Historical February–March 2019 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Skinker DeBaliviere is a neighborhood with many wonderful events and traditions. One of those special events celebrated its 50th anniversary on Halloween. Yes, for 50 years, Art Santen, of the 6100 block of McPherson, has organized a neighborhood Halloween party that offers entertainment for neighborhood children and serves as the official kickoff to trick or treating in our neighborhood.
The celebration also includes a costume contest.
As someone who enjoyed these parties as a child and then attended as a parent of three children, I would like to say thank you and congratulations to Art on this incredible long history of service.
He has certainly provided wonderful memories for so many children and families in our neighborhood. For those of you who know Art, you also know that Art is an avid collector of bottle openers and all things related to the Gateway Arch.
He often has new acquisitions with him to show friends. Mayor Lyda Krewson recently presented Art with some mayoral collectibles: statues of the Gateway Arch with the names of all the mayors since it was built. Art’s son Scott and Scott’s sons Peter and Frank accompanied Art to City Hall. What a great addition to what must be an incredible collection.
The Bi-State Development Board of Commissioners recently named Taulby Roach as their new president and CEO. Taulby is a longtime transportation consultant for St. Clair County with deep ties to St. Louis city government, politics, and Skinker DeBaliviere.
We congratulate Taulby who resides in Parkview on the 6200 block of McPherson and grew up on the 6100 block of Kingsbury. I’m happy to provide some follow up to a story many of your remember from earlier in 2018.
In the early morning hours of Sunday, May 6th, the Rivers family, of the 5800 block of DeGiverville was awakened by the sound of people shouting.
When Nathaniel and Jodi looked out of their bedroom window, they saw the back of their neighbor’s home engulfed in flames.
They grabbed nothing but their children.
When they were nearly out of the house, an explosion shattered almost every window on the side of their home closest to the fire.
The explosion originated from oxygen tanks and fed the flames.
It wasn’t long before the fire spread to the Rivers home. Once outside, the Rivers family was immediately attended to by various neighbors, some they knew well and some they did not (yet) know at all.
They were given warm clothes to wear, coffee to drink, and a place for their children to retreat.
This support continued with the arrival of Mark Gorman who turned out to be an important part of their recovery story.
Following a brief stay in a hotel, Mark was able to relocate the family to an apartment he owned in the neighborhood. Jodi and Nathaniel often joked that they had a home on DeGiverville but they summered on Pershing! Mark and his employees then handled the restoration of their home for many months.
After five months of construction, the Rivers family was able to move back home in the fall of 2018.
They are so grateful to the Saint Louis Fire Department, the American Red Cross, neighbors and friends in the Skinker DeBaliviere community (especially the 5800 block of De Giverville), St. Roch School and Church, the SDCC office and community members, and of course, Mark Gorman, Ben Gorman, Brian Helt and their fantastic crew.
They don’t have any family in the St. Louis area, but Jodi said they truly feel like they do. Bob Moore, publisher of St. Louis Front Page and noted photographer and former SDCC president, died peacefully Monday, January 14, 2019, at home, following a long battle with dementia.
He was 80.
A “Celebration of Life” for family and friends is planned for March 21, 2019 (his 81st birthday and first day of spring), at 10 a.m., at Bellefontaine Cemetery.
He is pictured here with Calvin Stuart, longtime Executive Director of SDCC, at the party unveiling the pictures of all the directors and presidents of the organization. Stuart passed away last year. Our condolences to Bob’s widow Betty and all who knew them. Longtime Skinker DeBaliviere resident, John George Storey passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, November 17, 2018, at age 91, surrounded by his loving family. George was a Navy veteran, and he worked as an engineer for 37 years at McDonnell Douglas Aircraft.
He was a leader for many years in the Skinker-DeBaliviere neighborhood and a longtime parishioner at St. Roch Church; long-time Democratic Committeeman for the 28th Ward; and a City of St. Louis Airport Commissioner. George participated in Washington University Memory and Aging project.
He loved playing golf in Forest Park, horse racing, playing cards and games and travelling with his family and friends. George’s life was celebrated by many family and friends on November 23rd. Our condolences go out to his wife of 64 years, Rose Storey, and their eight children, spouses, grandchildren and extended family. Do you have news to share?
Please send your submissions via email with the subject line News of Neighbors to rachelb@sdtimes.org or drop off a note to the attention of Rachel Boxdorfer at the Skinker DeBaliviere office. Be sure to mark it “News of Neighbors”.
We love to hear about neighbors accomplishments, awards, travels, weddings, anniversaries, births, and more!
Original photograph caption
Art Santen with Mayor Lyda Krewson and family during City Hall presentation; individual positions not all supplied.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February–March 2019.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2019_02.pdf, printed page(s) 3; PDF page(s) 3.
