03/08/2026
The Past Pupils Association is saddened to learn of the passing away of past teacher and coach, Mr Richard McMichael.
Our condolences to his wife, Mrs Mary McMichael, and his family.
Rest in Peace, Mr McMichael.
The memorial service for Richard will be held in the Michaelhouse Chapel on Wednesday, 5 August from 2pm.
We pay tribute to Mr Richard McMichael, who served as a teacher here at Michaelhouse for thirty years, following news of his passing.
The son of a teacher, Richard found his calling after a few years trying out the commercial world. Starting his teaching career at Howick High School, where he met and married his teacher-wife Mary, he arrived at Michaelhouse in 1994, and his retirement at the end of 2024 saw the end of three decades of varied and remarkable service.
Appointed to initiate Accountancy in the school, Richard was also spanned into the Sixth Form programme, where not only was he the Sixth Form tutor, he also lectured Unisa Accounts 1, Economics 1 and Commercial Law 1 in addition to his other teaching duties.
Richard had a passion for his subject and taught it wholeheartedly, as anyone who walked in the Mackenzie Quad near his classroom can attest to. His voice rang through the cloisters, explaining which side of the profit or loss line a particular entry should be recorded.
Richard also ran chess and the investment club in those early years and was involved in the National Business Game from 1994 to 1997, coming second in the national finals in 1997. He was joined in the department by his colleague from Howick High School who recalls that in all their years working together, they never had a disagreement, although they did have plenty of positive discussion. However, his overriding memory is of a schoolmaster who, although giving the impression of being casual, was anything but. Richard was a thorough professional in all respects: marking, setting and teaching.
On the sports field Richard was exceptionally versatile, always willing to help in whatever capacity was needed. He was a real team player who never sought the limelight, which is a pity as he was exceptionally technically and tactically astute. Richard coached cricket and rugby to the lower teams, where he concentrated on the boys’ enjoyment first, but expected performance, too. He was nothing if not competitive, and there are many boys and officials who can remember being on the receiving end of some rather terse comments. In his later years he served as manager of the First XI soccer, a position where he made a great contribution and gained much enjoyment.
After his role as Sixth Form tutor, Richard served as a tutor in Founders and Mackenzie, before being appointed senior tutor in Farfield, Baines and Founders. In 2009 he was appointed Housemaster of East to commence in 2010. Contracting a super bug while in hospital in early January 2010, he was forced to resign this appointment as he was gravely ill. The community of Michaelhouse showed its exceptional ability and heart as they came together to move the McMichael family out of East in one day, while Mary supported Richard as he underwent a tracheotomy. In 2014, after a long recovery, he was appointed Housemaster of Baines, a position he held for nine years. It was under Richard's guidance that Baines underwent extensive alterations and rebuilding.
Richard will be remembered by staff and boys alike for his great skill, empathy and concern in dealing with all of them. He understood boys and said things to them that they needed to hear in a way that they wanted and needed to hear it. This is not a common trait.
Richard was also a committed family man. He had a great sense of humour and a very alert mind. Richard was also a rapacious reader, and had an exceptional general knowledge and a huge interest in current affairs, politics and numbers. He was a minimalist in that he did not like unnecessary detail, even when this might have led him into difficulties with certain academic officials. Life and people were cut and dried to Richard, and you always knew where you stood.
In a class of his own, Richard McMichael was an all-round schoolmaster.
A truly significant Michaelhouse man.
The memorial service for Richard will be held in our Michaelhouse Chapel on Wednesday, 5 August from 2pm.
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/live/kNSNQmLoiTM?si=7jhiUfu8aaMWt6va
(Tribute credit: Mike Thomson)
