Sometimes, on the edges of life in Michigan’s small towns during cold, hard winters, there are unexpected moments revealing sudden, single streams of light. Such times pierce the deepest darkness of fear and isolation, part of the human condition we all, in one way or another, secretly share. This account, for me, offered such an experience. I received permission to share it with you from the family and medical provider involved.
My colleague is a hospice medical director. A former family medicine doctor, he regularly visits patients facing their last days of life. Unlike some medical providers, he’s come to look forward to this challenging part of the work. He especially appreciates the authenticity of patients, of families who live in unpretentious cabins and homes in rural settings.
One afternoon, he stopped by to see a 35-year-old man who had returned to his family here after working road construction for the last few years in Florida. Aggressive treatment for the young man’s illness had finally reached its limits. He made a decision to come home. To choose to spend his last days close to his family. Near the streams and the forests he knew so well as a youth.
My colleague entered a trailer home and was warmly greeted by a group of family and friends watching a Sunday afternoon football game. They pointed to a back room.
He thanked them, then moved down through the hall and entered a small door. The room was dark. The 35-year-old was covered with a blanket. My colleague moved closer, saw there was another figure, holding him. He recognized her as the young man’s mother. Both were asleep.
The hospice medical director remembered a conversation we shared long ago with another physician about the power of presence. Moving a chair alongside the bed, he sat down quietly. He began to breathe along with the mother and son. Tree of them, present with each other in the darkness. Honoring, for those moments, a mysterious, passage from this world to another.
After awhile, my colleague rose to leave. He bid farewell to the family gathered in the home’s living space. As he left, he heard a voice. It was from the young man’s father. “Thanks for stopping by to visit our son. Don’t forget, Doc. When you were in family practice, you delivered him.”
Spring 2025 Equinox Newsletter
CONTENTS
JOURNAL NOTES
Congratulations to CTI Research Associate Rick Pietila —martial artist, computer specialist, and former roadman for several world-renown Nashville musicians. Rick has now joined the U.S. State Department as part of their technical support staff. His wife Jackie continues her assignment with the US Embassy in Ottawa. Rick begins his first assignment to Romania in the coming weeks.
Appreciation to Debra Smith, Conner Ryan, and Jen Piccard who continue to coordinate a series of Friday noon public sessions in the Peter White Public Library exploring various approaches to mindful practices. A joint venture of Be Well, Unity Yoga, CTI, and Meditate Marquette. Thanks to facilitators Greg Kitchen and Will Sharp who have represented CTI.
We lift up Bob Kraus and Louise Hanna for their thoughtful support of Cedar Tree Institute projects over many years. Bob and Louise currently work a small coffee farm in the hills near Captain Cook, Hawaii. They have coordinated a healing of their land with the planting of native trees and plants. Bob was part of our campus ministry community in Oregon as he finished his studies in nuclear physics. Over the last two decades, he and Louise helped coordinate two retreats for CTI at the Pecos Benedictine Monastery in New Mexico. They continue to gift our work here in the Northern Great Lakes Basin in so many unexpected and splendid ways. Thank you, Bob and Louise!
Donations and retreat fees have allowed the Cedar Tree Institute to pass along financial support in 2025 to refugee work in Gaza, the Ukraine, and two faith-based communities here in the Marquette community. As a nonprofit, one-third of our services are offered at no cost to the local community. It’s also CTI’s long-standing tradition to continue to share a portion of any revenue (financial) received from projects.
On May 19th, NMU’s Beaumier Heritage Center sponsored a day’s event commemorating the 350th Anniversary of the death of Fr. Jacques Marquette (1637 -1675), a French Jesuit priest. Fr. Marquette was founder of the mission at St. Ignace (Michigan) and was the first European to map the Mississippi River with Louis Joliet.
The day of commemoration concluded with a documentary “The Return” that traces events that led in 2022 to the recovery and reburial of Marquette’s bones near the Straits of Mackinac. As some of you are aware, the Cedar Tree Institute was invited to assist in this process by the Native community in St. Ignace. At the close of the film, Dan Rydhom and Steve Mattson along with the CTI Director responded to questions as part of a panel. Makari Rising, the film’s producer and director was present with his family. “The Return” has been broadcast on PBS in 2023 and 2024. It first premiered at the Fresh Coast Film Festival to standing room only audiences in October of 2023.
This documentary is available by live-streaming at the website or contacting the City of St. Ignace’s Museum of Ojibwe Culture.
Words of gratitude to Oregon’s Heather and Mike Engberg who are assisting the Cedar Tree Institute in completing a manuscript titled “Journey.” It’s a transcription of interviews that took place in 2024 with Nanda Raj Shrestha, his wife Pamela, and son Kiran. It traces Nanda’s journey across time and space from a mountain village in Nepal to a life as a professor of geography in Wisconsin and Florida.
Shouts of joy in honor of Kathleen Heideman, Michigan poet, environmental activist, and CTI supporter and friend. This past February, Kathleen published “Caving Grounds.” Years in the writing, this master work poetically excavates the rubble of Negaunee, a small town in Upper Michigan hollowed out by a century of mining. The extraction of hematite caused underground collapses and sinkholes; undermined neighborhoods were deemed unstable; homes, churches and cemeteries were moved. Kathleen’s writing is a deep dive into the soul of a place, the spirit of a people.
Along with CTI’s weekly on-site Tai Chi classes, a series of Zoom sessions called “The Iron Butterfly” continued during the spring of 2025. Originating during the COVID pandemic, this group has now met for 140 sessions, bringing together 12 folks from New Mexico, Maine, Wisconsin, Illinois, Washington, Arizona, and Michigan. Together we seek to correlate mind/body insights with Tai Chi and Qi Gong practices.
One Iron Butterfly participant is from Wisconsin. Sue is a paramedic and EMT professional. She’s also a birder. Recently she celebrated with us the emerging power of “citizen science.”
There are now iPhone apps available, that recognize bird songs as well as provide information about birds of all species in their natural settings. She reports that this is changing everything. In hopeful ways. We are tracing migrations, identifying threats to bird populations, becoming aware that we and the natural world are all connected. Thank you, Sue! And greetings to your partner (and our cabin neighbor) Cindy!
INTERFAITH EFFORTS BREAKING GROUND
WATER STEWARDS II
2024 -2025
A Drinking Water Initiative
In 2024, representatives of seven faith traditions joined together in a two-year commitment to bless and protect sources of drinking water in the Northern Great Lakes Basin. Four goals were established. CTI and Wild Church continue to coordinate these eforts. Here’s an update.
GOAL #1 was to facilitate four public gatherings lifting up challenges threatening public drinking water sources in our region. Our third public forum was held in April. The topic was health-related issues of adding fluoride to public water systems. Thanks to Scott Emerson and David Campana who brought views on this controversial subject from both the medical and pharmaceutical worlds. April Lindala, member of the Six Nations, Native American community, closed the evening, framed by 100 candles, with a blessing song.
GOAL #2 was to plant 1,000 Northern white cedar trees. This action underscores nature’s often unrecognized transpiration process that recycles pure water from forests into the biosphere. We’ll continue that effort this summer with the planting of 500 trees. Jeff Noble, forester and retired wild land fire fighter, coordinates this component of our collective effort. To volunteer or help with a donation, contact Ken Kelley at 906-869-1911 or email kenkelley2463@yahoo.com
GOAL #3 was to publish 12 columns in the Marquette Monthly, to deepen appreciation for the need to protect quality drinking water in the Great Lakes region. Brad Pickens, from the Episcopal Diocese, provides oversight as our editor. The last of this series will appear in August. These essays can be found on our Institute website —cedartreeinstitute.org
GOAL #4 is to support, as a sign of global solidarity, establishment and maintenance of two wells that will provide drinking water for villages in Tanzania and Cambodia. Both First Presbyterian Church of Marquette and the Northern Great Lakes Lutheran (ELCA) Synod have identifed these sites. Commitments are being solidifed. Appreciation to Steve Mattson and Chuck Tomas who coordinate this international work.
A MEDICAL FRONTIER
Mike Grossman, family physician and hospice medical director, along with colleagues Aaron Scholnik, Fred Groos, and Stuart Johnson, recently designed and helped lead the way with a project supported by the Michigan Health Foundation and coordinated by The Cedar Tree Institute. Mary Gauthier, the contemporary “outlaw” songwriter with a special gift for soul-penetrating lyrics, wrote, “If you want to be a songwriter think of a fire. Most people just want to run away. The real songwriter chooses to enter the flames.”
That’s what hospice and palliative care is about. Facing challenges of fear and mortality. Project Evergreen was a twelve-week training that took place from January to May, 2025 with eight morning meetings held in the Landmark Inn’s Sky Room.
As the morning’s winter sun rose over our city’s harbor, the group of medical providers, including nurses, social workers, and physicians, met to share experiences, sharpen clinical skills, and explore feelings and convictions about their work. A mother who lost her son joined us one early morning. A physician dealing with his own illness as he faced his fnal days of life joined us the following week with his wife. In support, she sat quietly by his side.
Our appreciation to Doug Russell who served as CTI’s grant writer for this project. Also, to Will Sharp, Social Work graduate student from NMU, who assisted in coordinating and facilitating our morning sessions.
Stuart Johnson, a physician and one of the project’s participants, informed us he’s exploring ways to continue this kind of educational event.
“Entering the flames” will never be a solitary venture. We all need colleagues to share with courage and honesty what we see and experience. Whether we be songwriters or care providers.
Thanks, Stuart.
IN MEMORIUM
Carol Bertucci 1961 – 2024
Carol was self-reliant and independent, relfecting a love for animals and the natural world. For years, she served as a member of Marquette County’s Search and Rescue teams. A faithful, skilled Tai Chi practitioner, she brought numerous insights to Cedar Tree on-site classes. “Always be gentle,” she counseled. “Let’s always welcome folks at whatever level they are at.” Carol will be remembered as a modest, self-contained individual who radiated internally a graceful, courageous spirit.
Cary Bjork 1946 – 2025
A physician of internal medicine, Cary was known during his professional life in Marquette County as the “clergy doctor.” Many pastors and priests, my colleagues, were his patients. He carried the highest respect from those under his care. Cary traveled extensively over the years, volunteering in hospitals in Africa, working with refugees and medical mission staff in various settings. He was an active member of his faith community. His frst wife Sharon was part of the Cedar Tree’s Samaritan Project, a support group co-sponsored with Messiah Lutheran Church in Marquette for those dealing with serious illnesses. Some years following her death, Cary married Susan Cardoni. She faithfully walked by his side.
Don Dreisbach 1941 – 2025
Don was a retired university professor of philosophy and religious studies. He and his wife Darlene and two sons were part of our neighborhood here on Marquette’s old historic East Side.
With a strong interest in theology, Don was a master teacher for many of us. He had an ability to step back, ponder, and observe. He also served as one of the frst Peace Corps volunteers to Iran in the 1960s. We lift up Darlene and their two sons Tristan and Johannes.
Both Darlene and Don modeled how a refective spiritual life can lead to an engaged political commitment for public policies of compassion and justice. As a former campus pastor at NMU, I once invited Don to lead a discussion around our home freplace on the history of “The Trinity” in Christian thought. It was spell-binding. One of the students present that evening later entered the seminary.
Theresa Scram 1936 – 2024, Don Snitgen 1936 – 2024, and Lynn Emerick 1936 – 2025
Theresa, Don, and Lynn were all born in 1936. Each lived long, full, and engaged lives here in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Theresa was a member of a class the CTI Director taught with NMU’s Center for Native American Studies. She brought an extraordinary spirit of inquiry. She was deeply respectful of indigenous culture and history. Younger students with which she shared that class experience will not forget the twinkle in her eye. Theresa faithfully completed all reading assignments, although in auditing the class there was no requirement to do so. John, thank you for being her partner and driver for many years.
A special bow to the lives of Lynn Emerick and Don Snitgen. During the 1970s, both of them, along with their spouses Lon and Mary, were among the activists that protected the natural beauty of Little Presque from being developed by commercial interests. Respected teachers, naturalists, and lovers of music, committed to their families and circles of friends, all four are remembered for their prophetic environmental protection work in this region during the late 20th century. They are a part of that cherished history.
ON THE HORIZON 2025
A 500 cedar tree planting project
with volunteers in the Yellow Dog Community Forest
Saturday mornings: June 14th and 21st.
For more information contact Ken Kelley at 906-869-8911 or email kenkelley2463@yahoo.com
CTI’s Mid-summer Celebration
Presque Isle Pavilion, Marquette
Tursday July 17th 5:00 – 6:30 P.M.
Mind/Body Tai Chi Sessions
Mattson Park (West End) Marquette
Wednesdays 5:30 – 6:30 P.M. June -August
Free to the public
Upper Great Lakes Healthcare Conference
NMU Center, September 26th
Presenter and Workshop Facilitator “Aslan’s Horn: Mobilizing Inner Resources for Health Providers.”
U.P. Labor Hall of Fame Ceremony/Banquet Invocation
NMU Center, November 1, 2025
“Prayers of Steel and the Work for Justice”
“Healing and Hope”
A retreat now in initial planning stages for individuals in recovery, parish clergy, medical providers, and social workers (Fall, 2025)
Coming Up in 2026:
“Bones of the Earth”
A three-day retreat on Geology and Spirituality. Big Bay, Michigan.
“The Way of the Dream”
A seven week Zoom series
IN GRATITUDE
Special thanks to you, from all walks of life, who continue to support us. The Institute owns no property, has no full-time employees. We work quietly between the lines of larger institutions and agencies. We are dreamers, but as readers will recognize from this newsletter, doers. Eighty percent of our budget comes from individual donations. And a bow to Jim elder and Steve Mattson who have shaped this dream since 1995 as CTI Board members. Every step of the way.
The Cedar Tree Institute’s Ecotone newsletter, issued three times a year, is also available online at: www.cedartreeinstitute.org
This single communication remains our life-line since the Institute began in 1995. If you prefer not to receive a printed copy, please let us know. We’ll be glad to accommodate you. Contact: aryel.cedartreeinstitute@gmail.com or call 906-228-5494.
A blessing of the trees
The Cedar Tree Institute, a nonprofit organization provides services and initiates projects between boundaries of medical institutions, faith communities, American Indian tribes and social action movements. One-third of our services are provided pro-bono.
CTI BOARD
- Jon Magnuson, CTI Executive Director
- Steve Mattson, Financial Consultant
- Jim Elder, Attorney
ADVISORY COUNCIL
- Larry Skendzel, Physician, Hospice Care
- Gareth Zellmer, Consultant, Trainer
- Ken Kelley, Professor Emeritus, NMU
- Rick Pietila, U.S. State Department
- Jan Schultz, Botanist, USFS, Retired
- Michael Grossman, Family Physician
RESEARCH ASSOCIATES
- John Rosenberg
- Ruth Almén
- Joseph Piccione
- Kent Fish
A GIFT TO A MICHIGAN FOREST
Bruce Eric Maynard (1974 -2025) traveled the world. He was a master chef, a gardener, a banjo player, a man of many talents. His parents Kathy and Fred Maynard, long-time friends of the Cedar Tree Institute, along with his sister Aria and her family recently joined his partner John Kilgour in California for a memorial service.
In Bruce’s honor, his name will be whispered in the coming weeks of June as 500 Northern white cedar trees will be gently planted by volunteers in the forest floor near the banks of Powell Township’s Yellow Dog River.
For information contact us at 403 East Michigan Street, Marquette, MI 49855 or contact us via email. Telephone & Fax: 906-228-5494
The Spring 2025 Equinox Newsletter is brought to you by Cedar Tree Institute.
