John Kinberger

John Michael Kinberger lived a full and beautiful life and leaves behind loving family and friends who will miss him always.

Michael is survived by his beloved wife, Debra France; daughter Lauren Kinberger and her husband Phil Zuniga: daughter Monique Brown and her husband Sean, her children – Michael’s grandchildren – Meghan Eisenhardt and Gage Eisenhardt, and Meghan’s son, great grandson, Jax Christopher Palacios, as well as his precious dogs Ziva and Miles.

Michael is also survived by his sister Jean Aldridge and her husband Darrell; nieces Kelly Aldridge, Dana Hensel, Lisabeth Sturges and nephew Jimmy Hoover; more nieces and nephews, as well as many friends, colleagues, and protégés, around the world. He’s preceded in death by his parents Myrta and Jack Kinberger, his sister and Godmother Nancy Hoover, niece Suzy Hoover and dear friend Gary Kaminski.

Michael was born in Houston, Texas, and grew up in nearby Katy.  His grandfather was a union organizer, and his father was a community leader, and both influenced Michael’s deep personal commitment to creating conditions of justice and fairness for all whom he encountered.

From a young age, Michael was concerned about civil rights and social injustice.  He was a thought leader and influencer for his high school to host its first integrated and inclusive prom.

Michael attended Princeton University and earned his Bachelor of Science from Houston Baptist University.  He earned a Master of Arts from Fuller Theological Seminary and Certificates in Clinical Pastoral Training in Mental Health Counseling from Baptist Memorial Hospital System.  From his core of Christianity, his study of different beliefs led him to follow his own unique path, so he designed a program of study on world religions, philosophy, and humanities. His personal values and beliefs deepened as his knowledge of spiritual practices and those who embraced them expanded. He was especially drawn to Taoism.  His evolving spirituality was a life-long pursuit.

After graduating, he worked as a Youth Pastor and social worker.  Helping others was part of Michael’s life mission and led him to dedicate the rest of his professional life to improving access to quality medical care for the most vulnerable; including: foster children, and disabled, elderly, and mentally ill people.  His early work was in Child Protective Services and rehabilitation. Over time, he conducted pioneering work as an executive in the Behavior Health field in which he discovered and enabled practitioners’ access to world-renowned medical experts, accelerating the move from scholarship to practice of promising new approaches to helping individuals with eating disorders, autism and other challenges.

Since retiring from healthcare several years ago, he curated and sold unique books from his collection featuring literature, art, and photography and mentored young artists and photographers around the world.  His personal correspondence is filled with mutual notes of encouragement and appreciation with artists and photographers of all ages and nations.

Michael’s parents were avid travelers, and from a very young age, Michael traveled with them throughout the US and Mexico in an Airstream.  This travel with his parents through his childhood inspired his love of travel, food, and people from all walks of life.

His love of music and the arts started at a young age as well.  He played drums in a high school rock band, and attending concerts was an important feature of his closest friendships.  In addition to music, he loved many forms of art and had a special talent for collecting and arranging it to create a beautiful and peaceful home.  He continuously scanned the art world, looking for and encouraging new talent.  He was an avid collector of photography, African and Asian art.

In his early adulthood, Michael discovered and loved everything about New Orleans – the vibe, the people, the music, and the food. He attended Jazz Fest in New Orleans over two decades with close friends and family members; enjoying all types of music and always seeking out wonderful new restaurants.

More than anything, Michael loved his people.  His daughter, Lauren; his wife, Debra; his bonus daughter, Monique; his friends around the world, and aspiring artists all held Michael’s attention.

He met Debra later in his life, and they made the most of the time they had together. They shared great love for many things, including travel, their families, and their sweet dogs.  They both traveled for work, which enabled them to travel to many countries together, often including his daughter Lauren.  Two special trips stand out – a trip to China with nephew, Hunter, and a trip to Japan with granddaughter Meghan.  When asked about his favorite countries that he visited, Michael had trouble choosing between Norway and Japan.

His greatest daily joys were watching movies; tracking and debating global news; actively participating in the global art scene; loving on his dogs, and connecting with the people he loved.  He enjoyed deep conversations around any number of topics.  He expected the best from people, and they received the best from him.

Before a rare kidney illness from early in Michael’s life resurfaced earlier this year, he was an avid cyclist, and he had hoped to enjoy all the beauty and outdoor activities Colorado had to offer with his wife Debra in their retirement.

A virtual Celebration of Michael’s life was held on Saturday, November 5, 2022.  This celebration, which includes many stories shared by family and friends can be viewed at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a9uSvt8IrAK2wFs5ZeZILzsryT3fa6qx/view?usp=sharing

If you are interested in honoring him, please consider donations to the following or to any group that improves the lives of animals or helps people improve their own lives:

Cuddly https://cuddly.com To help animals live a healthy life and find a loving home.
Kiva - https://www.kiva.org to support microlending for individuals around the world who are working hard to improve their lives.
Humane Society International https://www.hsi.org  Advancing the welfare of animals in more than 50 countries.

Thank you for any part you played in making his life joyful and fulfilling.