This father-and-son team is playing vital, behind-the-scenes roles in ensuring San Diego City College truly lives up to its “You Belong” motto. 

Eddie Michel, 61, is a senior facilities crew leader responsible for keeping the campus running smoothly. His son, “Lil Eddie” Michel, 39, works as a stock room receiving supervisor, managing deliveries of everything from new computers and textbooks to fertilizer and sod, making sure each item reaches its destination on time and without a hitch. 

Both share the same focus: the students. “The college has changed a lot with all the new buildings over the years, but what hasn’t changed are the students,” the elder Michel says. They’re still coming here looking to build a better future and trying to get ahead or back on their feet.” 

The elder Michel came to City as a part-time custodian, working the graveyard shift while attending Southwestern College full-time during the day. He hoped to keep the same schedule when he transferred to San Diego State University as a computer science major, but those plans changed when his son was born in 1986. “I couldn’t do both,” he said, explaining why he dropped out of SDSU. But he has no regrets. He’s doing the work he loves, provided for his family, and earned several promotions, becoming a senior facilities crew leader in 2005. 

The younger Eddie followed his father’s example. After graduating from Castle Park High School in 2004, he took classes at City off and on before joining the staff in 2015 as a part-time stock room clerk.  He was hired full-time in 2023 and earned a promotion to receiving supervisor in the spring of 2025. 

Both say their toughest challenges came during the pandemic. “People were still ordering things even though no one was on campus,” the younger Michel said. Everything was being delivered to the stock room, and we were delivering to empty classrooms and offices. When you went anywhere to deliver something, you’d be pretty much the only one on campus. It was very strange.” 

For his father, the pandemic presented a moment that would change lives. While performing regular duties on a near-empty campus, the elder Michel heard a scream for help. “I turned around and I saw a young lady on the ground with a guy standing over her,” he recalls. “I yelled at the guy, just trying to get him away from her, and he took off running.” 

Thanks to Michel’s quick response, police were able to apprehend the attacker before he escaped. Michel was honored with the District Attorney’s Citizen of Courage Award for his actions, identifying the attacker, and providing crucial testimony during a trial that resulted in a 7-year prison sentence. 

After 40 years as a full-time employee, the elder Michel is retiring December 30. “I’m so used to going to work every day, I really haven’t had a chance to think about it,” he said. “But I do know I’ll miss the people here.” 

The family, however, will continue to impact the college and the San Diego Community College District in the years to come. The younger Michel’s younger brother, Ethan, is a maintenance worker at San Diego Mesa College. Their mother, Carmen Martinez, is an administrative assistant at San Diego College of Continuing Education.  

“I really do love it here; it’s pretty much a second home,” the younger Michel said. “City has provided for me and my family since I was born. I’m grateful and thankful for the people I work for and work with.”