In Traverse City when you hear "The Dennos" you probably think about the art museum at Northwestern Michigan College. But the man behind the museum, Mike Dennos has had an even greater impact on the community. This weekend the museum will celebrate his 90th birthday. Tonight we give you a glimpse at how he has, and is still making a difference.

Mike Dennos has been working for 78 years. And that's just fine with him.

He says, "I grew up in the middle of the worst depression back in the 1930's. That's just what you did, that's what you knew. You just get so you don't feel bad about working."

The son of a Greek immigrant, Dennos started working in his father's Muskegon pie shop six days a week when he was just 12.

Trying to make a break from the family business he went to MSU on scholarship and earned a chemical engineering degree.

He followed that career path to the New York City area where he and his high school sweetheart Barb lived for 17 years and raised two daughters.

But then his science background came back to the science of baking.

Dennos says, "One of my brothers thought it would be a nice idea to try frozen pie so I left my job and came back to Michigan."

So he took a chance and it paid off. ChefPierre Pies became so successful that in 1978 he merged his family's business with the company known today as Sara Lee.

While Traverse City offered the business some sweet rewards, his family wasn't too excited to leave the big apple for the cherry capital.

Dennos says, "My family hated it. They didn't want to leave New York and New Jersey. It took me a long time to get them used to Traverse City. They thought it was a cow town." Diana asks, "Was it?" Dennos says, "It was, in a way."

But he knew it could be more. He and his wife would travel the world and bring back art to Northwestern Michigan College.

Then a dinner party discussion planted the seeds for what would become the Dennos Museum.

Dennos Museum Director Gene Jenneman says, "We needed a facility like this, but it takes somebody who will take that idea and give it life and invest in it. That's what Mike and Barb Dennos did."

The Museum opened in 1991. While it has brought art and culture from around the world to the Traverse City area, it has also done much more.

Jenneman says, "It allowed Traverse City to have experiences beyond its borders. The museum also continued and strengthened the idea in this community of "can do." That if we believe in what we want and are committed to it we can make it happen."

Dennos did the same with his work with the Pathfinder School, Interlochen Center for the Arts, The City Opera House, The Traverse Symphony Orchestra and more.

He says, "I think it's very important to get involved in whatever you can."

Staying active in the community, in business and in his personal life and having a vision for the future may be the secret to his success.

Dennos says, "You don't think you'll live to be 90 years old. I'm trying to think of what i can do for the next 10 years."

He still works and has some real estate ventures. He plays golf several times a week and does pilates. He also still has plans to travel, with India near the top of his list.

Sunday afternoon The Dennos Museum Center will host a birthday celebration for Mike and his wife Barb. In lieu of gifts, donations can be made to The Dennos.