Sonny Longtine

Mr. Longtine was born March 6, 1940, in Marquette, Michigan, to Gene and Della (Anderson) Longtine.

Sonny was a 1958 graduate of Marquette Graveraet High School and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northern Michigan University. He continued his studies with post-graduate work at Michigan State University and Eastern Michigan University.

For 33 years he taught in Michigan school districts that included Garden City, Royal Oak, Rudyard, and Gwinn.

American History, U.S. Government, Sociology, and Psychology were his courses of instruction. In addition, he served as a school counselor for the Gwinn Area Community Schools. While in Gwinn he also was President of the Gwinn Education Association and responsible for implementing several Title I grants.

In his early 20s, he and three friends formed a talented folk musical quartet called the Cedar Swamp Singers. Though the group was short lived and national fame eluded them, they nonetheless enjoyed the comradely of group singing.

He was a past member of the Gwinn Big Brothers, Gwinn Education Association, Marquette Elks, Marquette Moose, Marquette Country Club, Marquette’s Regional History Center, Forsyth Township Historical Society, and Ishpeming Historical Society. He was also a past parishioner of St. Peter Cathedral.

An active downhill skier, he skied most of the major ski resorts in Utah and Colorado. In addition, he skied the Alps in Switzerland, Italy, and Austria. He skied from base of the Matterhorn in Switzerland to Italy. Biking and skating were also recreational pursuits. He biked more than more than 25,000 miles in the past 25 years and skated more than 500 miles every winter for the past decade, logging a total of 5,000 skating miles. Competitive bike racing led to winning medals at several events. Sky-diving in Baraga County and para-sailing in the Gulf of Mexico were other accomplishments. In addition, he was an enthusiastic kayaker and in-line skater.

After his retirement from education, he pursued a career in writing. He published nine books that included:Marquette Then and Now, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula: Life Legends, and Landmarks, Courage Burning, Wading in Blood, Murder in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, & Magnificent Mansions, Courtly Cottages, U.P. People, Lost Landmarks, and Marquette: A Waterfront Renaissance.

He was published in numerous periodicals including Marquette Monthly, Great Lakes Pilot, Lake Superior Magazine, Mackinac Journal, and U.P. Magazine.

He delighted audiences with PowerPoint presentations, one on murder in the Upper Peninsula, another on the architectural elegance of the Peninsula, and a third on Upper Peninsula people. Historical societies and civic organizations across the Upper Peninsula were the primary venues where he gave presentations. In March of 2016, he was selected as a guest speaker at Finlandia University’s Authors of the Northern Persuasion.

Photography was also an important artistic pursuit. He did most of the photography for his books, in addition to selling photography prints at Upper Peninsula craft shows. He also created personalized stationary that included his photographs.

He immersed himself in reading history and was frequently seen at local restaurants reading while dining.

A wealth of knowledge on the Upper Peninsula served him well when he was a tour guide for Marquette County Tours. He provided historical narratives about the city to tourists who were visiting the area.

His European jaunts, in additions to skiing, offered him the opportunity to saunter down the Champs Elysees and the historic West Bank in Paris, view Churchill’s war room in London, Shakespeare’s home in Stratford on Avon, and witness the Sistine Chapel in Rome.

His greatest joys were his yearly visits to Florida where he spent time with his children and grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Lois (Francis).

He is survived by his daughter, Heather (Sutton), sons, Christopher and Shawn, and three grandchildren, Cody, Kaylee, and Sierra (Sutton).

At his request there will not be any service.

Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderswansonhansen.com.