Michael A. Pickarts

Michael Albert Pickarts passed away on June 4, 2018, in Torrance, California, with his family by his side.

Born in Los Angeles on January 19, 1943 to Evelyn Marie Wood Pickarts and Walter Albert Pickarts Jr. Mike grew up in Eagle Rock and graduated from Eagle Rock High School. He attended Menlo College and University of Southern California, graduating with a bachelor of science degree in 1975 from California State University at Los Angeles. Mike’s career span more than 30 years, first in display advertising sales at the Los Angeles Times and then as a marketing consultant at Dunn & Bradstreet.

Mike and Charlene’s love story began in 1962 when the two met on an airplane while traveling to Europe with their families. They began dating on the second month of the tour, and the couple married on August 14, 1965. Mike and Charlene lived in Highland Park, Glendale, and San Pedro before building their home in Torrance in 1980. They welcomed their daughter, Jennifer in 1978. In 1972, their love of traveling took them on a year-long trip around the world. During their 55 years together, Mike and Charlene traveled to all seven continents and more than 50 countries. Among their favorite adventures were traveling to Eastern Africa and walking among the penguin in Antarctica. In 2015, Mike and Charlene traveled to Hawaii with their family, where daughter Jennie surprised her parents with a vow renewal for their 50th wedding anniversary.

Mike never let recurring health problems hold him back from living life. In June 2002, he was the recipient of a heart transplant, giving him an additional 16 years doing the activities he loved with family and friends. His greatest joy was watching his daughter and grandchildren grow. Having attended Los Angeles Rams games with his father as a child, Mike was a lifelong Los Angeles Rams fan and a season ticket holder for more than 30 years. He shared his love of football with his grandkids and loved to watch grandson Ryan out on the field. Mike was also an avid golfer and member of the Alondra Men’s Club and the Sandbaggers. Always the adventurer, Mike successfully snuck into the Los Angeles Coliseum to watch the opening ceremonies of the 1984 Olympic Games.

Mike is survived by Charlene Grace Pickarts, his wife of more than 52 years; daughter Jennifer Michele Daywalt; son-in-law Shane Daywalt; and grandchildren Matthew Daywalt, Ryan Marquez- Daywalt, Coralin Daywalt, and Brett Daywalt. Mike is predeceased by his mother, Evelyn Marie Wood Pickarts, who died on Oct. 17, 1993; his father Walter Albert Pickarts, Jr., who died on July 24, 1961; and his grandmother Martha Wood, who died in 1986.

Services will be help at Green Hills Memorial Park on Monday, June 25 at 11:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Mike’s honor to Donate Life California: www.donatelifecalifornia.org