Sylvia E. Linde-Guback, Died July 15, 2018

Sylvia E. Linde-Guback

Died July 15, 2018

NORTHPORT - Sylvia Elisabeth Linde-Guback,78, died at her home near Northport on the morning of July 15, having lived bravely, joyfully, and faithfully for nearly three years after her cancer diagnosis. She was the beloved wife of the Rev. Thomas Guback, the devoted mother of Adam Linde Schmitt and Paul Sandberg Schmitt (Olga), the loving Farmor (grandmother) to Martha and Gabriel, and the caring stepmother of Claire Guback (Gavin and Emma).

She was born in Chicago, November 17, 1939, the only child of Swedish immigrants, Sandly and Karl Eric Linde. Sylvia’s Swedish heritage remained especially important to her throughout her life, as she kept in touch with several generations of relatives. Although her parents spoke only English at home after she was born, a trip to Sweden when she was seven to meet her relatives instilled fluency in speaking, reading, and writing Swedish that never left her. Later visits to Sweden helped her maintain that fluency. Several times in her life she considered returning to Sweden permanently.

Her love of music was apparent from an early age, first singing and picking out tunes on a toy piano, then on a cardboard keyboard in first grade, and finally on a real piano with real music lessons. As an adult, she owned a piano made by Wm. Knabe & Co. She also studied organ, flute, and voice privately.

Church and music became central to her life in elementary school as she sang with an adult church choir. In midlife when her husband Thomas was in seminary, she sensed a calling to sing only sacred music, believing that her voice was a gift. This led her to founding the first ever choir at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Northport. She also re-established the choir at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Watertown WI.

On a four-year scholarship, Sylvia attended Northwestern University in Evanston IL, graduating in 1961 with a B.A. in Comparative Literature, and began a lifetime of working in two fields: one was book editing, and the other was music and fine arts. She enjoyed many professional milestones, including becoming the first woman president in 1976 of the venerable Apollo Chorus in Chicago, founded in 1872.

She was a college textbook editor at Scott, Foresman in Chicago and later director of book editing at the National Council of Teachers of English. She also was the director of the Champaign-Urbana branch of the Illinois Arts Council, and the director of the Champaign County Historical Museum. As well, Sylvia was the director of development and general manager of the Sinfonia da Camera, the professional chamber orchestra at the University of Illinois.

Sylvia formed friendships that held lifelong, including those of Pi Beta Phi sisters, as a past alumnae president. Her love for others was boundless, and her faith and family were at the center of her life.

A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Northport at 10:30 Saturday morning, September 15.  Burial in Leelanau Township Cemetery will follow the mass.

Memorial gifts may be made to St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, PO Box 98, Northport MI 49670; Leelanau County Cancer Foundation, PO Box 235, Lake Leelanau MI 49653; and Leelanau Christian Neighbors, PO Box 32, Suttons Bay, MI 49682.

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