July 15, 1946 – April 21, 2014
Frances Kelleher grew up on Long Island, received her B.A. from the College of New Rochelle, and earned her Ph.D. from New York University. She served as professor of European history at Grand Valley State, where she taught for 25 years.
May 6, 1949 – July 16, 2012
A native of St. Louis, Michael McGuire earned degrees from SUNY-Fredonia and Michigan State University. As professor of music therapy at Eastern Michigan University, McGuire helped push the university to establish a campus LGBT resource center and create the Stonewall Scholarship to provide financial aid to LGBT student leaders.
Between The Lines, July 26, 2012
Michael G. McGuire papers at Eastern Michigan University Archives
August 14, 1922 – June 6, 1993
Finley Hooper grew up in Detroit and was an assistant professor of Greek and Roman history at Michigan State University in the mid-1950s when he was discovered to be homosexual and forced to leave. He subsequently enjoyed a long and esteemed academic career at Wayne State University.
Grosse Pointe News, June 17, 1993
November 2, 1942 – July 17, 2012
Lansing resident Judith Rogers Dill earned her doctorate in German language and literature from the University of Michigan in 1979 and at Lansing Community College and Michigan State University. She later pursued a career in information systems management and belonged to the Arts Chorale of Greater Lansing.
January 19, 1911 – February 8, 2004
Rev. Anne Garrison was a longtime ally who joined Michigan State University campus ministries after retiring as a business professor. She served on the bishop’s committee that produced a pioneering 1973 report that recommended greater inclusions for gay people within the Michigan Diocese of the Episcopal Church.
Detroit Free Press, February 17. 2004
August 14, 1950 – July 20, 2010
Lansing activist and physical therapist Norman Pross was born in Bay City and grew up in Standish. He earned a Bachelor’s in education from Central Michigan University. After moving to Lansing in 1974, he was employed with the Eaton Intermediate School District and later worked as an HIV/AIDS consultant for the State of Michigan.
September 3, 1931 – December 26, 2007
A native of Allegan, Marietta “Polly” Huitt earned her B.S. and M.A. from Western Michigan University and taught at Nazareth College and in the Kalamazoo Public Schools. She and her life partner June Peppas later operated the JP Printing Company in Allegan before retiring to Florida in 1990.
January 11, 1951 – November 7, 2016
Twin Oak resident Amy Oak taught special education and led teacher training workshops throughout Michigan. An avid gardener, cook, community activist, and drummer, she performed with her wife Barbara Pitcher in the musical ensemble Framing Rhythm.
May 12, 1941 – March 19, 2014
Milton Ford taught liberal studies at Grand Valley State University and served as founding director of the campus LGBT Resource Center from 2008 to 2010. He authored the book Playing It Straight: Gay Men and Heterosexual Marriage. Ford was survived by his partner Gary Van Harn.
February 17, 1936 – July 24, 2015
A native of Washington, DC, Effie Ambler attended Bryn Mawr, earned her doctorate from Indiana University, and taught on the history faculty at Wayne State until her retirement in 2006.
Grosse Pointe News, August 6, 2015
Michigan LGBTQ Remember 