Obituary: Michael Bressler
The Marietta resident was a businessman, an entrepreneur, a traveler and, above all, a family man.
Michael Frederick Bressler, 72, of Marietta passed away peacefully with a smile on his face Sunday, July 2, 2017, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. He was surrounded by his loving wife, Peggy, and his two daughters, Debra and Melissa.
Michael was a kind, strong man who always put family first. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather who never knew a stranger and was always devoted to his children and grandchildren, who meant the world to him. He was an avid music lover — show tunes, opera, country, you name it — and a passionate traveler who was always up for an adventure. After he married the love of his life, Peggy Freedman, in 1988, they traveled far and wide, visiting everywhere from Hawaii to South Africa, Italy, London, Paris, the Caribbean and more. Yet, to Michael, it never mattered where they were on the map as long as they were together.
Michael also enjoyed an active life, playing tennis and skiing in his younger years. He was a dedicated fan of the Atlanta Hawks, attending games often. He especially loved cheering the team on with his grandson Micah. Michael was a dedicated fan of his grandchildren as well, never wanting to miss a single soccer game, tennis match or ballet recital — they were the highlights of his week. He also loved his dog, Sophie, who wouldn’t leave his side even until the end. Michael was also renowned for his fashion sense: He was able to match his ties and socks with any color shirt imaginable.
Michael was born in Baltimore. He later graduated with a degree in marketing from Hartwick and a master’s in business administration from LIU Post in Brookville, Long Island, N.Y. He began his career in marketing at McCann Erickson, moving to Atlanta to service the Coca-Cola account. Michael then left the marketing industry to open Designer Wallcoverings with Linda Wand. He later started his own printing and graphic design company, Affiliated Graphics, which he then sold to join ProGraphics. His colleagues, clients and employees alike admired and respected him — he was known for having a strong opinion and his own “Mikeisms” — and he will be dearly missed by all.
Survivors include his wife, Peggy Freedman; daughter and son-in-law Debra and Mark Brown of Dunwoody; son and daughter-in-law David and Monica Bressler of Orlando, Fla.; daughter and son-in-law Melissa and Shaun Bank of Dunwoody; sister Arlene Bressler of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; sister and brother-in-law Linda and Charles Idelson of Fort Myers, Fla.; sister-in-law Sandra Freedman of Atlanta; sister and brother-in-law Kathy and Herb Schwartz of Roswell; brother and sister-in-law Ken and Robyn Freedman of Marietta; grandchildren Jared, Hannah, Micah, Alexis and Ryleigh Reese; cousin Debbie Shuping and her husband, Andy; and many nieces and nephews.
Sign the online guestbook at www.edressler.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Congregation B’nai Torah or the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (pancan.org). A graveside service was held Tuesday, July 4, at Arlington Memorial Park. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.
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