Neighbors remembered
When Jo Ann Vatcha initially started the news of neighbors’ column for The Paper, The Times of Skinker DeBaliviere’s original name, this column was titled Vicissitudes. The column featured happenings in the lives of our neighbors. Some were happy – births, marriages, travels to faraway places – and some sadly noted the deaths of long-time friends and residents.
In this column, we note the deaths of three long-time neighbors who contributed to the vitality of Skinker-DeBaliviere throughout their lifetime.
Cleophies “Cleo” Woods-Mitchell, formerly of the 6000 block of Westminster, passed away in March. Ms. Cleo was known for her great faith, warmth and wisdom as well as her kind and thoughtful greeting cards to honor any occasion. Ms. Cleo took great pride in her job in the City Assessor’s Office where she served for 27 years.
Ms. Cleo will be missed deeply by her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, friends, neighbors and all of those she called her own.
Eugene (Gene) Cross, formerly of the 6100 block of Kingsbury, passed away in May. Gene attended St. Roch School, SLU and SLU Law School. An attorney and advisor on energy sector reform, Gene provided technical assistance to governments, regulatory agencies worldwide, and authored and co-authored many books and articles.
Gene was a dedicated family man who will be greatly missed by his many, including his brother, Andy and sister-in-law, Linda Cross (of the 6000 block of McPherson) and mother, Jane Powers Cross, formerly of the 6100 block of Kingsbury.
Jo Ann Vatcha, formerly of the 6100 block of Westminster, passed away in July. Jo Ann began writing and editing for The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere in 1974 and continued her involvement until she passed.
To raise money to keep “the oldest neighborhood newspaper in St. Louis” thriving, Jo Ann and late husband, Neville regularly hosted New Neighbor parties in their backyard. The parties were a fun way for new residents to meet and mingle with other neighbors.
Jo Ann also co-authored Celebrating Skinker-DeBaliviere: A History and Comeback with neighbor and friend, Marjorie Weir. Jo Ann was deeply loved and will be missed by many, most especially her daughters and sons-in-law, Chanaya and Mark Jacob (of the 6200 block of Washington) and Dina and Chintu Kumar of Chicago and her three grandsons, Will, Evan and Arjun.
