Michael grew up in Hollywood, Florida having moved from Boston, Massachusetts in 1958. He attended middle school and graduated from McArthur High School in Hollywood, Florida in 1964, and enrolled in an apprentice/intern program with a family owned funeral home located in Miami Beach.
In 1965, Michael returned to Boston and enrolled in the New England Institute of Anatomy. Michael graduated in 1968 and completed his intern program in 1970. In 1971, Michael received his Massachusetts embalmers license and funeral directors license.
Michael practiced in Massachusetts until he moved to Naples, Florida in 2005, and became associated with Service Corporation International. After SCI acquired Hodges Funeral Home in 2007, Michael was assigned as manager of advanced planning. In 2007, upon receiving his Florida embalmers and funeral directors license, Michael became general manager of Hodges Funeral Home and Naples Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Naples, and Hodges Josberger Funeral Home in Marco Island.
In recent years, he resigned his position from SCI to pursue his vision of a community based funeral establishment as a founder of Legacy Options Funeral and Cremation Services, LLC.