Obituary of Michael Gehl

Dr. Michael Bryan Gehl passed away on November 8th, 2020, in Rochester, NY. He is preceded in death by his parents William and Janet Gehl, and his husband and partner of 32 years, Jeffrey Caruso. He is survived by his daughters Trina Wolfe and Ara James, his five grandchildren Willa, Juniper, Maddie, Walker, and Arden, his sister Kristina Heffner, her children Alison Groom and Bryan Heffner, and their families, as well as his lifelong friend and mother of his children, Nina Ruch. Michael was a seeker of knowledge. After graduating Magna Cum Laude at David Lipscomb University, he attended medical school at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and then served in the military as a doctor in the Air National Guard. More than a doctor, Michael was a champion of the underprivileged, deeply committed to helping anyone in need. In addition to being Clinical Medical Director for the NYC Department of Health, he also volunteered for the New York Gay Men’s Health Center, and assisted countless men and women through the AIDS epidemic in New York. A railway enthusiast, Michael had a great passion for trains, and took every opportunity to ride them including working as a porter early in life. His love of trains and trivia paled only in comparison to his other great passion, music. Michael was at home when he was singing, and expressed his deep faith in the divine through music. An accomplished tenor, Michael sang with myriad choral groups over his lifetime, recently as a member of the Eastman Rochester Chorus, Rochester Oratorio Society, Madrigalia, First Inversion, and most notably as a longstanding member of the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus. Micheal was a philanthropist, donating time and money to multiple charities throughout his life. If you would like to honor his passing, in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity dedicated to supporting the Arts.