Local folk music performer and impresario Michael Saul Quitt passed away on Monday, Apr. 28.
The Mount Washington resident was 75.
A 1971 graduate of the University of Maryland, Quitt was well-known in the local music scene. He was co-founder of the Baltimore Folk Music Society, as well as a seasoned local folk music performer, playing the five-string banjo and English concertina for more than four decades.
Among the venues at which he performed were Patches’ 15 Below Coffee House in Timonium and The Sword in the Stone in Boston. Over the years, he shared stages with such folk luminaries as Pete Seeger, Andy Wallace and Hazel Dickens.
Quitt was a co-founder of the Sweeney Todd Productions concert series, predecessor to the Baltimore Folk Music Society.
In addition, he was a longtime vintage and modern fountain pen collector and former owner of the Fountain Pen Hospital of Baltimore, as well as Charm City Pens and Collectibles.
In his spare time, Quitt held a black belt in Aikido and was an avid hiker and sailor.
“Michael was a true mentor to anyone interested in one of his fields of expertise and will be remembered as a loving husband, stepfather and grandfather,” his family posted on the website of Sol Levinson & Bros.
Quitt is survived by his wife, Susan Davis (nee Adler); stepchildren, Andrew Davis and Brian Davis; sister, Heni (Jack) Farbman; stepsiblings, Emily (Bruce) Lessner, David (Sheryl) Milner, and Richard (Carol) Milner; and grandchildren, Ashe Davis and Sabre Davis.
He was predeceased by his parents, Frances and Ervin Milner and Herman Quitt.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, Apr. 30, at 1:30 p.m. at Beth Tfiloh Cemetery, 5660 Windsor Mill Road in Baltimore.
Contributions in his memory may be sent to the Maryland Food Bank, attention Donor Services, 2200 Halethorpe Farms Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21227.
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