The literary world has lost a versatile storyteller. Michael Schumacher, a prolific Wisconsin-based author celebrated for his detailed biographies of cultural icons and gripping narratives of Great Lakes maritime history, has died. He was 75 years old.
A Life Dedicated to Stories and People
Schumacher's daughter, Emily Joy Schumacher, confirmed on Monday that her father passed away on December 29. The cause of death was not disclosed. Remembering her father, Emily described him as "a history person" and "a good human" who possessed a deep love for people and their stories. "My dad was a very generous person with people," she said. "He loved people. He loved talking to people. He loved listening to people. He loved stories."
Her fond memory is of him perpetually engaged in conversation, a coffee in hand and his ever-present notebook nearby. Schumacher was a dedicated writer who worked longhand, filling countless flip notebooks before transcribing his work on a typewriter—a sound of clacking keys his daughter says she can still recall.
A Dual Literary Legacy: Biographies and Maritime Lore
Michael Schumacher carved a unique niche with two distinct writing careers. One was focused on meticulously researched biographies of towering figures from film, music, and literature. His notable works include "Francis Ford Coppola: A Filmmaker’s Life," "Crossroads: The Life and Music of Eric Clapton," and "Dharma Lion: A Biography of Allen Ginsberg," the iconic Beat Generation poet.
His biographical scope was remarkably diverse, extending to "Mr. Basketball: George Mikan, the Minneapolis Lakers & the Birth of the NBA" and "Will Eisner: A Dreamer’s Life in Comics," chronicling the pioneer of the graphic novel. His other career was rooted in the local history and perilous beauty of the Great Lakes. Living in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on the shores of Lake Michigan, he became an authority on the region's shipwrecks.
He authored compelling accounts of maritime disasters, including the tragic sinking of the freighter Edmund Fitzgerald on Lake Superior in 1975, the devastating November 1913 storm that killed over 250 sailors, and the harrowing 1958 tale of four sailors fighting for survival on Lake Michigan after their vessel went down.
From Kansas to Kenosha: The Path of a Writer
Though born in Kansas, Schumacher spent most of his life in Kenosha. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, studying political science, but left school just one credit short of graduation, as per his daughter. His passion for writing emerged early, and he diligently built his life around it. Emily noted that he was fundamentally drawn to the craft from a young age, a calling he faithfully followed to create a substantial and admired body of work.
Michael Schumacher's passing marks the end of an era for readers of biography and American regional history. His work stands as a testament to a curious mind that found profound stories both in global celebrities and in the treacherous waters of the inland seas. He is survived by memories filled with conversation, coffee, and the enduring legacy of his written word.
