Morning Sun

‘PEACE~LOVE’

Famed five-star chef and noted guitarist Michael Tuma mourned

- By Rick Mills rimills@medianewsg­roup.com

Michael Tuma’s avocation was deeply rooted in the influence of The Embers and the legendary family of fine dining in Mt. Pleasant.

It was his first job at The Embers, under the tutorial of his uncle, founder Clarence Tuma, that launched the younger Tuma into a career as a nationally-known five-star chef.

But he was equally famed on the local scene as a devoted and talented guitarist, entertaini­ng for decades on the stage of Rubbles Bar, among other venues.

Michael Tuma died in his sleep Tuesday after a battle with cancer.

A Celebratio­n of Life is planned for 1 p.m. on Jan. 8, 2022, at Bucks Run Golf Club, Mt. Pleasant.

Tuma attended the prestigiou­s culinary training program at The Greenbrier Hotel in White Sulfur Springs, W. Va. Michael was one of a very few applicants to be accepted in what was considered to be the supreme culinary apprentice­ship program in the nation. Upon graduation, he was hired by The Greenbrier and worked there for one year before joining the staff at Le Perroquet and its sister restaurant, Les Nomades, the finest French restaurant­s in Chicago.

After several years in Chicago, he returned to Midland to join his family in the opening of Justine “Creative Cuisine” in 1982, which soon became famous for its exceptiona­l cuisine and was featured in many national magazines as a five-star restaurant. In 1987 the family opened a second restaurant on the premises, Café Edward, which operated with great success. Upon his father Ed’s retirement in 2001, Michael opened Tuma’s on Torch in Alden, Michigan. He concluded his career with several happy years at The Embers in Mt. Pleasant until its closing, followed by a stint with Labelle Management and finally, worked as a chef/consultant at Bucks Run until the day before he died.

Tributes are pouring in from all corners, local musicians, music fans, chefs and foodies, among them.

“He was one of my all time favorite people from

Rubbles,” said Tamara Lawson of Shepherd.

“His spirit lives on if you ever had a meal from him, listened to him play guitar, or talked life, love and peace with him.”

Peace. Love.

Despite his contributi­ons to entertainm­ent, both fine dining and rock-and-roll, it’s his kindness that is perhaps most remembered.

Tuma uniquely signed every social media post with the words “peace~love” and lived his non-virtual life the same way.

Roger Finney, a former employee at the Midland restaurant Tuma owned, remembered the influence of Tuma from 30 years ago.

“When I worked at Justine, as the bartender, he would always come to the bar at the end of the night for an Altes beer,” Finney said on Facebook.

“We would laugh about something/anything that happened that night. He introduced me to some of the coolest music and was a hell of a guitar player. I guess at the end of the day you can be measured by the impact you left on people, and Michael left that impact on me.”

At Rubbles, the downtown bar at the center of Mt. Pleasant’s live music community, Melissa Gross joined the mourning for her friend.

“It is with an empty stage, sad heart and lonely kitchen that we say goodbye to our friend and mentor Michael Tuma,” she posted.

“He’s been an original member of The Essentials, chef to us all, and friend to many. Our stage at Rubble’s Bar will never be the same.”

On the occasion of his ending a brief cooking retirement, Tuma was featured in a story just over a year ago by his longtime friend, Jim Lahde, who is Morning Sun sport’s editor.

“In Chicago. In New York City. In New Jersey. Heck, he was even competing in cookoffs against some of the best chefs in the world and beating them with regularity back in the 1990s, before reality TV cooking shows become chic,” Lahde wrote.

After a two-year hiatus, Tuma returned to his kitchen-calling last year, helping out at Buck’s Run Golf Club in Mt. Pleasant.

“I want to share all this knowledge I have, that’s what my calling is now,” Tuma, former owner of Justine’s and Cafe Edward in Midland, said at the time. “I am working with a great chef and some great cooks, so it’s going to be fun to get back into the mix.”

Tuma started working at The Embers in Mt. Pleasant when he was a kid, cooking alongside his uncle Clarence Tuma. This is where his passion for cooking is rooted.

After graduating high school in the early-1970s he studied his craft at the Greenbrier Hotel & Spa in West Virginia, graduating from its three-to-six year apprentice­ship program in two years. With honors. From there he worked at some of the best restaurant­s in the world before returning home to open his own restaurant in the early-1980s.

“Giving back and teaching is what I want to do,” Tuma said last year. “I know I can help others improve their culinary skills so that’s what I plan on doing.”

Survivors include his son, Jacob (Bennett) Tumastewar­t of Charlevoix; and daughter, Justine Tuma of Detroit, among others.

 ?? ??
 ?? ??
 ?? MORNING SUN FILE PHOTOS ?? Michael Tuma had been in the food service industry for over five decades. Tuma’s love for cooking was deeply rooted in the influence of The Embers and the legendary family of fine dining in Mt. Pleasant. Tuma was equally famed on the local scene as a devoted and talented guitarist, entertaini­ng for decades on the stage of Rubbles Bar, among other venues. Tuma died in his sleep on Tuesday after a battle with cancer.
MORNING SUN FILE PHOTOS Michael Tuma had been in the food service industry for over five decades. Tuma’s love for cooking was deeply rooted in the influence of The Embers and the legendary family of fine dining in Mt. Pleasant. Tuma was equally famed on the local scene as a devoted and talented guitarist, entertaini­ng for decades on the stage of Rubbles Bar, among other venues. Tuma died in his sleep on Tuesday after a battle with cancer.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States