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.
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
July 24, 1944 – November 1, 2015
An eleven-year resident of Marquette, Judith Fern “Judy” Eisenberg worked as a waitress, an emergency medical technician, Dichtaphone operator, folk singer, and piano teacher. As a member of the Lake Superior Piano Workshop from 2004 to 2010, she performed at the Peter White Library and the Women’s Federated Clubhouse.
April 29, 1931 – October 29, 1990
A onetime executive assistant with the Joffrey Ballet, Christopher Flynn operated a private dance studio in Rochester in the early 1970s and introduced his student and future superstar Madonna to gay nightlife at Menjo’s. In 1977, Flynn served as a founding officer of the Michigan Organization for Human Rights. He died from AIDS-related complications at age 58.
April 24, 1947 – October 18, 2000
LeRoy Holmberg Jr., an adjunct professor at the University of Detroit-Mercy and past Detroit Area Gay/Lesbian Council president, was long active in various local LGBTQ organizations.
