1951-2025
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Andrew David Michael on April 15, 2025, at the age of 74.
Son of J.D. and Mildred Michael, Andy was a native of Morgan County and a 1969 graduate of Berkeley Springs High School before earning his B.S. degree in Social Welfare Education from Shepherd College (now Shepherd University) in 1975. For most of his career, Andy worked in the hospitality industry. From 1977 to 1982, Andy served as Front Office Manager and later Director of Sales & Marketing at Coolfont, a role that laid the foundation for a long and successful career. From 1982 until his retirement in 2011, he served as General Manager, and later as Vice President, Broker, and Partner at Potomac Valley Properties, Inc., developer of The Woods Community and its subsidiary The Woods Club, Inc.
Andy was very active in the community. He held leadership roles in many organizations, including the Eastern Gateway Travel Council, Martinsburg/Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Berkeley, and Leadership West Virginia. He was a President (and a Big Brother) of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Eastern Panhandle (now Junior Mentoring Programs – JuMP), President of ANTS (AIDS Network of the Tri-State), Pass Volunteer for Hedgesville Elementary School, President of Shepherd University’s Contemporary American Theater Festival, member of Theater Communications Group’s National Council for the American Theater, member of James Rumsey Technical Institute’s Culinary Arts Craft Committee, Board Member/Regional Representative for the West Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association, Theater Grant Review Panelist – National Endowment for the Arts, Playwrights’ Residency Review Panelist–National Endowment for the Arts/Theater Communications Group, Board Member–CASA-EP (Court Appointed Special Advocates-Eastern Panhandle), Shepherd University Foundation Board of Directors, and Chair of the Shepherd University Board of Governors.
Andy’s dedication to the arts was inspired by his grandmother, who encouraged his early studies in piano and organ. He served as organist for two churches in the Eastern Panhandle, was a founding member of Hedges Chapel, and was a member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. In 2007, Andy demonstrated his love for the arts by endowing the Andrew D. Michael Chair for Theater at Shepherd University, which is designated for the recruitment, recognition, and retention of outstanding faculty in theater.
In addition to his professional and philanthropic achievements, Andy was a devoted partner and husband. In 2015, he married the love of his life, Adam Stocker, with whom he shared many years of joy and companionship.
Andy is survived by his husband, Adam, brother, Steven, and his wife, Diane, sister-in-law, Winnie, niece Stephanie, nephews Travis, Jared & Jason, along with many cherished friends and former colleagues. He was preceded in death by his parents, J.D. & Mildred, his brothers Joey & Lewis, and his sister Laurene.
Andy’s legacy will live on through his contributions to the arts, his leadership in the community, and the lives he touched over the years.
A celebration of Andy’s life will be held on May 30 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (180 S. Washington St., Berkeley Springs) at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Andy’s memory to The Woods Scholarship Fund through the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation, Junior Mentoring Programs (JuMP), or CASA, organizations that were close to his heart.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.helsleyjohnsonfh.com.
Arrangements are being handled by Helsley-Johnson Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 95 Union Street, Berkeley Springs, WV.
