Michael H. Wells

Michael H. Wells of Shrewsbury, Vermont, passed away in 2026. A steadfast advocate for compassionate mental health care, he devoted decades of his life to Spring Lake Ranch, serving as Executive Director and Trustee. He guided the organization from its modest beginnings in the 1930s into the evolving landscape of modern therapeutic care, always championing the belief that dignity, community, and meaningful work lie at the heart of healing.

Born in London, Michael came of age during World War II, experiencing the Blitz, hearing King George VI’s wireless address at the outbreak of war, and later witnessing Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. He attended Haileybury school, served as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery, and worked in the automobile manufacturing industry, where he developed a lifelong passion for cars. After moving from England to Vermont, he found his true calling at Spring Lake Ranch, where he met his wife, Phyllis. Together they raised their family in the hills of Shrewsbury.

Michael remained deeply committed to the “Ranch way,” emphasizing the restorative power of shared meals, gardening, and fireside gatherings over purely clinical approaches. He played a pivotal role in shaping Vermont’s early licensing regulations for therapeutic community residences, helping ensure that small, farm-based programs could continue to offer healing in nontraditional settings. To his neighbors in Shrewsbury, he was a trusted friend and bridge between the Ranch and the wider community, known for his transparency, respect, and genuine warmth.

He is remembered for his love of music ranging from Aretha Franklin to Jean Sibelius, his carefully restored military trucks, his English garden, Yorkshire pudding, and 1000-piece puzzles. His welcoming hugs were a signature expression of his kind and inclusive spirit. Michael is survived by his wife, Phyllis (Polk) Wells; their children Jonathon Wells (Lucretia), Hillary Wells (Henry Phelan), and Geoffrey Wells; grandchildren Dylan DeFlorio (Dianne), Kyle Phelan, and Cassidy Wells; nephew John Goodell; and the many generations of the extended Ranch family whose lives he touched.