 months. She is also survived by her mother Suzan Grossman; father, Robert Grossman; brother, Eric; and sister, Cianne, all of Dallas, Texas; and by her in-laws, Sheldon and Donna Alexander of Southfield, Mich. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to either of two funds. For the Michele Alexander Scholar Award Fund, send contributions to: the University of Maine, Office of University Development, 168 College Ave., Orono, ME 04473-9966. Checks should be made out to the University of Maine and indicate that it go to the Michele Alexander Scholar award. For the Camden Alexander Scholarship Fund, send contributions to: the Bangor Savings Bank, 110 Park Street, Orono, ME 04473, in memory of Michele Alexander. A memorial celebration will be held 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, at the University of Maine, Maine Center for the Arts. A service of Brookings-Smith, LaBeau Chapel, 72 Main St., Orono.