Gerald Phillip Waite

A teacher, gardener, journalist, thoughtful observer, marveller of beauty all around him, Gerry had a full, grateful, cheery heart to the end.

Born in Fond du Lac, Wis., the third child of six, he grew up loving the outdoors, team sports, cowboy music, books, learning, all of which he pursued in happy memories at Holy Cross Seminary in far-away South Bend, Indiana. He finished high school at St. Mary’s Springs Academy, Fond du Lac. Gerry was an officer in the US Army Reserve, 1964-1970. He graduated with top honors from the University of Notre Dame, where a professor noticed his gifts with words and instruction and pointed him to continue his education. As a young man during graduate school at UW-Milwaukee, he honed his journalism skills at the copy desk of the Milwaukee Sentinel. He married Susan Eckenrod in 1965, and their love and five children would form a deep and lasting strength.

Professor ‘Doc’ Waite’s mentorship, humor and kindness reached so many students first in the English and Journalism Departments at Slippery Rock State College, and then at Northern Michigan University, 1976-2001. In retirement he enjoyed editing projects including helping his church and diocese, and contributing his column, “A Word To the Wise,” in the Marquette Monthly. He earned many awards for teaching and advising, but more important to him were the lives he affected, especially students in the North Wind student newspaper ‘family. ‘ Doc took particular joy in the April Fool’s edition, pleased with one issue poking fun at him, as “Professor Dead Waite.”

Gerry was motivated by the dignity of living things which governed his approach with strangers and loved ones alike. His five children were taught to pray, work hard, ask questions, leave things better than they found them, and appreciate each day, cheering even tiny flowers between grass blades. Meals were celebrations, with blessing and heaping praise at his stroke of luck marrying a gourmet cook. Lessons were frequent on the subjunctive mood, avoiding the passive voice and maintaining subject-verb agreement ­ but never like your life depended on it. He showed love by teasing, and he downplayed unpleasantness. He read bedtime stories like he was auditioning for a PBS miniseries, with heavy accents, a range of voices and high drama.

At home, if he wasn’t in his office grading papers, he might have been found chopping firewood, casting a trout line in the Chocolay, or weeding the lettuce rows while Bob Uecker gave the play-by-play through the bedroom window. Moving to the UP, he became an avid cross country skier, often after a day of teaching, returning home to boast, “no girls passed me today!”

He proudly went about town wearing T-shirts from his grandchildren’s colleges. He valued human decency and pursuits of culture, leading by example to show up generous and authentic with respect, humor and humility. More than 50 years hosting song-filled St. Patrick’s Day parties can attest. Gerry’s stewardship included a massive vegetable garden, which he carved out of a hillside and chronicled in years of journals. If you stopped by, you got a tour ­ unless you preferred a horseshoe game.

Gerry loved a sweet melody, and could imitate a thrush with his whistle. His vast memory for classical verse was matched by his deep store of 1940s, ’50s and ’60s popular music and radio ad jingles, not to mention traditional Irish songs. He readily quoted Latin, Greek, Shakespeare, Yeats, Swift, but was just as quick to sing “Mention My Name in Sheboygan,” by the Everly Brothers while driving past the road sign. And car rides, he was happiest taking the scenic route, stopping at every ‘hysterical’ marker along the way. He didn’t miss a chance to point out a great cribbage hand in a mundane place such as a license plate or odometer reading.

Gerry lived his deep faith, giving of his time at church on committees, singing in the choir, on Parish Counsel, St. Michael’s School Board, and the UP Catholic newspaper. He coached his kids’ baseball and softball teams, played in the keg league, and even ran in the Big Bay Relay one year. He was a champion blood donor at the Red Cross, and swung a hammer at several Habitat houses.

He was preceded in death by parents Philip and Genevieve Waite, and brother Patrick.

He will live on in the memory of his treasured wife of 60 years, Susan (Eckenrod) Waite, their five children and spouses: Bridget and Tim Appleberry, Louisville; Matt and KP Waite, St. Paul; Greg and Kay Waite, Houghton; Michael and Erica Waite, Marquette; Nora and Jared Smith, Marquette; adored grandchildren, Maura, Tessa, Aya Jane, Joey, John, Helen, Moses, Billy, Audrey, Seamus, Benjamin, Isley and Harvey; brothers and sisters Phyllis Hosking, Sheila Schmitz-Lammers, Paul Waite and Mark Waite.

Memorial Mass will be Feb. 27, 2026, at 1 pm, at St. Michael Catholic Church, 401 W. Kaye Ave., Marquette, with ashes buried at a later date.

Gerry would have lamented the length of this writing, as he liked to quote Shakespeare, that “brevity is the soul of wit,” but this seems to only scratch the surface. If you find yourself singing a tune you never heard before, it might be Gerry letting you know it’s always best to keep on the sunny side of life. In lieu of flowers, please consider a charitable donation to an organization that is meaningful to you. Gerry’s favorites included Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly, Habitat for Humanity, and Bay Cliff Health Camp.

Please find an expanded remembrance for Gerry at canalefuneral.com.