Mike Felix was a proud and accomplished citizen of El Monte for over 75 years. He passed away on November 27, 2024. He loved the city and its people, with all of his heart. Michael attended Portero Elementary School and Frank Wright Middle School. He played at, and later coached, many winning baseball teams at Lambert Park. 

Attending Arroyo High School, he lettered in baseball, basketball, and football, graduating in 1964. 

In 1966, while attending Citrus College, Michael was drafted to fight in the Vietnam War. In the US Army, he was selected to be a part of the 101st Airborne Division. Performing dangerous combat missions such as parachuting, defusing land mines, and engaging in hand to hand combat, Michael fought in Vietnam from 1967-1968. He was promoted to Sergeant Major and upon returning to the States he briefly served as Drill Instructor at Fort Benning, Georgia (a role he never really surrendered). He was honorably discharged in 1969.

In 1970 He returned to the San Gabriel Valley, and his love for sports, by working for the city of Rosemead as the Director of Parks and Youth Services. At Garvey Park, he planned year round sports activities, concerts in the park (by War, Tierra, Malo, and Los Lobos), job fairs, and countless events serving the local community. Just for the fun of it, and for the love of football, he also proudly coached the Rosemead Rebels youth football team throughout the 1970s. 

After his time in Rosemead, Mike returned to school to earn his teaching credential from USC, majoring in Education. He was a lifelong Trojans fan, and was proud to have earned his degree there. 

In 1985, He was hired by Los Angeles Unified School District to work at Sierra Park Elementary School in El Sereno. He was a proud Falcon and taught 5th and 6th grade for several years. He took great joy in having 100% of his students pass the state physical fitness tests, teaching them to play music, and making a tremendous impact on a community where literacy and positive parental figures were needed. As a member of UTLA and union representative for his school, he led and participated in strikes demanding fair wages and treatment for the teachers of Los Angeles Unified. 

In 1991 he was hired to work at El Monte-Rosemead Adult School, alongside his loving wife Annette. Finally landing his “dream job,” he taught English as a Second Language. In 2001 he became a counselor at EMRAS, assisting adults navigate their career and education journeys. He served as counselor at El Monte-Rosemead Adult School until his retirement in 2009. 

Michael loved coaching his sons who played for the Nativity Nobles basketball team, the El Monte Jets football team, and his beloved Lambert Park/ Temple City Dodgers. Undefeated seasons, league titles, and championships were the norm for Coach Felix – whose memory lives on in the hearts of all his players. In his retirement years he was scorekeeper for the Rosemead High School basketball team, where his son Mike was basketball coach. 

Michael was the founder of El Monte VFW Post 10218 and served as Post Commander for over 15 years. During his time as Commander, he organized holiday food and toy drives, helped veterans find gainful employment, and lobbied the city to provide more housing for veterans. He was named the state of California’s Veteran of the Year in 2007 and recognized in the California State Assembly by Congressman Mike Eng and long time friend and El Monte neighbor, Hilda Solis. Today the El Monte VFW Hall at 11126 Ramona is named in his honor. 

Michael Felix lived with an incomparable enthusiasm for life and a remarkable passion for helping others. His numerous accomplishments are impossible to list and his impact on the community will be felt forever by the countless lives he touched. 

He is survived by his devoted wife of 43 years, Annette Felix, children Michael, Monique, and Christopher, and grandchildren Annette, Emilio, and Helene