Memorials and Tributes

Paul Frisinger

June 26, 1942 – January 23, 2024

Paul Frisinger passed away Tuesday, Jan. 23 at his home surrounded by family.
He was born in Ann Arbor, the son of George Paul and Eloise Schrier Frisinger. He married Kathrine (Staebler) in 1967 and she survives along with his sons Scott of Chelsea and Eric (Stacey) of Brighton; three grandchildren, Jackson, Luke and Ashley; and one brother Roger Frisinger of Albany, Oregon.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother David, sister Sherry Lawton, and daughter-in-law Mary Berridge Frisinger.
Paul graduated from Chelsea High School and Michigan State University. He owned Frisinger Realty and was named Realtor of the Year by the Ann Arbor Board of Realtors in 2003. He retired in 2008.
Paul worked as the Lima Township Zoning Administrator. He was active in his community serving as VP St. Paul UCC, St. Louis Center Community Advisory Council, Lima Township Planning Commission, Ann Arbor Board of Realtors, Chelsea Chamber of Commerce. Paul was President of – Chelsea United Way, Chelsea Community Fair, Chelsea Downtown Development Authority, and the Chelsea Kiwanis Club.
Paul was a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother. In his spare time, he was a farmer and also enjoyed gardening and woodworking projects for his friends and family.​

Frank Pignanelli

May 10, 1937 – December 20, 2023

Frank Pignanelli passed on to his eternal home on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at Chelsea Hospital with family members by his side. He was born on May 10, 1937, in Dearborn, Michigan to immigrant parents. He graduated from Fordson High School in 1955. His parents, Battista and Rose (Iaquinta) Pignanelli were thrilled when their only son was accepted at the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy.  It was at UofM that he met his future wife and fellow student, Sharon Lee McKay. Upon her graduation in 1961, they were married at St. Clement Church in Dearborn. They had two children, Lisa Marie Pignanelli (Ivey), born at Ireland Army Hospital in Fort Knox, Kentucky in 1963, near the end of his military service, and John Christopher, born in Ann Arbor. Lisa and Clark Ivey in turn gifted him with three beloved grandchildren, Brett, Megan, and Trent. He returned to civilian life in 1964 and worked at Cunningham Drugs. His long career in retail pharmacy concluded with his retirement from Rite Aid in 2000. His pharmacy career left little time for volunteer activities, so once retired, Frank began making up for lost time. For several years, he was in charge of many projects for the Knights of Columbus Council #3092. The St. Louis Center Golf Outing also enjoyed his volunteer organizing efforts.

Mary Galasso

January 3, 1938 – September 25, 2023

Mary Galasso was born on January 3, 1938 in Detroit, Michigan to Raymond and Catherine Doemer. She met Mario, the love of her life at an early age at the five and dime and they fell in love. and later married on October 6, 1956, at St. Rita’s Catholic Church. After starting their family, Mary and Mario moved away from Detroit to the suburbs to make Livonia their home where they established a network of friends that remain close and connected. Mary was the first and only female President, to date, of the Italian American Club in Livonia. Mario and Mary were lifetime members. Mary gave her time, talents and treasure by leading the committee for the Guardian Angel fundraising event which is held at the Italian American Banquet Center to benefit St. Louis Center. She was committed to serving individuals with intellectual and development disabilities. Mary was the epitome of a caregiver; it was who she was. She faithfully devoted herself to Mario’s health and care. She was a friend to everyone she met; and was always there to check in on you.

Antonino “Nino’ Randazzo

July 10, 1940 – September 14, 2023

Nino founded Randazzo Fresh Market in 1972. Nino and his beloved wife Giovanna “Joann”, raised two children whom they taught the value of hard work and community involvement.
In 2014, Nino met Fr. Enzo at an event in Macomb County and promised to do something to help St. Louis Center. Six months later, the first Men’s Social was held at Randazzo’s Fresh Market.
The family was devastated when Nino passed away on September 14th of this year. Just one week before the annual event.

The Randazzo family hosted the 8th Annual Men’s Social at their Macomb Township store to keep Nino’s legacy alive. They prepared some of the finest foods from the Italian traditions. Sonny Randazzo, the main event organizer, said, “My dad may have passed away, but he would want us to continue.” Nino was 83 years old.
​

Dominic Samuel Bommarito

April 12, 1946 – August 16, 2023

Dominic was an active member of the Italian American Delegates. He helped the organization raise funds for charities throughout the Detroit area through their annual Wild Game Dinner and the Golf Outing. Dominic also helped to organize the St. Louis Center Car Show that was held on the Center’s campus. Dominic supported the St. Louis Center in many ways. He passed away on August 16, 2023 in Clinton Township at the age of 77. He will be greatly missed.​

William “Bill” Shurtliff

April 24, 1947 – July 5, 2023

Bill Shurtliff, dearly beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, was born to eternal life on July 5, 2023. He was a much-loved Ann Arbor artist. Bill was born April 24, 1947, to Lewis William (“Bill”) and Evelyn (Byrd) Shurtliff, in Ann Arbor. Following his service in the US Army in the late 60s, Bill attended UofM. While in college he married his wife Janet, and together they raised their family and developed a business based on Bill’s talents, including drawings of St. Louis Center. Bill had a deep love for the “guys” he cared for in the late 90s and early 2000s at the Center. Read the full obituary here…

John “Jack” Dunn

October 22, 1934 – May 22, 2023

John Dunn age 88, of Chelsea, MI, passed away on May 22, 2023 at his home at Cavanaugh Lake. “Jack” was born on October 22, 1934 in Ann Arbor, MI to John F. and Eva H. (West) Dunn. Jack was a long-time resident and business owner in Chelsea. He married the love of his life and best friend, Nancy (Luhrs), on July 21, 1956, and they enjoyed 65 years of marriage until she passed away in 2021. They grew up as best friends, married, and together built a family, a business, and raised three children in Chelsea: Kathy Dunn Finger, Kimberly S. Tapping, and John F. Dunn.

George Merkel

June 6, 1929 – February 23, 2023

George Merkel died Thursday, February 23, 2023, at Chelsea Retirement Community. George was born on June 6, 1929, to Joseph and Florence (Latreille Doll) Merkel in a farmhouse across from the present-day Chrysler Proving Grounds. In 1948, he married Nancy Ellen Clark, a union that lasted for 62 years, until death separated George from the love of his life. Together, they raised seven children. George began life as a farm boy, but tried his hand at many occupations over the years. George hauled milk, drove a semi, owned a service station, owned a bar, and eventually returned to farming, which he enthusiastically continued until a stroke forced him into retirement at the age of 88. Years after his stroke, although he was completely bed- bound, he spent his time dreaming of the crops he’d plant “next spring”. He was proud to be named as the Farmer of the Year at the Washtenaw County Agriculture Banquet in 2018. The same year, he received a Recognition Award from St. Louis Center.

Ronald Hingst

June 7, 1947 – October 12, 2022

Antoinette “Toni” Walker

September 3, 1940 – May 8, 2022

Sr. Margaret Mary Schissler

June 13, 1954 – January 18, 2022

The world is definitely a better place because of the life of Sr. Margaret Mary Schissler, known as “Peg’’ to her family and “Sr. M&M” to all. Born June 13, 1954 in Evergreen Park, IL to Joseph and Margaret Schissler, the third of three children, ‘Peg” was a gregarious and happy child. She was drawn to active religious life with the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence because of her encounters with the sisters who cared for her own sister, Mary Agnes, a resident at St. Mary of Providence in Chicago. September 8, 1977, Margaret Mary became a Postulant at St. Mary’s in Chicago. She coined a phrase that has become synonymous with her smile and wit, and still serves as a strong motto and motivation, “It’s great to be a DSMP!” Sr. M&M made her Perpetual Profession on August 15, 1985. Sr. M&M served in different capacities for the Congregation including at Our Lady of Providence in Northville and as Pastoral Associate at the Pious Union of St. Joseph from 2009-2013. Sr. M&M died quietly on January 18, 2022 at Mt. St. Joseph, Lake Zurich.

Elizabeth “Liz” Hollo

January 21, 1945 – December 29, 2021

Tilde Elsa “Margherita” Mucci

August 20, 1938 – October 10, 2021

Mary Palmer

April 17, 1952 – August 30, 2021

Ramo Salerno

August 20, 1931 – May 31, 2021

John Trudell

May 11, 1939 – May 29, 2021

Thomas Burch

February 4, 1941 – February 20, 2021

Carmela Sgroi

April 24, 1921 – November 11, 2020

Ann Feeney

January 12, 1935 – July 27, 2020

Julia Lussier

February 17, 1928 – May 20, 2020

Mary Ann Merkel

December 4, 1928 – November 14, 2019

Thomas Schumacher

September 5, 1941 – July 14, 2022

Thomas Schumacher was born to Stephen and Stephanie Schumacher on September 5, 1941, in Detroit, Michigan. He attended the Lenox Center for years with other disabled young adults. After his parents passed away, his care fell under the responsibility of his sister, Dorothy Thompson. He moved to the Lansing area and worked for several businesses, including Peckham Inc. Tom also lived in Ann Arbor for several years and worked for Chi-Chi’s and Kroger’s. Once he “retired,” he attended an adult day program called The Oaks. In 2018, Tom moved to St. Louis Center where he resided for the last four years. He enjoyed the activities, shared meals, programs, attended Mass, and delivered Meals on Wheels with the other residents. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Stephen and Stephanie, and his brother-in-law, John Thompson. He is survived by his sister, Dorothy, two nieces, one nephew, four grandnephews, and several cousins. The Center has quickly filled the niche for older adults with I/DD who are in need of a ‘forever home.’ A forever home provides peace of mind for people who wonder who will care for their loved ones if something happens to them. St. Louis Center is there not only for persons with I/DD, but for their families as well.

Dawn Dietrich

February 6, 1965 – November 30, 2021

Dawn Dietrich was a gift to all who knew her. She was the only child of a mother who taught her the true meaning of love and self-sacrifice. Dawn was born with Down Syndrome and her mother, Judi Black, was her constant advocate ensuring that her needs were always met. Judi spent every bit of her energy to provide Dawn with the best care possible leading to her placement at St. Louis Center in November 2006. Throughout her years as a resident of SLC, she taught others around her what it means to love. She loved music, her friends (who were known as her ‘soul sisters’), and she especially loved her ‘Mama Judi.’