Michael Arrasmith

Michael Edward Arrasmith, Mike or Uncle Mike to family and friends went home to heaven on Friday, February 11, 2022 at the age of 68. He passed in the comfort of his home of natural causes.

Mike graduated from West High School in 1971 and was the first in our family to go to college. He passionately believed in the power of education to transform one's life.  He graduated in three years from Northwestern University and went on to achieve his Master’s in Business from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Business.  After working in marketing for Borden, Kellogg and Nestle, he decided to go into the medical field.  It’s no surprise that he had an interest in medicine.  As a kid, he saved his cousin Don's arm by applying a makeshift tourniquet.  I’m quite sure he read about that somewhere.  He went back to school at University of Pennsylvania and received his master’s in the sciences. Mike was always learning and trying different professional fields.  He then went onto Ohio State University where he received both master's degrees in Financial Planning and Occupational Therapy.  Mike dedicated his life to studying and serving those with various needs at the Heinzerling Community as an Occupational Therapist.

Mike loved to play basketball and would occasionally challenge his brother Mark and niece and nephews to a game at the holidays.  He loved to follow the basketball greats and debate the best ball players from Wilt Chamberlain to Michael Jordan.  He also loved to debate and had a wealth of knowledge to arm himself.  He enjoyed watching Jeopardy and answering all the questions correctly.  Mike loved the Doo Dah Parade and watching acclaimed films.  He enjoyed exposing others to other ways of life through these mediums and in his own way being an advocate for openness and acceptance.  As Grand Dame Maggie Smith said, “Speak your mind, even when your voice shakes, Mike definitely lived in this way.

Mike never married or had children, but would often hold council over our small immediate family and at times lecture them about this or that.  Mike is survived by his mother Mary Ellen Arrasmith, sister Deborah Fisher, brother Mark Arrasmith, niece Jennifer Brown, and nephews Ryan and Matthew Arrasmith. He passed far too soon but will always be remembered as a kind and loving man who went out of his way to look after and care for his family.

Services will be held on Wednesday, February 23rd, from 3pm to 5 pm at Shaw-Davis Funeral Home located at 34 W. 2nd Ave. Columbus, OH 43201.  In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Heinzerling Community at 1800 Heinzerling Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43223.

Thank you to the Heinzerling Community for your support and care over his years of service.

Death is a challenge.  It tells us not to waste time.  It tells us to tell each other right now that we love each other. -Leo Buscaglia