Michele Moselle Kaufman, 65, died Sept. 12, 2014, at her home in East Boothbay following a three-year battle with ALS.

Michele was born May 31, 1949, in New York City, the daughter of Ernest P. and Regina L. (Piccirello) Moselle. She was raised in New York City, Dallas, Texas and East Northport, Long Island, New York.

Michele received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and theoretical math from the University of Houston in 1968 and her J.D. degree in 1977, also from the University of Houston. She was admitted to practice law in Georgia, Texas and Illinois.

Professionally, Michele practiced law as a civil litigator and trial attorney in Atlanta and Austin, concentrating in personal injury, professional malpractice and domestic relations matters. In addition, she served for two years as an Assistant Attorney General for the state of Texas and for several years as a legal aid attorney for Prairie State Legal Services in suburban Chicago. 

She was particularly proud that she was one of the first women attorneys to be recognized as a domestic relations specialist in Atlanta, at a time when judges and many male attorneys frequently addressed her and other female attorneys as “little lady.”

She never suffered fools or bigots lightly, and she regularly championed the underdog, the underprivileged and the downtrodden.

Michele was active in a variety of civic and philanthropic endeavors. Over the years, she chaired various fundraising committees for the symphony orchestras in the communities in which she was living. She served on the board of directors of the Women’s Association of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Michele was an active member of the Junior League in New York, Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Nashville and Dallas. Michele was particularly passionate about animal rights, rescue and care organizations, especially those for dogs. She served on the Women’s Board of the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago and she was the founder and first president of the Austin/Travis County Humane Society Auxiliary.

The devastation of her ALS notwithstanding, Michele remained incredibly upbeat in her attitude and positive in her outlook to the end, determined to make every day as good as it could be. Her famous smile and sparkling eyes continued to light up the room, and she remained as engaged as she could be in the lives of her family and friends. Her spirit and courage have been an inspiration and comfort to all.

She married her husband, Andrew M. Kaufman, in 1975, and over the years they lived variously in Atlanta, Georgia, Houston, Austin and Dallas, Texas, Lake Forest, Illinois, Nashville, Tennessee, Los Angeles, California, and Brays Island, South Carolina, in addition to East Boothbay. She was a member of the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club.

Michele was devoted to her family and drew tremendous satisfaction and joy from being a wife and mother.

In addition to her husband of 39 years, she is survived by son, Peter Kaufman, his wife Selena and their son, Pike, of Charleston, South Carolina; daughter, Melissa Kaufman and her son, Nicholas, of Wellesley, Massachusets; and daughter, Caroline Jennings, her husband Luke and their son, Shep, of New York City.

The family wishes to thank the many professionals who cared for Michele during her illness, especially those from Lincoln County Home Health and Hospice and the dedicated in-home caregivers from Above & Beyond Scheduling Services.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 82 Atlantic Avenue, Boothbay Harbor, on Saturday, September 20at 1 p.m.

Memorial gifts can be made in Michele’s honor to animal rights, rescue and care organizations or the The A.L.S. Association, Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 6051, Albert Lea, MN 56007.

You are invited to share your condolences, stories and photos  with the family by visiting their Book of Memories  at www.hallfuneralhomes.com

Arrangements are entrusted to Hall’s of Boothbay, 975 Wiscasset Road, Boothbay.