Dr. Michael Joseph Longo

Michael Joseph Longo, Professor Emeritus University of Michigan Department of High Energy Physics, passed away peacefully in Ann Arbor, Michigan on September 14, 2023. Born in Philadelphia on April 7, 1935, to John Longo and Lucy Carosella, he graduated from LaSalle College with a BA in Physics. He subsequently earned a MA and PhD from the University of California-Berkeley.

Dr. Longo, a Fellow of the American Physical Society, had an extensive career in Experimental Elementary Particle Physics research and later Astrophysics. He joined the University of Michigan Physics Department in 1962 and remained there until his retirement. At Michigan, he initiated a series of novel experiments.

His primary research activities were conducted at Fermilab, including E871 (HyperCP). He was also part of the MACRO collaboration - a large underground detector under the Gran Sasso in Italy. His team built most of the liquid scintillation counters that covered the vertical faces of the detector. He published extensively throughout his life and was pleased that all of his experiments were successful. He continued to do research and publish after his retirement. His latest paper entitled, “A New Approach to the Dark Matter/Dark Energy Puzzle” was published in the International Journal of Astronomy and Astrophysics on August 31, 2023, just weeks before his death.

He was very active throughout his life in sports before it was de rigueur-- playing squash, tennis, racquetball, hunting and riding his bicycle to work.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 40 years, Barbara Maketa Longo, and sister Diane. He is survived by his loving wife of 25 years, Faye, brother John, sister Joyce Blaney and children Kathleen (James Mattimore) Longo, Michael (Sally) Longo, Eugene Longo, and grandchildren: Kyle, Rachel, Maketa, Cassandra, Rayna and Julianna.

Dr. Longo will be remembered as a dedicated, loving, and supportive grandfather, father, and husband and a highly respected member of the University of Michigan community. He had a dry sense of humor and a love of world travel and the Michigan Wolverines. He touched the lives of countless family members, friends, and students and will be missed greatly.

In lieu of flowers, friends may make memorial donations to National Public Radio or Doctors Without Borders. The family will hold a celebration of life at a future date.