News Of Neighbors

Historical Summer 2022 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.

Hello Neighbors, The summer season is here and it feels so refreshing to be able to enjoy many of the activities that we used to consider “normal”, although Covid is still very much a part of our lives.

I personally have already enjoyed a few Cardinal games and I am looking forward to garden tours, movies on Art Hill, any many outdoor concerts. Summer in St. Louis, especially in Skinker DeBaliviere is the best! Now, let us catch up with some of our busy neighbors. Nora Christeson, granddaughter of Marlene Sr. and Joe Mestres long-time former residents of the 6100 and 5700 blocks of Kingsbury is headed to Missouri State University to study Equine Science in the fall.

She has completed two years at St Louis Community College and works at Bass Pro Shops.

This outdoor horsewoman currently rides at Kraus Farms. Proud mother Marlene, Jr. lives in Kingsbury Square. Former Alderman of the 26th Ward, Irving Clay died at age 97. Clay was elected 26th Ward alderman in 1991, three years after his retirement following 37 years in various city posts including recreation commissioner.

He was on the Board of Aldermen 12 years.

He will be remembered for spearheading the building of single family homes north of Delmar to considerable success.

He had originally been frustrated in this quest but finally secured the support of former mayor Harmon. Clay was also critical in the passage of the Delmar redevelopment plan.

He was co-sponsor with then Ald. Dan McGuire and had worked with the SDCC Delmar Committee.

He was sympathetic to the goals, straightforward and easy to contact.

One of our talented neighborhood writers has written another book. Candace O’Connor of the 6100 block of Kingsbury. Candace just published a new book, called Climbing the Ladder, Chasing the Dream: The History of Homer G. Phillips Hospital.

The book details the history of this hospital, which was in business on North Whittier from 1937-1979.

The building is still there, and it has become a very nice senior living center. Candace was asked by the nursing alumni association of the hospital to undertake this project, and did dozens of interviews with former medical and nursing staff members, as well as community people who remember the hospital. Thus, this book, which was published by the University of Missouri Press, is not an academic history at all, but a social history, with lots of stories of people, events and patients. Candace even tries to solve the mystery of the (still-unsolved) murder of attorney Homer G. Phillips, for whom the hospital was named!

I think this will make a great addition to my summer reading list, how about you?

During the season of Lent each year, the students of St. Roch School hold an annual service project of collecting “cans and cash” for a needy cause.

This year, their monetary donation and canned goods were taken to St. Alphonsus Rock Church to benefit their food pantry.

The collection generated more than 1000 cans and dollars combined, thanks to the generosity of the students of St. Roch. And while we are talking about St. Roch, Paul Shaver, has retired after 39 years at the school. Paul has taught multiple generations of neighborhood families and has served the St. Roch community as a teach, a member of the St. Roch board, a mentor to students, headed the math and chess club, and brought new ideas to the students in the pursuit of education.

He will certainly be missed but we wish him the very best and hope he enjoys his well deserved free time in retirement. One of our young neighbors, Maddy Boxdorfer (and my daughter!), was recognized by Pedal the Cause at the Top Fundraiser Event in April and received the Clare Blase Spirit Award for her continued fundraising efforts and involvement in Pedal the Cause.

The award is presented to younger members of the Pedal the Cause family recognizing their efforts and enthusiasm for helping raise funds for research towards finding a cure for cancer and is in in memory of Clare Blase who attended Nerinx Hall High School, and enthusiastically raised funds herself for Pedal until losing her battle with cancer her freshman year of high school. Maddy has participated in Pedal the Cause for eight years on our friends and family team, Bill Box’s Blue, Red, and Grey and will be riding and fundraising again this year.

She has raised over $20,000 in eight years and has been a top fundraiser for Pedal the Cause every year, earning their ‘Yellow Jersey” status or higher.

The mission of Pedal the Cause is to provide critical funding for cancer research at Siteman cancer Center and Siteman Kids at St. Louis Children’s Hospital through the annual cycling event. Maddy’s parents are Matt Boxdorfer and this columnist, of the 6100 block of Kingsbury.

We are incredibly proud of Maddy and our team which includes many of your neighbors! Saint Louis University presented Cecilia Nadal with the prestigious “Pioneer Award” at its Commencement Recognition Dinner.

This award is an annual recognition of a graduate who is innovative, driven and committed to the development of the whole person and whose actions, accomplishments and pioneering spirit have helped pave the way for others. Gitana Productions is a nonprofit arts and education organization founded in 1996. Cecilia has produced more than 25 major international music/dance shows: more than 20 original plays on major theater stages; the first major cross-cultural engagement conference in St. Louis and numerous educational events within the community to promote peace and connection across cultures.

She started Global Education through the Arts, the first community arts program in Missouri bringing together African American and refugee /immigrant youth in South City, Ferguson and the Amherst Park area. Cecilia, now semi-retired, leads Cross-Cultural Strategies as principal consultant/ trainer and continues social activism as an influencer, community organizer and writer including our very own Times of Skinker DeBaliviere. Enjoy your summer neighbors!

I hope to see you out and about and hope you will share some news for our next issue.

I know many of you have celebrated graduations recently, so please send in photos and news of these great accomplishments. 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!

Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, Summer 2022.

Read this article in the original newspaper issue.

Archival transcription note: Source teach for teacher and in in retained.

Original source: SD_Times2022_06.pdf, printed page(s) 3; PDF page(s) 2.