Michael Thompson

Michael Dylan Patalan Thompson, 42, of Matthews, NC, passed away peacefully on Thursday April 27, 2023, with his family by his side. Optimistic, friendly, funny, and excited to be alive, Michael relished challenges, and confronted each one head on. It was no different with colon cancer, which he fought bravely against, for three years. Michael was born on November 15th, 1980, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to Rich Thompson and Irene Patalan, and big brother Nikolas Thompson. Little sister, Kristina, was born five years later. So began a wonderful life, rich with family and friends, and fueled by passion for movies, music, and sports - especially his Detroit teams and the Michigan Wolverines. Midwestern summers on the Great Lakes, Thanksgivings with his cousins, days at Cedar Point, road trips to Long Beach Island and Durango, parties in the yard - most notably on the 4th of July - highlighted Michael's life growing up. In 1998 Michael went to the Rose Bowl to watch Michigan football win a title, and he fell in love with USC's campus. That fall he began his first adult pursuit as a broadcast journalism student at USC. He was a player manager for the basketball team, joined Lambda Chi Alpha, and poured himself into the art of storytelling via visual media. His first post-graduate job was with Fox NFL Sunday, grunting for the traveling showcase. He covered the Olympics in Athens, Torino and Beijing, MLB All-Star Games, and NFL Europe. Eventually he settled into his career with NASCAR Productions and became an Emmy award winning producer, creating digital coverage of the sport year-round. Mike married Michelle McDonough on June 26, 2009, after a long and adventure-filled courtship. His family grew, and he found unexpected reward and purpose in partnering with Michelle to raise three beautiful children: Hunter, 15, Sophie, 12, and Dylan, 10. Always putting family first, Mike and Shell took their children to Disney World, the Outer Banks, the mountains of NC, Los Angeles, and Sleeping Bear Dunes. During the pandemic, while enduring chemotherapy, the family would pile up on the couch and watch movies - cataloging 300 together during that time. On Saturdays they would devour mini boxes of sugar cereal like they were on a gameshow. Michael is survived by his wife Michelle, his beloved children, Hunter Scott, Sophie Irene, and Dylan Michael; his parents, Rich and Irene; his "almost a twin" brother, Nik and sister-in-law Aly, and nephew Miles and niece Zoey; his idolizing sister Kristina, and brother-in-law Andrew, and niece Ella and nephew Kai. He's also survived by a global network of friends and colleagues, many of whom traveled to visit with him in his last few days - and many of whom have counted Mikey as a great friend for nearly 40 years. Michael is so loved by his wife and children. He is so loved by his parents. He is so loved by his brother and sister and nieces and nephews and friends. Throughout his arduous illness, Michael's optimism and positivity never wavered. He was brave and upbeat until the end. A celebration of life ceremony will be held in Charlotte, NC on Wednesday, May 10th from 4p-7p at The Barrel Room at Triple C Brewing, 2832 Griffith St. Charlotte, NC. A celebration of life ceremony will also follow in our hometown of Ann Arbor, MI very soon. Details to follow shortly. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for memorial contributions to be sent in Michael's name to: Fight Colorectal Cancer http://fightcolorectalcancer.org/ Celebration of Life Wednesday, May 10, 2023 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM The Barrel Room at Triple C Brewing 2832 Griffith St. Charlotte NC 28203 United States