1950 – 2024
JFS and the Teddy deCaro-Copley and Chris Copley family are proud to announce the establishment of, for their brother-in-law, the Michael (Mikey) Steven Feiler Memorial Fund. To honor Mikey’s memory, the fund will be used to enhance the lives of Jewish children and teens supported by JFS’ Family Assistance Network.
Mikey was a committed champion of helping those in need, and a strong advocate for decreasing the inequities in the community where he lived.
A humble man who would drop everything to help a friend in need, Michael was born on June 4, 1950, in La Paz, Bolivia, the son of German immigrants, Helmut and Hilde (nee Kaufman) Feiler, who fled their home country to escape the Holocaust. A year after his birth, the family moved to Fort Lee, New Jersey, where they opened Atlas 5 & 10 store. He graduated from Fort Lee High School in 1968, where many years later he was inducted into the high school’s Academic Hall of Fame. He then went on to study marketing at Rider University, where he was a member of ZBT Fraternity, and graduated in 1972.
On May 26, 1974, he married the love of his life, Bunny deCaro. Their beautiful ceremony blended the couples Italian Catholic and German Jewish backgrounds and created a strong family bond that has remained unbroken. The two built a life in Monsey, New York and Fort Lee, New Jersey, with their son, Jonathan, becoming prominent members of the community. Their dedication to maintaining Atlas 5 & 10 culminated in Mikey being honored as Fort Lee Chamber of Commerce’s Man of the Year, along with his father, Helmut, in 1990.
A man whose preference was to stay in the shadows, Michael could never remain unseen for long, mostly due to others recognizing the strength of his character and work ethic. It could be said that even his broad 6’3” frame could not accommodate the size of his heart. In 2007, he was honored as a National Academy of Finance and Advisory Board Champion, which concluded with him giving a speech before 1,500 guests, all of whom wept as they heard Michael speak with the devotion of a husband and father who knew no bounds when it came to love. As a father, Michael instilled in his son, Jonathan, a sense of integrity and strong work ethic, qualities that Jonathan carries to this day.
The fund is a meaningful way to honor Mikey’s important contributions and his memory. JFS expresses its deep gratitude to his family, especially his wife of fifty years, Bunny Feiler and his son Jonathan Feiler.
May Mikey’s memory be a blessing.
We invite you to join us in honoring Mikey’s extraordinary legacy by supporting the Michael (Mikey) Steven Feiler Memorial Fund. Your generosity will carry forward his deep commitment to helping others and championing those in need.