Dr. Gerald Phillip Waite

After 83 happy years, beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, Dr.

Gerald Phillip Waite sang his last song in the peaceful, waning hours of January 26, 2026,

surrounded by family. A teacher, gardener, journalist, thoughtful observer, marveler 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. At the University of Notre Dame, a professor encouraged Gerry's gifts

with words and instruction, and after graduating with top honors, Gerry went on to earn his

Master of Arts and PhD at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. As a grad student, he honed

his journalism and editing skills at the copy editor's desk of the Milwaukee Sentinel. His

matchmaker sister struck the right chord introducing Gerry to her friend, Susan Eckenrod, who

was willing to overlook the shamrock tattoo on his forearm. Gerry and Sue were married in

1965, and their love and five children would form a deep and lasting strength.

Professor 'Doc' Waite's lessons, mentorship, humor and kindness reached so many students

first in the English and Journalism Departments at Slippery Rock State College, and then

Northern Michigan University 1976 - 2001. In retirement he enjoyed editing projects including

helping his church and diocese, and contributing his monthly language and usage 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, nurturing like a father figure,

especially the North Wind student newspaper 'family.' Doc took particular joy in the April Fool's

edition, a place to redirect the otherwise serious business of news to a silly dimension, 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.

Always accessible, if he wasn't in his home office grading papers puffing on his pipe, he

might have been found chopping firewood by hand, casting a trout line in the Chocolay, or

weeding the radishes 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 valued human decency and pursuits of culture, leading by example to check your

sources, mean what you say, and show up generous and authentic with respect, humor and

humility. More than 50 years of hosting song-filled St. Patrick's Day parties can attest. He

embraced an ethos of leaving things better than he found them. Gerry and Sue took hikes and

canoe rides with empty trash bags, coming home with them full. His stewardship included

creating a massive vegetable garden, poring over seed catalogs every winter, and readily giving

any visitor a tour at harvest time – unless, that is, they preferred a challenge at the horseshoe

pits. Old reporter instincts had Gerry inquisitive with almost anyone he met, whether they were

taking his blood pressure, doing his taxes, or had just cleaned out the septic tank, and if you

happened to be sporting anything with the beloved Fighting Irish logo, you got extra attention.

He proudly went about town wearing T-shirts from his grandchildren's colleges, alternating with

the shirt printed with a grandchild group photo until it was so worn out, pieces of the photo

transfer flaked off, and he was given an updated one.

Gerry loved a sweet melody, and could imitate a thrush with his whistle. His vast memory for

classical verse and literature was matched by his deep store of 1940s,

'50s and '60s popular music and radio ad jingles, not to mention traditional Irish songs. You might say a phrase that

sparked a melody out of the blue. 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, usually ending up at an ice cream stand. 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, and himself played in the keg league, even running 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 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 don't recall hearing 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, Bay Cliff Health Camp, and

St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Canale-Tonella Funeral Home and Cremation Services is assisting Gerry's family where memories and condolences may be shared at canalefuneral.com