Michael A. Themelis

Michael Arthur Themelis, 66, of Manchester passed away on April 20, 2024 after a four-month battle with aggressive glioblastoma (brain cancer).

Born in Manchester on April 17, 1958 to Carol (Cody) Themelis and the late George Harrington Themelis, Michael was a lifelong resident of Manchester, NH and a graduate of Manchester Central High School and the University of New Hampshire. He was self-employed as a private detective for most of his life, investigating criminal and civil cases involving serious injury and death.

Michael’s family includes his mother, Carol Themelis of Manchester; brother, George Themelis of Manchester; sister and brother-in-law, Kristen and John Patton of Sedona, AZ; nieces, Epiphany Themelis of Newmarket, NH, and Skyler and Grace Patton of Scottsdale, AZ.

Michael was very appreciative of family and friends who helped him get through the very tough times. That meant the world to him.

Michael had a kind and gentle heart. He had strong empathy for the unfortunate and defenseless. Michael served as a volunteer for CASA, serving as a court-appointed advocate for abused and neglected children. He also was an advocate for women in crisis. He had an innate empathy with the natural world. Michael loved animals and animals loved him back. Birds in nature would actually fly into his hands.

Michael had an intuitive understanding of machinery. He could fix anything mechanical. He was an inveterate inventor. He built quite a few of his creations, for example,  “wheel shields” to prevent sand from plow trucks spoiling brakes, an iPhone device to assist in taking one hand photos, and a firearm shoulder strap that allowed concealed reaching for one’s pistol. 

Michael passionately loved his country and New Hampshire. He was a lover of truth, which he often expressed with a biting, sardonic wit. He was a regular live commenter on The Howie Carr radio show under the alias “Zebra”. Below are the first few lines to a patriotic poem he wrote on his blog page called The Granite Truth:

We were Born to a Land of Heroes
 Carved in Stone & Forged in Bronze.
 Who bore the cost of Freedom
 and without question carried on.

For the full poem see: https://www.thegranitetruth.com 

Michael had deep faith and trust in God sustaining him and recently, with tears, expressed that Jesus was his savior.

A Memorial Gathering will be held at the Cremation Society of New Hampshire, 243 Hanover St., Manchester on Wednesday, May 1 from 5–7 PM.

 In lieu of flowers or donations, his family asks that you honor Michael’s memory by treating each one you meet each day with kindness, compassion, and a warm smile.