Historical September–October 2021 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
In 1965, newlyweds JoAnn and Neville Vatcha moved to an apartment on Nina Place.
In 1973, they bought a house on Westminster where they lived for almost 50 years and raised their 2 daughters, Chanaya and Dina. Particularly in reference to the Times, JoAnn was a constant board member and volunteer.
She served as editor for almost 2 decades. But, that is only one of her many contributions.
She served on the council.
She was the first nonCatholic head of St. Roch’s parent organization.
She volunteered at many events.
She and Neville hosted new neighbors parties for the Times that always drew crowds to their backyard.
Most important, she became chair of the newly formed Commercial Committee in 1989.
After assessing conditions on Delmar, she worked with committee members Dennis Townsend, Loretta Lloyd, Sam Green and Lana Stein to create a redevelopment plan for that area see it adopted by the Board of Aldermen, sponsored byAldermen Irv Clay and Dan McGuire.
The committee assessed proposals for new usages.
An upward trajectory was assured when Joe Edwards proposed the building of the Pageant. JoAnn ‘i and the committee partied with Chuck Berry and the Motown Review at the opening in 2000.
The committee met regularly to discuss proposed businesses, parking and other issues. Representatives from owners of businesses and West End residents joined Skinker DeBaliviere residents on the committee.
From the early 1990s onward, joAnn had a day job with the city.
She was a housing analyst snd successfully spearheaded property development in Benton Park, The Shaw and Soulard.
Her work was honored by the Board of Aldermen when she retired.
This neighborhood’s centennial occurred in 2008. JoAnn was part of the planning committee.
With the aid of Marj Weir, she worked with the History Museum to publish a comprehensive neighborhood history that sold many copies.
It was an introduction to the neighborhood and a reminder to all of its struggles to be diverse and stable. More recently, she and Marj has been exploring the history of DeBaliviere in the Times. Returning to the Times, we find that Jo left us with an interesting and informative publication with new writers covering a range of topics. Despite moving to an independent living facility several miles to the west, her heart will be here in the Times and on Delmar.
She has had a strong and positive impact on our hood. Regrettably she makes her journey without Neville, her husband of almost 56 years.
He embraced her activism and was quite active himself but passed away just after the move.
Original photograph caption
Neville and Jo Ann Vatcha.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, September–October 2021.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Printed analyst snd, stray apostrophe i and chronology wording retained as original.
Original source: SD_Times2021_09.pdf, printed page(s) 1; PDF page(s) 1.
