NEWBURY PARK, CA (BRAIN)—Michelle Weiser, a Giant Bicycle employee since 2001, has passed away.
Weiser bravely fought breast cancer for more than two years, working at Giant up until May 7, according to a press release. She kept a positive attitude in the face of her illness, and was determined to throw everything at it as she battled. All the while, she maintained a full workload.
Weiser began her career at Giant as an inside sales representative; three years ago she moved to the marketing department as gear marketing manager.
“She handled so much for us—volumes of gear flyers and catalogs, thousands of promotional items,” said marketing manager Brad Klipping. “She led huge projects and covered small details—all the way down to things like birthday cakes for pros at races—and she did it all with her typical good humor and energy. This is a hard day for everyone at Giant.”
With her when she died was her mother and fiancé, Dustin Brady, Shimano's brand manager. The pair had planned a tropical vacation when she took leave from Giant, but Weiser's worsening illness prevented the trip.
Brady sent an email to her friends and colleagues telling them of her death. In part, it said:
“…the woman with a perfect round head, a beautiful smile and a little sass left us tonight. In the past few days she truly lived each day to the fullest. She was pinning it so hard, she was wearing her mother and I out. The last activity she literally did before going to bed on July 4 was to light and toss a firecracker for the 4th of July. When asked if she wanted to light that fire cracker, her eyes opened wide and she nodded clearly and concisely. The point of this story—she had a lust for life and lived each and every day of her fulfilled life.”
Weiser turned 42 years old just over a week ago. Memorial plans are pending.
