Michelle Suzanne Bourgeois

Michelle Bourgeois, 69, passed away on July 10th, 2024, in Tampa, FL. She was an internationally acclaimed behavioral scientist in the field of communication sciences and disorders, best known for her pioneering research and development of therapies for dementia patients and their caregivers. Her life of adventure began on October 16, 1954, in Putnam, CT, where she was born to Marguerite (Planchon) Bourgeois before flying off to France to meet her father, LTC Edward Bourgeois at the army base. She lived throughout Europe and the US as an army brat before attending the Pomfret School and then Georgetown University. She met the love of her life, Howard Goldstein, in Seattle. She completed her master’s degree at the University of Washington and earned her PhD at the University of Pittsburgh. She established her impactful career, while raising her amazing family and serving communities in Nashville, Pittsburgh, Tallahassee, Columbus, and Tampa. She received numerous grants from the National Institutes of Aging and the Alzheimer's Association to evaluate interventions such as memory aids for persons with dementia, aphasia, and traumatic brain injury. She also taught spouses and nursing home caregivers how to improve communicative interactions with people with dementia. Michelle retired from USF in 2021, which gave her time to read, deliver Meals on Wheels, and facilitate on-line support groups for caregivers with dementia and aphasia, along with her shih tzu companion, Dejá. 

She is survived by her husband Howard Goldstein, mother Marguerite (Peg) Bourgeois, daughter Alexa (and Neal) Benyak, son Evan (and Christine) Goldstein, granddaughters Audrey & Margot Benyak, and Ella Goldstein, brother Ed Bourgeois, sister Jacquie Niver, and countless other family members and friends.

In lieu of sending flowers, please consider donating in Michelle’s memory to: Meals on Wheels of Tampa - a fulfilling retirement passion project; or the National Alzheimer’s Association - the first and frequent funding source for her research career.

Michelle’s memorial service was held at Segal Funeral Home.