Living The Good Life: From college soccer star, to highly awarded and respected District Attorney, Michael L Bundy’s greatest accomplishments lie in his roles as husband, father and grandfather.

Isaiah 41:10 says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

This verse, pointed out by Michael L Bundy’s granddaughter, Morea, is something he holds onto throughout his life. As he turns 75, he has been dealing with a lot of tribulations, but that does not stop Michael from being the family man the Bundy clan all loves and appreciates.

“He is a strong, family-centered leader,” his son Mike Jr. said. “Dad is a hardworking, tough, kind, selfless, gentle giant. He picks everyone up around him when they fall in life. He is the glue and bond of this great family.”

Everyone in the Bundy family knows who the patriarch is. They know Michael L has set the tone for multiple generations, and everyone in the family looks up to him.

His two oldest grandchildren, David and Morea, have a special relationship with Michael, and they cherish the time they spend with their grandfather. 

“He has taught me how to be strong, both mentally and physically,” Morea said. “He always says how strong of a girl I am and has me do heavy lifting to show everyone I am as strong as they are. The mental strength and resolve he has given me is a result of what he has gone through in his own life.”

Michael is a man of God who keeps his faith even in the darkest hour, and his family appreciates how much of an impact he has on their lives.

Not only that, but they know just how well Michael treats everyone around him. He is there for people through the good times and the bad, and he is definitely someone you want in your corner.

“He is good to family and others,” David said. “He has always been a very generous and kind soul. In his life he has worn many hats, but I know he particularly enjoyed teaching police recruits toward the end of his career. He liked to help the new, younger students, and he was always an exceptional teacher, no matter the subject.”

Michael has lived a great life so far. He enjoys passing his wisdom and charisma down to others. He loves educating people and likes being able to be a positive influence in many people’s lives.

One significant person he has had a positive influence on is the love of his life, Sally. They have been together for over five decades, and she loves everything about Michael.

“Mike has been my best friend and lover for 52 years,” Sally said. “He means the world to me. Our life has been a ‘we’ partnership all these years, and I love him and our life. He is my strength and my guiding light. I get to start each day with him and kiss him goodnight every night. That is a blessing.”

Having such an amazing man who is the father to your children is something Sally feels exceptionally blessed by. She will tell you the past 52 years have been the best years ever, and she would not trade one minute of this amazing journey.

“I admire his unrelenting dedication to my mom, worrying more about her wellbeing every second even as he battles cancer,” Mike Jr. said. “His example of how to be a good husband, parent and grandparent has positively impacted everyone lucky enough to be in his presence.”

Michael L is as selfless as they come, and amidst his toughest tests in life, he has never put the love he has for his family on the backburner. Michael fights the good fight while keeping his heart in the right place, and he shows immense toughness and perseverance every day.

Michael’s strength is admired by his family and friends alike, and they all love how he keeps a positive outlook daily.

“I’ve learned countless things from him, whether it be fun card games, the proper way to shoot a basketball, or how to write a check.” David said. “Through his cancer battle, I’ve learned to accept confusion and frustration. I was so frustrated that he was having to fight cancer yet again, and confused as to how I can help or support him. But he showed me how to take the situation at face value and appreciate the time we can still spend together.”

Life is what you make of it, and when you make the most of it, you are doing something right. Michael has made it a point to make sure the time he spends with his family is cherished deeply, and it is something he will continue to do.

“I’ve learned from him that peace and serenity come from doing the right thing,” Sally said. “We don’t give up. If something doesn’t work, we try something else. We aren’t afraid nor unwilling to say, “I am wrong” or “I am sorry. Sometimes we have to ‘just do it.’ Face fears with reality, not wishful thinking.”

Michael has also taught his wife to celebrate the small victories and to live life one day at a time. You cannot get too caught up in what the future holds, but instead think about what you can do today to make the most of it.

Part of making the most of life includes making memories, and that is what Michael has tried to constantly do with his family. He is all about spending ample time with them and creating moments that will last a lifetime.

“There is one story that I know Grandpa will never let go,” Morea said. “We were messing around, and Grandpa said we should go for a ride in the wheelbarrow. Let me say, it was not a stable one!  I hopped in, and we went down a large hill. In a flash I remember falling forward, and we both flipped over.”

Morea has never ridden in a wheelbarrow after that, but she does have the memories to never forget that fun moment.

Michael is a family man who is truly irreplaceable, and his family all knows this.

“My grandfather means absolutely everything to me,” Morea said. “He is my whole universe. I think about all of the stories he has shared with me, whether it was about falling in love with my grandma, the tense criminal trials he had to work through, or even a funny story of my father doing something silly. When I think of these stories and keep them in the back of my mind, I wonder how I can be as happy and successful as he is. He is an incredibly inspiring human being.”

Talk about a touching thought. When Morea thinks about her grandfather, all she thinks about is positivity and hard work. She respects him to the fullest extent, and it is easy to see why she has had such a great relationship with him.

It is easy to see why David has such a great relationship with Michael as well. He looks up to his grandfather because of how much he has done for the family, and David is just truly grateful for him.

“My grandfather is my role model,” he said. “He is someone who I always look up to and am proud to be related to.”

When you are a man that your own grandkids want to be like some day, you are doing something right. Or, in Michael’s case, he is doing many things right.

The love that Michael has for his family is reciprocated. 

“I love you. For a million reasons, but probably mostly for being my strength through the hard times of our life together. Not giving up on me, and fully supporting me throughout my recovery. You’ve made it ‘our recovery’, and that is just one of the many things I love about you. I thank God He put you in my life.” – Sally

“Thank you, Dad! Thanks for everything you have done for all of us. We all love you more than we could ever say or show! Your strong influence shows in the amazing quality of humans all your grandkids are turning out to be!” – Mike Jr.