Leesa Wittus’ three prized possessions come from the recycling station in Lake Leelanau just a few blocks from her home.
Leesa Wittus
One is a directional sign for “women” that at one time presumably identified lavatory facilities. The second is a set of 10 cookbooks sold as a fundraiser for the Buffalo Philharmonic. And the third is a hardcover copy of Facts of Life and Love for Teenagers. The 1950s book was written by the same author of The Art of Dating, and is something out of a time capsule as it addresses such issues as “how to say no” to premarital sex.

“I grew up in a time when books like these told us ‘how far to go,’” she said.

Wittus was born in Bloomfield Hills and was first introduced to northern Michigan and the county as a student at The Leelanau School in Glen Arbor. Wittus’ father was Jewish and her mother was a Christian Scientist, which made for a natural connection to the boarding school where she spent her year sophomore year in 1968-69.

“I was a cheerleader. The only requirement was that you attend all practices,” said Wittus, who prefers to be called Leese. “But it was during ‘soda bar’ which was the only time when couples could be together in a social setting. I didn’t have a conflict because I didn’t have a boyfriend, so I made it to all the practices.”

She also attended Cranbook, a Detroit-area boarding school, and won a tennis trophy for much the same reason—just showing up.

“I always show up at things. You never know what kind of good stuff you’ll get,” Wittus said.

Her real interest, however, was in music. She earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Stephens College in Columbia, Mo. Her love of music, particularly folk, has played a large role in her life.

“I always tell people that the first 50 years of my life I was in music; the second 50 years in writing,” Wittus said.

As a young artist, Wittus found the freedom of northern Michigan enticing and moved to Leelanau County in 1985. She was the founder of the Kids Koffeehouse, which from 1985 through 1995 provided area youths with a setting to hear music, discuss the arts and listen to guest artists such as Michael Camp, Patrick Niemisto, Chris Skellenger and Joe Stafford. In addition to running the “koffeehouse,” Wittus taught private piano lessons to many students.

“I had some property near Maple City and (the late) Barbara Cruden would come in and talk about something going on in the woods at that time,” Wittus said.

After 10 years in Leelanau County, it was time for her to move on. Wittus relocated to Anna Maria Island, Fla., in the fall of 1995. While she continued to work as a musician, Wittus found the confines of busy south Florida frustrating. She grew restless.

“I have friends and family in Florida. But I didn’t feel I could be myself there,” she said. “I missed northern Michigan.”

Meanwhile, Wittus’ creative bent expanded to writing. She worked in 2003 in student legal services at Virginia Tech in Blackburg, Va., where her main initiative was the creation of a “civil rights” pamphlet. The document was distributed to students and other members of the community detailing information about civil rights — and offering suggestions of what to say and how to behave when detained by police.

Wittus also worked as a pianist and soloist for the Christian Science Society in Blacksburg, performed at Virginia Tech’s “Take Back the Night” rally and march, and was the music programmer for the women’s music portion of Billy Goat’s Hoedown a radio show featured on Tech’s radio station WUVT.

“I’m a radio junkie,” said Wittus, who returned to Michigan in 2003 for her second and “last” time. “I grew up in the Detroit area during the Motown era so I’m really into radio.”

Now into her “second 50 years,” the 57-year-old Leese said she began writing out of frustration with the media.

“I got so fed up with the media either not getting the story right or pushing their own agenda,” said Wittus, who writes her own blog. “No one was covering things that were funny or positive. So I began to write. There might be a place for me … if people want to hear a refreshing side of life.”

Much of what she writes is in reaction to music played on local radio stations.

Two or three years ago she began to listen regularly to a show called Ron’s Rare Tracts on a local oldies radio station. It was at that time that Wittus developed an air-wave friendship with the host of that show, Ron Pritchard.

“Leese is definitely a great singer/songwriter with a lot of talent,” said Pritchard, who now co-hosts “Ron and Rehmer” from 6 to 10 a.m. on Z93. “She’s eclectic and a little eccentric, but she has a vast knowledge of older music and provides me valuable information about what’s happening in Leelanau County.”

One specific “rare tract” formed a bond between the listener and the radio host. It was by a pre-Motown group called Jim Beasley and The Charmers, which also originated in Detroit.

“My mother was a member of that group,” said Wittus, whose grandmother, Lota Hoffman, was the owner of Silhouette Records.

Her mother, Marilyn Hoffman, sang with The Charmers and is not the only member of the family to have notoriety. Leese’s younger brother, Craig, was an all-American tennis player at Miami of Ohio, who went on to become a professional tennis player and was ranked as high as 42nd in the world doubles.

“I taught him piano,” the older sister said.

Her brother was once featured in a video for the song Tennis Cruiser, which aired during the U.S. Open.

“It was before cable television up here and I remember going from house to house in Leland hoping to catch a glimpse of it,” she said.

The video also featured tennis great John McEnroe and celebrity Vince Van Patten, who was on the professional tennis circuit.

Wittus has never met her radio friend in person due, in part, to the fact that she doesn’t own a car by choice. Wittus walks or uses public transportation to get where she needs to go: the library, post office, grocery store or into the Career Tech Center in Traverse City, where she has her hair cut by students.

The writer/musician also enjoys walking to the recycling station in Lake Leelanau, where she finds all kinds of treasures.

“I have found $200 twice between here and there,” said the woman, who lives alone in an apartment off Meinrad Street. “But I’ve also found other treasures which I keep and give away to friends.”

Among the items lined up against the foundation of her apartment are storage crates — left at the recycling site — and even a small beverage cooler.

“You know the phrase, reduce, reuse, recycle? I like to reuse everything,” she said.

And although her performing is limited to songs on her answering machine these days, Wittus generously offers the following advice to young people:

“Don’t think or expect that whatever your major is, will be what you work in,” Wittus said. “Do what you love. Honor your gifts and talents.”