Michael Marlon Rabinovitch
July 27, 1973-Aug. 26, 2026
San Francisco, California

Michael Marlon Rabinovitch, 53, of San Francisco and Napa, California, died suddenly on Wednesday August 26, 2026, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He died from an acute heart attack, leaving a profound void in the lives of all who knew him. His death comes as an immense shock to his family and the countless friends whose lives he touched.

Mike was a loving and devoted husband, son, brother, uncle, friend and dog dad. Mike put his people first and prioritized family ahead of all else. He had an exceptional ability to bring people together and an even greater gift for making those around him feel welcomed, included, and lucky to be part of his world.

Mike treasured his friendships. His natural ability to connect with people allowed him to build extraordinary communities in San Francisco and Napa, while maintaining friendships from every chapter of his life. Mike developed deep friendships and had a natural talent for creating meaningful connections wherever he went. It is remarkable how many people considered Mike to be their best friend. His kindness and generosity were evident in the way he shared his home, his interests, his relationships and his life.

To know Mike was to know how full of life he was. He had an uncanny ability to finish Wordle in two despite changing his starting word nearly every day. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of song lyrics. He gave the best hugs. He perfected the art of the charcuterie board. He was fluent in several languages and could converse in many more. He was a frequent visitor to the USGS.gov website and one of Neil deGrasse Tyson’s biggest fans. Mike was also an avid art lover and collector. His curiosity, enthusiasm and appreciation for art reflected the same qualities he brought to so many aspects of his life. He possessed intellectual curiosity and a lifelong love of learning.

Mike was a diehard Bay Area sports fan, faithfully cheering on his favorite teams through every season, every victory, and every heartbreak. As in all things, his loyalty ran deep, and was simply part of who Mike was. Mike himself was a committed ice hockey player who played in three different leagues simultaneously for most of his adult life.

Born in London on July 27, 1973, Mike spent his early years living in London, Toronto, and Westport, Connecticut before moving to Los Altos Hills with his family in 1983. He graduated from Henry M. Gunn High School in Palo Alto in 1991, Colorado College in 1995, and later earned his MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management in 2004.

After graduating from college, Mike moved to Europe to begin his career in finance working in Geneva, London and Stuttgart. While living abroad, Mike developed friendships with people from around the world, many of whom remained among his close friends throughout his life. He traveled often to see them, sustaining those friendships across decades and distances.

Mike married the love of his life, Gabrielle Scheibe, whom he met while they were students at UCLA Anderson. They married in Palm Springs on November 8, 2008, and built a life together in California filled with family, friendships, travel, food, wine, art, philanthropy and the communities they loved. They were true partners with a deep love and strengths that complemented and enhanced each other.

Mike is survived by his beloved wife, Gabrielle Scheibe; his parents, Issie and Rhoda Rabinovitch of Los Altos Hills; his sister, Amanda (Josh Corzine), and their children, Emma, Will and Sadie of Mill Valley, California; his sister-in-law, Alexandra Scheibe, and her daughter, Julia Clementine, of New York City; as well as aunts, uncles, cousins and so many dear friends. Mike was predeceased by his father-in-law, Robert Scheibe, and mother-in-law, Judith Scheibe, of Scarsdale, New York. Funeral services will be held at Temple Emanu-El in San Francisco on Wednesday, September 2 at 10 am with a reception to follow at the synagogue and then a burial service at Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto at 2 pm. The family will sit shiva in various family homes in Los Altos Hills, Mill Valley and Napa.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Vida Verde Nature Education based in San Gregorio, California, an organization very dear to Mike and Gabrielle and the entire Rabinovitch family.