Phillip Earl Orth

Phillip (Phill) Earl Orth, 66, of Traverse City, MI, passed away on March 6, 2016. Phill was involved in Traverse City politics from a young age and served as both a mayor of Traverse City and a Traverse City city commissioner. Phill was the 5th generation of his family to live in Traverse City.

A graduate of the National Institute of Broadcasting, Phill was a well-known Traverse City radio disc jockey who was awarded gold records for songs like "Play That Funky Music" and "You Sexy Thing." To this day, many people remember him fondly as "Orth of the North." Later in his career as a sales manager for local radio stations, he enjoyed mentoring his team to help them be successful.

Some of Phill's proudest accomplishments were working with both the Traverse Foundation and the city commission to acquire lands as they became available to create a large, open bayfront in Traverse City and the State Park. Along with people such as Bryan Crough, he also shared in the vision to revitalize downtown. Traverse City's sidewalks can be attributed, in part, to Phill's diligence in ensuring they received consistent funding.

At the time of his death, Phill was a co-owner of Discovery Map of Traverse City.

Phill loved to travel, and he and his wife Linda Weeks (of Traverse City, Michigan) took numerous roadtrips and saw all 50 states, including Alaska, by car.

His daughter (Mareesa Orth of Traverse City, Michigan) remembers her father's consistent hands-on involvement as she grew, from helping with science fair projects to waxing her skis. Phill raised Mareesa with her mother and his former wife, Mary Orth, of Traverse City, Michigan.

He is survived by his wife, Linda Weeks; his daughter, Mareesa (Jason Spykerman) Orth; brother David Orth and sister Lois Orth, both of Traverse City, Michigan; and stepchildren James (Julia) Kreft of Madison, WI, and Katie (Ryan) Brang, M.D. of Marquette, MI; and two grandchildren, Sonja and Sylvia; and his beloved Samoyed dog Macy.

Visitation for family and friends will be held at Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home on Saturday, March 12 from 2 until 4 p.m. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation.