> At a Glance
> – Michael Schumacher, author of biographies on Eric Clapton and Allen Ginsberg, died Dec. 29 at 75
> – His daughter Emily Joy Schumacher confirmed the death on Jan. 5
> – Schumacher split his career between celebrity biographies and Great Lakes maritime history
> – Why it matters: He leaves behind a dual legacy documenting both Hollywood icons and Midwest maritime tragedies
Michael Schumacher, the prolific writer who chronicled the lives of music and film legends while also documenting Great Lakes shipwrecks, has died at 75.
A Writer of Two Worlds
Schumacher’s daughter, Emily Joy Schumacher, said her father “loved people” and “loved stories,” always carrying a notebook and coffee for impromptu conversations.
He wrote longhand in flip notebooks before typing, a process that produced:
- Dharma Lion: A Biography of Allen Ginsberg
- Al Capp: A Life to the Contrary
- Francis Ford Coppola: A Filmmaker’s Life
- Crossroads: The Life and Music of Eric Clapton
- Will Eisner: A Dreamer’s Life in Comics
- Mr. Basketball: George Mikan, the Minneapolis Lakers & the Birth of the NBA
From Kansas to Kenosha
Born in Kansas, Schumacher grew up on the shores of Lake Michigan in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He studied political science at University of Wisconsin-Parkside, leaving one credit short of graduation to focus on writing.
His maritime titles include:
- Wreck of the Carl D
- Torn in Two: The Sinking of the Daniel J. Morrell
- Too Much Sea for Their Decks
- Along Lake Michigan: Shipwreck Stories of Life and Loss
Key Takeaways
- Schumacher died Dec. 29; news confirmed Jan. 5
- Celebrity biographies and Great Lakes history formed his dual career
- Daughter Emily remembers him as generous, curious, and story-driven
The clatter of his typewriter keys still echoes for family and readers alike.
