Anthony J. Morse was born on December 30, 1936 and passed on March 14, 2025 (88). He became a member of the MCGP on December 9, 2008 (16).
Anthony “Tony” Jenckes Morse, 88, passed away Friday, March 14, 2025. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, stepfather, step-grandfather and friend and leaves behind countless people who will cherish his memory.
Tony was born Dec. 30, 1936, in Detroit, to Josephine Jenckes Morse and Clayton William Morse Jr. He was a 1954 graduate of Grosse Pointe High School, where he played varsity tennis, learned to love classical music and opera and proudly played a small part in an opera with Maria Callas.
He received a bachelor’s degree in literature, science and the arts from the University of Michigan in 1959 and was a member of Psi Upsilon fraternity. Tony was a Michigan man and always made sure to have a Michigan baseball cap nearby.
With scholarly inclinations and an adventurer’s heart, Tony set out to travel in his college and post-college years, residing for a time in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he took up skiing at nearby resorts. Making his way back home, he settled in Grosse Pointe to enter the family retail business, Sign of the Mermaid. In 1964, Tony married Susan Gray Garlinghouse, with whom he had two children, Tony Jr. and Carolyn.
At age 40, he moved to northern Michigan and spent 27 years at his “Walden,” which included 360 acres in the woods where, from the trees on the property, he built a cabin overlooking the Pigeon River that he named Fern Hill. Here he developed a love for walking, with daily saunters through the Gaylord woods. He was active in the Gaylord Area Council for the Arts. With his longtime partner, Marie Brabb, he helped publish its newsletter, “Art Source,” and contributed many of his own writings. He also was responsible for bringing well-known musical and theatrical groups to the Gaylord area. Many late nights were filled with poetry, music and guessing games with kindred friends to name the poet or the song. During this period, he wrote his first book, “Walking, the Art of Sauntering.”
Tony returned once more to Grosse Pointe in the early 2000s, where he met and fell in love with Pamela Sattley Morris. They were married in 2007 and spent many happy years together. They enjoyed traveling, visiting family, art lectures and many social and charitable events. He was a frequent visitor to the Detroit Institute of Arts and Detroit Public Library. During this time, Tony wrote his second book, “The Declaration of America and Other Writings,” a compilation of his many writings over the years. As stated on the book jacket, Tony was an intensely literary and probing writer who wrote with the same passion he brought to each day.
Throughout his life, Tony was an avid reader, writer and enthusiastic walker. He enjoyed discussing literature, history and philosophy with anyone who was willing. Toward this end, he enjoyed regular Starbucks meetups with new, old and soon-to-be friends, which among his most treasured daily exchanges included reading to his friend, a retired, blind professor from the University of Chicago. Later in life, Tony took up bridge and thoroughly enjoyed weekly games with close friends. He was quick to warm to new friends while maintaining lasting friendships from childhood, college, travels and beyond. He enjoyed spending time with them at different organizations, including the Detroit Racquet Club, Country Club of Detroit, Woodworkers and American Legion.
A quote from Tony’s “The Declaration of America and Other Writings” encapsulates his lasting message: “Now darkness was closing in. But I had been tracking in this direction long enough. Trails are tender. Care should be taken to preserve the mystery. Our paths will cross again ...”
Tony was predeceased by his parents; and daughter, Carolyn Miriani (Dennis). He is survived by his wife, Pamela Morse; sister, Suzanne Cassel; son, Anthony Morse Jr.; stepsons, Chad Morris (Liz) and Stuart Morris (Shirley); stepdaughters, Leigh Merinoff (Charlie), Lindsay Morris (Stephen) and Carrington Morris; and extended family members, Dennis Miriani, Joe Posch and Cappy Morse.
He was adored by his five grandchildren, Madeline Wrubel (Justin), Lilly Miriani, Phoebe Miriani, Charlie Morse and Ian Morse; and eight step-grandchildren. His four great-grandchildren, Charlie Miriani and Jack, Lucy and George Wrubel, were a delight to him in his final years.
The family acknowledges with gratitude the special care given to Tony by his caregivers, Brian Mendoza and Sol Sunga, as well as Leslie Mackey, who is a close family friend. The family is grateful for the daily visits of Martha Henkel and devoted friends who came to call.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 31, at Christ Church Grosse Pointe, 61 Grosse Pointe Blvd., Grosse Pointe Farms. Memorial donations may be made to the Belle Isle Conservancy, 300 River Place Dr., Ste. 2800, Detroit, MI 48207