Brigitte (Schnell) Lontz

Brigitte (Schnell) Lontz, age 79, of Sarasota, Florida, formerly of Lakewood Ranch, Florida and Farmington Hills, MI), passed away on Thursday, November 17, 2022. Brigitte was born June 22, 1943 in Frankfurt am Main, Hesse, Germany to the late Kurt and Wilma (Balbach) Schnell.

There will be a gathering of family & friends will be held Saturday, December 10, 2022 from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM at Robert Toale and Sons Funeral Home at Palms Memorial Park, 170 Honore Ave, Sarasota, FL 34232. Following the gathering, there will be a celebration of life service for Brigitte from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM at Church of the Palms, 3224 Bee Ridge Rd, Sarasota, FL 34239.

Brigitte grew up in Frankfurt during the war and became fond of Americans and the American Dream when American World War II soldiers would distribute chocolate bars and other candies to the war-torn city of Frankfurt. She obtained a business degree before leaving Germany for the U.S.A.

She was an advertising print and runway model for Bill Blass and many other designers. After meeting James Kenneth Lontz (AKA Jimmy Launce) in New York, they represented General Motors at International Auto Shows in New York, Chicago and Detroit. Together they owned, Jimmy Launce Productions, a theatrical production corporation that operated three live performance theaters and a touring company.

She is survived by her loving children, Cheri Natho of Melvindale, MI and John Lontz of Kernersville, NC; cherished grandchildren, Jennifer Bacon, Joshua Holman, Angela Lontz, Brooke Paulsson, Taylor Lontz, Jeremy Lontz and 8 great grandchildren. Brigitte is preceded in death by her husband, James Kenneth Lontz and son, Jeffrey Kenneth Lontz.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Church of the Palms or Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmsmemorial.com for the Lontz family.