In Memoriam 2025: Eight notable leaders who left their mark on the region
December 2025
Each year sees the passing of beloved community members, noted for their accomplishments and their legacy. Every death leaves a hole in that individual’s family and community. Their memories live on with the individuals and institutions they touched. These are just some of the notable individuals who passed away in the last year.
Douglas Gallagher, Traverse City
Known as everyone's favorite farmer, Doug Gallagher was a graduate of Traverse City St. Francis High School. His studies in agriculture at Northwestern Michigan College and then Michigan State University were interrupted when he returned home to manage the family farm when his brothers were called to serve in the Korean War. Gallagher was a member of Michigan Milk Producers Association, Dean's Foods, and a long-time member of Cherry Growers, Inc. In 1977, he began bottling his own milk, selling it at Gallagher Farm Dairy until 1984. In 2007 Gallagher's Centennial Farm market opened, selling farm-raised beef and pork, which continues operating today. A true steward of the land, he received an award marking 25 years of county service at the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service office and served for nine years as the director of soil conservation for Grand Traverse County. He was described as the kind of boss everyone should have at their first job.
Timothy Quinn
Tim Quinn traded life on the farm where he grew up for a life in academia, though he never got farming out of his system: One of his favorite activities was working "Farm Days" on Anam Cara Farm in Connecticut with his grandchildren. He earned a football scholarship to Hillsdale College and then to Eastern Michigan University before earning a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. He rapidly advanced through educational administrative positions, being named superintendent of the Green Bay Public Schools at 32 before becoming deputy state superintendent for the state of Wisconsin, then vice president and then president of Northwestern Michigan College. Under his leadership, NMC opened the Dennos Museum Center, passed the college's operating millage in perpetuity and established the NMC University Center. After leaving NMC, Quinn created the forerunner of Michigan Virtual at U of M before starting his own business, Michigan Leadership Institute, focused on development of school superintendents. He then created and managed The Broad Center, an endowed program at Yale University which prepares leaders for the nation's largest school districts.
Katherine “Katie” Ford Horvath
Familiar to readers of the Traverse City Business News through her columns, Katie Horvath was an attorney heavily involved in the tech industry, serving as a speaker for various conferences and podcasts and earning numerous awards. She began her career in Cincinnati before moving to Silicon Valley. After beating breast cancer and moving back to her hometown, Katie joined the administration team of Munson Medical Center to open the Cowell Family Cancer Center. She was recognized with a leadership award in cancer prevention by the U.S. Congress, and spoke on cancer prevention during the National Congressional Cancer Prevention Caucus workshop. She provided business strategy and legal advice to clients of Boomerang Catapult, which led to her becoming CEO of data management company Naveego. She was named CMO of Aunalytics when it acquired Naveego. Horvath was appointed by Governor Whitmer to the Michigan Women’s Commission and served on the Advisory Board of the University of Michigan Industrial & Operations Engineering department and as a member of the Michigan AI Task Force. She mentored startup companies for tech incubator 20Fathoms and served on the board of FLOW (For Love of Water) and the Grand Traverse Yacht Club Foundation.
Diana Huckle
Diana Huckle’s parents instilled in her the importance of hard work and dedication, love of family and friends, and service to others. That was borne out in her work with her husband of 53 years, Jim, and the establishment of their family foundation. They met while working for General Motors before co-founding a publishing company in Michigan and later in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Their Jim & Diana Huckle Family Foundation focuses on funding initiatives in health, community and economic development, and human services. Its first grant was made to TART Trails; their support earned them the 2023 TART Trails Jim Mudgett Trail Pioneer Award. They also supported Norte, Generations Ahead, the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, FLOW, Grand Traverse Conservation District, and the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation. Their gifts to Paddle Antrim led to the formation of the Chain of Lakes Water Trail. Huckle’s passion for community service spanned many years and organizations, including Safe Harbor, Central’s Community Meals program, her church council and mission trips to Haiti with Soaring Unlimited in partnership with MSU Medical School volunteers.
Holly Bird
Holly Bird’s academic and artistic travels took her from Interlochen Arts Academy to Michigan State University and DePaul Law School, from Traverse City to East Lansing, Chicago, Oregon, and back to Traverse City. She was an attorney, tribal judge, advocate for the underserved and at-risk, school board member, and human rights activist. She served as vice president of the board for the Grand Traverse Area Children’s Garden, a non-profit founded by her mother that teaches children the joys of gardening with an emphasis on healthy living, well-being, and caretaking for the earth. Bird served Michigan Title Track as co-executive director and founding board member, focused on clean water, racial equity and youth empowerment. She was also a founding member of Northern Michigan’s UpNorth Anti-Racism Taskforce, E3. At Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities she was the clean energy specialist. Bird’s tribal roots included Apache, Yaqui, Pueblo and Perépucha; she was a member of the Thunder Clan and she shared her talents of painting and dancing at events and celebrations throughout the state.
Mark Eckhoff
A native of Cincinnati, Mark Eckhoff’s work with Fifth Third Bank brought him to Traverse City, where he served in leadership and volunteer roles with Rotary, the Downtown Development Authority, the Grand Traverse County Brownfield Development Authority, United Way and the Cherry Capital Airport Authority. Never one to shy away from speaking his mind, he always balanced his strong opinions with a sense of fairness. He was known for his vibrant, quirky spirit, from his enthusiasm for Buckeye, Bengals and Lions football, Xavier basketball (where he earned his MBA), movies, and books to his love of bird-watching, photography, animals and chasing sunsets over Long Lake, finding joy in every moment. He’s remembered for being smart, funny, opinionated, and mostly honest and caring.
Pat DeYoung
For more than a half-century, DeYoung’s was a landmark in downtown Traverse City, first as DeYoung’s Paint and Wallpaper (previously Hilt’s Wallpaper and Paint Store) and then as an art supply and window treatment store. Pat DeYoung and her husband Lyle moved to his hometown of Traverse City after graduating from Michigan State University to run the family business. Upon his death in 1992, she continued to run the business until closing it when she retired in 2009. DeYoung was active in the Zonta Club, served as a board member for Traverse City Chamber of Commerce, volunteered with the St. Lucia Doctors Without Borders, Santiago Women’s Club in Florida, The Father Fred Foundation, and hosted numerous exchange students over the years. Known for her fashion, sass, and in her later years as a world traveler, DeYoung was a mentor to other business owners in downtown TC and was described as a force of nature.
Larry Sellers
A fixture at St. Francis High School for 30 years, Larry Sellers served as a teacher, principal and head football coach. His life was devoted to education, athletics and service to others. He spent 36 years inspiring young people both in the classroom and on the athletic field, including two years at Mount Pleasant High School and four years at Muskegon Catholic Central High School before moving to Traverse City. During his 28 years coaching high school football, his dedication and leadership earned him many honors, including 13-time MHSFCA Region Coach of the Year, three-time MHSFCA Class C Coach of the Year, and 1974 Associated Press Class C Coach of the Year. He served St. Francis Catholic Church as a lector and eucharistic minister, as well as volunteering with the Father Fred Foundation and donating more than 17 gallons of blood throughout his lifetime. He was described as a guiding light who taught his teams about life through the game of football and an inspirational leader who inspired many, not only as a football coach, but as an outstanding administrator and teacher of countless life lessons.
