Greetings and happy spring! As I am writing this column we are enjoying beautiful spring weather and I really hope it continues and you are reading this enjoying the same weather. It brings hope of budding blooms, more neighbors outside, and the sounds of children playing in their yards! Oh spring we await you!
As spring was finally making an appearance in St. Louis, the Knese family from the 6100 block of Kingsbury was enjoying a little more winter fun in Breckenridge, Colorado! They spent a week taking advantage of the sunny days on the slopes and enjoyed a day of dog sledding in which twins Chloe and Isabella said they “highly recommend”.
Peggy Hermes of the 6100 block of Kingsbury is a proud mama and reports that daughter Sarah Griesbach is an executive editor of the new magazine “All The Art”. Think “Sauce Magazine” but for art. The first run will be in April with 500 copies but the plan is for a distribution of 10,000 by the September 1st issue.
Angie Meara of the 5900 block of Pershing recently spoke to the Parkview Horticultural Society about using our gardens and local markets for making effervescent beverages and wonderful fermented vegetables for our palate and our health. Angie believes in sourcing her food locally and supplementing it with homegrown vegetables, herbs and eggs from their backyard chickens. Angie’s efforts have become more popular and she hopes to convert this home business in the coming years to selling her fares at coffee shops, restaurants and other local outlets.
Not to be outdone by her mother, Olive Meara, age 8, will have two parts in “Beauty and the Beast” at the Stray Pup Youth Theatre beginning April 30. With this production, Olive will have trod the boards four times.
Dr. Elizabeth Bender, Principal of Gateway STEM High School, aka Beth Bender, of the 6000 block of Kingsbury and also my sister (what can I say, I’m proud), was recently named an honoree for the Peabody Energy Leaders in Education Award. In being named it was said that she is not only an effective educator but a true leader within her school and district. Beth is in her seventh year at Gateway where she and the staff have taken a school which had drifted from its purpose and recreated a dynamic and sought after school. Congratulations Beth and please, keep up the good work you and your staff are doing!
Many of you in the neighborhood certainly know our former Executive Director David Whiteman who lives in Parkview. And if you were lucky, you also met his beautiful wife, Jamie Ryan. It is with the most sincere regret that I inform you that cancer claimed Jamie’s life in January. I did not know Jamie well, but I had the pleasure of meeting her a few times at Skinker DeBaliviere events. Our condolences go to David and the entire family.
Sadly, word also came that Dan Nerviani, one of the seven Nerviani children who grew up on the 6100 block of Kingsbury passed away on January 27th. Dan had left the neighborhood years ago, raising his own children and even enjoying some grandchildren too.
Further sad news came on February 27th from Kurt Lutjens of the 6000 block of McPherson, that his wife Susan Lutjens had passed away. While Susan’s final days were spent fighting the terrible effects ALS had taken on her body, Susan will be remembered for so much more. In addition to being a wonderful neighbor, and the wife of the senior pastor at Grace and Peace Fellowship, Susan was an incredible mother to her three children: Heidi, Jeffrey, and Carrie. She was also a health advocate for her patients, and a strong spiritual guide offering prayers for so many. Susan had worked at both St. Mary’s as an RN and at Barnes as a Nurse Practitioner. Most recently she worked in the East St. Louis area for Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation. Susan was remembered at a beautiful service at Grace and Peace Fellowship on Tuesday, March 3.
Not wanting to make this column all about death, let’s take the attitude that we are remembering many incredible people; neighbors that we will truly miss. This is the case of Jim Hatch who shared news of the passing of two of his neighbors on the 5700 block of DeGiverville. Two of Jim’s neighbors passed away in February, both having lived on the 5700 block of DeGiverville for over 40 years:
Ephram Weddington passed away on February 5th. Ephram had worked for many years as a Teamster Truck Driver and later was a trainer for a bus company. He was also an entrepreneur as a taxi owner for over 30 years. He retired to commit to caring for his wife’s health. We extend our sympathies to his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
Roy Tagger passed away on February 16. Roy had worked many jobs over a 33 year period for the Federal Reserve Bank. He also served in a volunteer capacity for voter registration, a poll worker, and he served the Washington Heights Neighborhood Association. Our condolences go out to his wife Eva, their children and grandchildren.
How blessed we truly are to live in a neighborhood with so many dedicated people. And as much as their passing is sad, as I remind my children often, we need to remember how lucky we were to have had them here. If it didn’t hurt so much when we lose people, it might be more sad, for we would not have had such wonderful relationships with them and the world might not be as wonderful. Still, our hearts go out to all these families at this time while they grieve their losses.
A reunion of sorts took place as old friends, many of whom were old Skinker DeBaliviere neighbors, and all of whom attended St. Roch School at some point, gathered for mass and a reception on Saturday, March 7th for the St. Roch Alumni Mass and Mingle. Approximately 100 graduates gathered spanning decades and sharing many laughs. Many of the graduates who had been away for a long time enjoyed the opportunity to tour both of the school buildings and look at class photos through the years. Fabulous food was provided by two very popular local restaurants: Three Kings Public House and the Kitchen Sink. Three Kings is owned by St. Roch alum Ryan Pinkston and the Kitchen Sink is owned by Anthony Ellerson, Jr who grew up in the neighborhood! The event was headed up by Cristina McGroarty who hopes to see this become an annual event! If you graduated from St. Roch and don’t receive alumni news, be sure to contact the rectory and give them your mailing address and your email address.
Speaking of St. Roch, Monsignor Polizzi is gearing up for his Building the Future Dinner on Sunday, April 26th. This event is the sole fundraiser for the school and enables students to continue to receive a premier Catholic education. For more information, to purchase tickets, or to make a donation, please contact the parish house at 314-721-6340.
