Michael Ashley Pandel, 70, known throughout his life as Ashley, died Dec. 10, 2014. He was born June 18, 1944, in Lafayette, La., to Carl Pandel and Jane Ashley Pandel. After his father died in 1955, he and his family moved to Fennville, where Ashley graduated from Fennville High in 1962. He attended San Angelo State College in Texas for a year. After working as a bartender at the Butler Hotel in Saugatuck for three years, Ashley moved to New York City to work as the press officer for the band that became "Alice Cooper." While Ashley directed Alice Cooper's publicity and promotional strategies, the group became an entertainment and cultural phenomenon. In 1975 Ashley left Alice Cooper to open his own restaurant with his brother Carl, on 5th Avenue and 13th Street in New York City. "Ashley's Restaurant" was an instant success, as Ashley used his show business connections to attract a clientele of music industry superstars such as John Lennon, Ringo Starr, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Kiss, Lou Reed, David Cassidy and John Belushi. After marrying Amy Jo Webster of Three Rivers, Ashley moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. in 1982, where he used his bar and restaurant knowledge to become the food and beverage director of the famous Yankee Clipper Hotel on Ft. Lauderdale Beach where he remained for many years. It was in Ft. Lauderdale where Ashley raised a family, including son Michael and daughters Rachel and Kimberly. After Amy and Ashley divorced, he remained in Florida until 2011, when he moved back to his hometown of Fennville. He is survived by his daughters, Rachel and Kimberly; his brother Carl; and his sisters, Leslie Charlton and Kit Motter.
Michael Ashley Pandel, 70, known throughout his life as Ashley, died Dec. 10, 2014. He was born June 18, 1944, in Lafayette, La., to Carl Pandel and Jane Ashley Pandel. After his father died in 1955, he and his family moved to Fennville, where Ashley graduated from Fennville High in 1962. He attended San Angelo State College in Texas for a year. After working as a bartender at the Butler Hotel in Saugatuck for three years, Ashley moved to New York City to work as the press officer for the band that became "Alice Cooper." While Ashley directed Alice Cooper's publicity and promotional strategies, the group became an entertainment and cultural phenomenon. In 1975 Ashley left Alice Cooper to open his own restaurant with his brother Carl, on 5th Avenue and 13th Street in New York City. "Ashley's Restaurant" was an instant success, as Ashley used his show business connections to attract a clientele of music industry superstars such as John Lennon, Ringo Starr, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Kiss, Lou Reed, David Cassidy and John Belushi. After marrying Amy Jo Webster of Three Rivers, Ashley moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. in 1982, where he used his bar and restaurant knowledge to become the food and beverage director of the famous Yankee Clipper Hotel on Ft. Lauderdale Beach where he remained for many years. It was in Ft. Lauderdale where Ashley raised a family, including son Michael and daughters Rachel and Kimberly. After Amy and Ashley divorced, he remained in Florida until 2011, when he moved back to his hometown of Fennville. He is survived by his daughters, Rachel and Kimberly; his brother Carl; and his sisters, Leslie Charlton and Kit Motter.
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