Gino Antonio Longo

Gino A. Longo was born February 12, 1940 in Detroit Michigan, but his roots went much deeper than that, across an ocean to a small village in the Dolomite Mountains of northern Italy.  Gino passed away peacefully February 18 in his home surrounded by loving family members.

He spent his early years in a place he called “the old neighborhood”, meaning Oakwood, a community of Italian immigrants in Detroit. Gino kept himself busy with his many interests, from motorcycles to flying his own plane, Gino did everything in his own unique style.  While in Detroit he started his own construction business with his good friend Bill Bernardara, he started a restaurant with his good friend Tony Cannarsa, “Giovanni’s” which is still open to this day, owned by Tony’s sister Fran.  His interest in skiing brought about his move to Boyne City.

Gino was a highly respected master stone and brick mason, his beautiful fireplaces can be seen all over Northern Michigan. If that was not enough, he also owned and operated with his partner Maurizio Bacciocchi  a little bar named “The Sportsman”, along with Lena’s Wine Cellar and Little Lena’s Pub and Café.  One thing about Gino, he never met a stranger, his personality made all who met him a friend.  He loved to travel, to study history and to mow his lawn in precise diagonal lines.

It was in Boyne that he met and married the love of his life Kathy.  Together for only twenty-nine short years, they had an awesome ride.

Gino is survived by his loving wife, Kathy, his children Gina (Steve Jenner), Giovanni, Amanda (Chad James), Max (Nicole Quick), grandchildren Phillip, Sara (Brian Schreck) Porter, Weston, and Joshua, great grandchildren Anna and Clara, his brother Rudolfo, and his dog Louis Dale.   He was preceded in death by his parents his son Gino, and nephew Rudy.

A funeral service will be held 11:00 AM Saturday, March 7th, 2020 at St. Matthews Church in Boyne City with a gathering of family and friends being held from 10:00 AM until the time of service. A luncheon will be held following the service at the Odawa Casino Hotel in Petoskey.

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