MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MARCH 2026

It is such a gift and a joy to lead Parkinson’s Resource Organization and build friendships with each of you. But sometimes, that very closeness makes the work especially difficult – and this is one of them.

Today, and with profound sadness, I share the passing of our board member and friend, Michael Opell. Michael actually passed away in late 2025, right before the holiday season. It took me a few months to summon the words to write about him, and memorialize his titanic spirit in such a short space.

Because Michael did have a titanic spirit. He was a man of exceptional strength, a consummate fighter who put colossal energy into the people, projects, and causes he cared about. At PRO, we were lucky to be one of them.

Some of you may remember Michael from our virtual Round Tables. Michael lived with Parkinson’s for decades. There was very little he hadn’t experienced, researched, or evaluated. He approached his Parkinson’s with a brusque curiosity and vivid confrontation. He wasn’t about to go down without a fight.

Michael was known for his tough love. I remember after one Round Table meeting that I conducted early in my tenure, Michael called me up. Without preamble, he said “Listen, I don’t like the way you ran that meeting.” He proceeded to dissect my performance on a few key points and concluded with a simple, “well, that’s it.” Click.

But – to be selected for coaching by Michael was something special. Michael knew himself to be in a race against time and Michael’s life was full. Kids and grandkids he was immensely proud of and involved with, mentees across the globe, a devotion to his faith and his Temple, daily life with his funny, intelligent, and elegant wife Ellen, and that endless curiosity. Michael was an entrepreneur in his bones and a teacher by nature.

So…a few months later Michael emailed me after another Round Table. “I liked tonight’s meeting. Good job.” Never one to mince words, but they meant the world.

During his tenure on the Board at PRO, Michael pushed us to expand in-person programs in Los Angeles – which led to the formation of our two in-person support groups in Sherman Oaks and Woodland Hills. He coached me to think carefully but move quickly – again, he acutely felt that race against time.

I think what I appreciated the most about Michael was his helpless honesty. He was a vocal champion of Parkinson’s Resource Organization – and just as tough a critic when he needed to be. He kept me on my toes and forced me to defend my thinking in ways that evolved my thinking. Michael was a rare bird. I miss him. I feel lucky to have known him. Everyone who knew him feels the weight of his absence.

This feels like the right point to gently remind our readers about PRO’s Grief Group, which takes place every second and fourth Thursday at 10 AM on Zoom. This very special meeting, led by Glendon Geikie, MSW, explores anticipatory and bereavement grief in a gentle setting. You don’t have to navigate loss alone.

Finally, in honor of Michael, I’m asking each of you to do something intentional with your time today. We often find ourselves on autopilot, working our way through the day or the week or the month without contemplating the HOW and the WHY. How are you spending your precious time? And why? With that in mind, WHAT will you do today, with the time you have, to really honor it?

With gratitude for each of you and the gift of knowing you,

Eileen Lynch

Executive Director

Now read on for PRO OUT AND ABOUT: COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, PARKINSON'S-RELATED WEIGHT LOSS REFLECTS A FAILURE OF THE BODY'S ENERGY-PRODUCING PATHWAYS, NEUROLOGIST SHARES 5 EARLY SIGNS OF PARKINSON'S, SAYS DON'T DISMISS STIFFNESS AND SLOW MOVEMENTS AS AGING SYMPTOMS, PRO ON THE MOVE, SHUFFLEBOARD TOURNAMENT FOR PARKINSON'S, MEET THE PRO TEAM, A LIFE INSURANCE POLICY CAN HELP PAY FOR CARE, and FIBS AND FABRICATIONS: WHAT TO DO WHEN SOMEONE YOU’RE CARING FOR ISN’T TRUTHFUL.