Seberon "Boo" Litzenburger

Seberon “Boo” Litzenburger died peacefully July 5, 2020, after a brief illness at his Harbor Springs home holding the hand of his loving wife, Dianne. He was 83.

Born October 6, 1936, in Detroit to Dr. A.F. and Marjorie Litzenburger, the family moved to Boyne City when he was almost two years old. Northern Michigan’s open spaces and pristine waters became his playground and filled his zest for adventure as a young boy and young man. He loved fishing and canoeing the Boyne River and nearby streams, sailing Lake Charlevoix and waters beyond, hunting birds and rabbits across meadows and woodlands, and skiing at Boyne Mountain.

Boo attended Boyne City Public Schools, graduating from Boyne City High School in 1955, where he was an accomplished skier and won state championships. He was also an early member of the Boyne Mountain Ski Patrol, and continued his life-long passion for skiing into his 70s. He received his bachelor’s degree from University of Michigan in 1959 where he was affiliated with the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity and his Juris Doctor degree from Detroit Law School in 1963 where he was a member of the Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity.

In 1959, he married Cameron Reycraft. After he worked for a year with the Michigan Corporation and Securities Commission in Detroit, they returned home to northern Michigan where they had two smart, beautiful, and successful children – Gow and Liesel.

Boo practiced law in Petoskey with various partners for 37 years, specializing in general civil litigation with a strong emphasis on business and real property matters. He eventually joined the first team developing the former Penn-Dixie Cement Company (now called Bay Harbor) and practiced real estate with Sotheby’s International Realty in Bay Harbor and Harbor Springs, retiring when he was 80.

While vacationing in Bonaire and in between exploring the island, snorkeling and becoming certified scuba divers, Boo and Dianne married on March 27, 1995, after being together for more than 12 years. This year they celebrated their 25th anniversary.

Boo and Dianne lived a life packed with adventure, friendships, and love. Together and with friends they traveled across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean Islands, and Europe. Upon returning to Harbor Springs, they always remarked that their favorite place on earth was the home they had together. Every season Boo introduced Dianne to the hidden jewels of northern Michigan, where they would explore tucked away places, hike, picnic, ski, or just sit and admire its beauty. They loved to sail and boat on the Great Lakes, and enjoyed hosting dinner parties and entertaining friends at their home, and working in their gardens.

Professionally, Boo presented and won two oral arguments before the Michigan Supreme Court, both from the environmentalist’s point of view involving lake access. He won numerous awards and served on the boards of the Emmet-Charlevoix Bar Association, American Red Cross, Emmet County Chapter of the American Cancer Society and the Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce. In 1967, he joined the board of the then Lockwood-MacDonald Hospital and from the beginning worked toward a merger of the two Petoskey hospitals. He served on the combined board of Northern Michigan Hospitals in 1977 and ultimately served as Chair of the Board of Trustees.

The habits and hobbies of Boo’s youth stayed with him all his life. His older brother Albert organized an eclectic group of guys, including Boo, to explore the wilderness of Canada by canoe. They called themselves the Gunnel Grabbers. In 1971, the first canoe trip took the 10 men along 33 miles of the Sand River, where they experienced lake paddling, excellent white water, shallow stretches, river paddling, and hours of conversation around the campfire. The annual canoe trip every June – in 2021, celebrating 50 years - took them to unchartered streams and lakes: canoeing, camping, fishing, portaging, eating, drinking and bonding around the campfire. The Gunnel Grabbers continues with sons and grandsons of the original members as well as other men sharing new adventures.

In 1971, Boo and a group of other men challenged a new development near Harbor Springs. Although they won in court, they thought there would never be enough money to challenge every development. So how does one get landowners to give up their property or development rights? Thus, the Little Traverse Conservancy was founded in 1972 by seven men - John Fischer, David Irish, Ed Koza, Earl Larson, Boo Litzenburger, Frank Pierce and John Tanton. Now, 48 years later, the Conservancy has protected more than 62,000 acres of land, 150 miles of shoreline and 110 miles of hiking trails. Some 150,000 students participate in its educational programs.

He also championed the area’s waterways and in the early 2000s, while working as an attorney for several area governmental units, helped establish the Harbor Springs Area Sewage Authority to eliminate waste from entering Little Traverse Bay and surrounding waters.

Boo enjoyed his “guy friends” at the Eagle’s Hall on Mondays for lunch, and breakfasts with his fellow PIPs (previously important people) at The Bistro. A voracious reader, he always enjoyed debating local and national politics, and solving the world’s problems.

He was a dedicated father and grandfather who cherished his daily phone calls with his children, and keeping up with his grandchildren’s activities.

Boo is survived by his wife, Dianne (Murray) Litzenburger, Harbor Springs; son Gow Litzenburger, Boyne City; daughter and son-in-law Liesel and Hank Meijer and grandchildren Cali and Hardy, Grand Rapids; their mother Cameron O’Keefe, Grand Rapids; his sister Nancy (Litzenburger) and William Watt of Florida, niece Heather Watt; sister-in-law Sue (Albert) Litzenburger of Boyne City; brother-in-law and sister-in-law James and Regina Murray, Tennessee, nephews Matthew and John; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Pam (Murray) and Randy Dean, Colorado, niece Michelle and husband Robbie Kerback, nephew Keith Dean; sister-in-law Lora (John Murray, deceased) Murray, nephew Sean Murray, niece Cara Murray, Michigan; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Susan (Murray) and Chris Alexander, Virginia; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Nancy (Murray) and David Noel, niece and husband Natalie and Reede Copeland, niece Paige Noel, and nephew Jacob Noel, Tennessee. He is proceeded in death by his parents, Dr. A.F. and Marjorie Litzenburger, brother Albert Litzenburger, and sister Louise “Teedee” Litzenburger.

The family wishes to extend its sincere appreciation to Mandi Lloyd, CNA, of Blissful Home Care; CNA Keely Gregory; and the McLaren Hospice.

A significant new Little Traverse Conservancy nature preserve will be gifted and named for Boo and Dianne Litzenburger. The purchase of the property by the family is in memory of Seberon “Boo” Litzenburger. Those wishing to contribute in Boo’s memory may do so by contributing to the Little Traverse Conservancy.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Seberon "Boo" Litzenburger, please visit our floral store.