Riverview Gardens

John Africano

Birth Date: 1951-02-08

Deceased Date: 2006-07-27

Obituary:
Obituary (John Louis Africano III, 1951-2006; Publishsed in the Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, v. 39, no. 4, p. 1051 in December 2007)

The orbital debris, space surveillance, and astronomical communities lost a valued and beloved friend when John L. Africano passed away on July 27, 2006, at the young age of 55. John passed away in Honolulu, Hawaii, from complications following a heart attack suffered while playing racquetball, which was his avocation in life. Born on February 8, 1951, in Saint Louis, Missouri, John graduated with a B.S. in Physics from the University of Missouri at Saint Louis in 1973, and received a Master's degree in Astronomy from Vanderbilt University in 1974. John had a real love for astronomical observing and for conveying his many years of experience to others. He encouraged many young astronomers and mentored them in the basics of photometry and astronomical instrumentation. John was author or co-author on nearly one-hundred refereed publications ranging from analyses of cool stars to the timing of occultations to space surveillance. He was honored for his contributions to minor planet research when the Jet Propulsion Laboratory named Minor Planet 6391 (Africano) after him. John held operational staff positions at several major observatories including McDonald Observatory in Texas, Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona, and the Cloudcroft Telescope Facility in New Mexico. He observed at numerous observatories worldwide, including Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) in Chile, developing a world-wide network of friends and colleagues. John's ability to build diverse teams through his managerial and technical skills, not to mention his smiling personality, resulted in numerous successes in the observational astronomy and space surveillance arenas. As an astronomer for Boeing LTS Inc., he worked for many years at the Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance site (AMOS) on Maui, Hawaii, where he contributed his operational and instrumental expertise to both the astronomy and space surveillance communities. He was also the co-organizer of the annual AMOS Technical Conference whose attendance expanded dramatically during his tenure. John moved to the NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, in 1998 to work full time on orbital debris projects including the 3.0 meter Liquid Mirror Telescope and the CCD Debris Telescope in Cloudcroft, New Mexico. In 2000 he moved back to Colorado Springs, Colorado, to be closer to his family. From there he continued to support both the NASA Orbital Debris Program Office (ODPO) and AMOS. John was very instrumental in establishing cooperative programs between the ODPO and AMOS, which will benefit both organizations for many years to come. John left an indelible mark on his programs and all those who knew and loved him. The impact of his untimely departure will reverberate for many years. As John's wife Linda put it, "John is now visiting the stars and galaxies he adored from afar." John is survived by his wife, Linda Ann Africano; two sons, James Keith and Brian Michael; a daughter, Monica Lynn Africano; a sister, Diana Smith; and four grandchildren. The author acknowledges valuable input from Brian Africano (University of Colorado at Colorado Springs), Eugene Stansbery (NASA), Mark Mulrooney (NASA contractor), Tom Kelecy (Boeing LTS, Inc.), Paul Sydney (Boeing LTS, Inc.), Kira Abercromby (NASA contractor), and Patrick Seitzer (University of Michigan).

Gail Kelly Krato - October 4th, 2023

I knew John through my first husband, Pat Lowrie, back in the 70s. He was one of the nicest guys and I was saddened when I heard of his passing from mutual friends of ours. 

Linda Young Nehring - October 4th, 2023

I can only think of John smiling. I don't ever remember an unkind word, not even in grade school. 

Dave Guckes - October 4th, 2023

I was saddened to hear of John's passing. I played baseball since 3rd or 4th grade, and football in HS, with John. John was always trying his best and a great guy. I was hoping he would come to the reunion. My prayers are with his family. Truly he was a man that went for his dreams and probably the most scholarly and famous RAM of our class.

Steve Harris - October 4th, 2023

I am so sorry to hear about John's death. He was the most likable guy on the planet. We spent many hours together at Norm Sandon Health Club lifting weights. John was bright and knew in HS that he wanted to be an astronomer. I was pleased to find out that he followed his dream and indeed became a fine astronomer. I took an astronomy course in college and had a great time viewing the heavens. I can picture in my mind John sitting behind the 200 inch reflector at Mt. Palomar looking at some faraway galaxy or cheering wildly as Pathfinder landed on Mars and started sending back photos. He was a great man and I am sure that those close to him miss him. 

Mike Amend

Birth Date: 1951-10-26

Deceased Date: 1990-12-28

Obituary:
(Published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch) (Thanks to Wanda Bell Davis for providing Mike's obituary on 9/16/2018.)

AMEND, LOUIS MICHAEL (MIKE), fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church, on Fri., Dec. 28, 1990, beloved husband of Lorraine Amend (nee Englert), loving father of Samantha, dearest son of Louis and the late Ann Amend, dear brother of Kathy Amend-Rabbitt, our dear son-in-law, brother-in-law, nephew, uncle, great-uncle, cousin, godfather and friend. Mike was a member of Ferguson K. of C. Council #4061. Funeral from JOHN STYGAR AND SONS, 9825 Halls Ferry Road on Thurs., Jan. 3 at 9:30 a.m. to Sts. John and James Church for 10 a.m. Mass. Interment Calvary Cemetery. Memorial to American Cancer Society in Mike's memory appreciated. VISITATION WED., 3-9 P.M.

There are currently no tributes.

Jim Barbour

Birth Date: 1951-08-10

Deceased Date: 1982-06-24

Obituary:
(Published June 25, 1982, in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

Barbour, James C., St. Charles, MO, June 24, 1982, husband of Nancy Jackson Barbour, son of Harbert and Kathleen Barbour, father of Jeff and Jeanine Barbour, brother of Shirley Randolph, Frances Curtis, Harbert Jr., Richard, Charles and Timothy Barbour, dear son-in-law and brother-in-law.

Funeral 2 p.m. Sat., at the BAUE Funeral Home Chapel, 620 Jefferson St., St. Charles. Visitation after 5 p.m. Fri. Memorial contributions may be made to The Seventh Day Adventist Building Fund.

Patty Geller-Boudria - October 4th, 2023

Jim was a great guy and he married a very good friend of mine, Nancy Jackson. He was such an easy going guy and a lot of fun to be around. I talked on the phone with him several days before he died. He was very happy with his life and his family. He was proud of his kids, a son, Jeff, and a daughter, Jeannine. He told me that they were really good kids and that they got all of their brains from Nancy. He gave her credit for everything good in his life. I'm sure he would be just as proud of his four grandchildren and how well Nancy takes care of the whole gang. 

Mike Bauer

Birth Date: 1951-09-21

Deceased Date: 2016-10-02

Obituary:
(Published on October 5, 2016, in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

Bauer, Michael E., "Mike Bauer, South St. Louis" baptized into the hope of Christ's resurrection, Sunday, 10/2/ 2016, age 65. Beloved husband for 36 years of Joan E. Hoppe-Bauer. Beloved father of Colleen (Richie) Nigro, Erin (Matthew) Sauro and Joan Michelle Bauer; Loving grandfather of Sebastian, Charlie and August; Brother of Carolyn (Dave) Graham; Dear brother-in-law of Ed (Celeste) Hoppe, Dan Hoppe, Terry Larson, Tom (Ginger) Hoppe and the late Peggy (Ken surviving) Milford and Eileen Hoppe; Dear nephew of Helen Bauer. Uncle, godfather, cousin and friend to many. Mike was a member of St. Stephen Holy Name Society and retired after a 30+ year career as an architect with WCC.

Services: Visitation Thursday 3 to 9 p.m. at JOHN L. ZIEGENHEIN & SONS FUNERAL HOMES, 7027 Gravois Avenue (63116). Funeral Friday 9:00 a.m. from the funeral home to St. Stephen Protomartyr Church for Mass at 9:30 a.m. Friday.

There are currently no tributes.

Connie Blakeney (Baumgart)

Birth Date: 1951-04-15

Deceased Date: 2024-04-26

Obituary:
Constance Baumgart Blakeney passed away on April 26, 2024. Born to Ivan and Joyce Baumgart on April 15, 1951 in Oakland, California. Connie graduated from Riverview Gardens High School in St. Louis, Missouri and attended the University of Missouri. She married the love of her life, Patrick Allen Blakeney III, on March 10, 1973. After raising her two children, Connie had a career as a veterinarian technician for Plano Animal Clinic.

Connie was a member of the Winthrop Society and Daughters of the American Revolution and had a love of fixing things, puzzles, animals, and her family.

Connie was preceded in death by her parents, Ivan and Joyce.

She is survived by her loving husband, Patrick; her children, Sean and his wife, Mia; Christine and her husband, Chris; and grandchildren Ethan (19), Christopher (17), Alexander (16), and Chelsey (11); and siblings, Steve and his wife, Geri; Rick and his wife, Robin; Dave and his wife, Paula; and brother-in-law, Mike. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM, May 4, 2024, at Ted Dickey West Funeral Home, 7990 President George Bush, Dallas, TX 75252.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the Alzheimer's Association.

There are currently no tributes.

Ralph Wayne Beam

Birth Date: 1950-03-14

Deceased Date: 2009-08-17

Obituary:
Birth: March 14, 1950, Spruce Pine, Mitchell County, NC

Death: August 17, 2009, Perryville, Perry County, MO

A funeral will be held Thursday, August 20, 2009, for 59-year-old Ralph Wayne Beam of Perryville, who died Monday, August 17, 2009 at his home. He was born March 14, 1950, the son of the late Ralph L. Beam and Buna (Presnell) Beam, who survives in Troy, IL.

He married Catherine Phillips on August 25th, 1969. She survives in Perryville. He is also survived by three daughters: Rebecca (Dan) Buck of Ironton, Rachel Beam of Perryville, and Renee (Mike) Dodd of Perryville; two sisters: Phyllis (Don) Guess of Marion, Kentucky, and Carol (Kim) Danes of Troy, Illinois; six grandchildren: Katie, Janie and Daniell Buck, and Samantha, Emily and Michaela Dodd. He was a dear uncle and friend to many.
He was a mechanic at Amoco and a farmer.

Visitation will be 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Thursday, August 20, 2009 at Young & Sons Funeral Home in Perryville. A funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, August 20th at Young & Sons Funeral Home in Perryville. Burial will be in the Sedgewickville Lixville Lutheran Cemetery in Lixville, Bollinger County, MO. Memorials may be made to family use.

Inscription:
"In the land of uncloudy days"

Cathy Phillips Beam - June 6th, 2019

To the RGHS Class of 1969 - thank you for this wonderful memorial. Always loved Wayne’s senior picture and his awesome smile. He had so many stories about high school. We were married 40 years and blessed with 3 children and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Wayne was such an amazing pawpaw. Although he is not here with us, he is always in our hearts. Have a great 50th reunion. Cathy Phillips Beam

Bill Becher

Birth Date: 1951-07-09

Deceased Date: 2023-04-07

Obituary:
(Published on April 16, 2023, on the Collier’s Funeral Home [St. Ann, MO] website)

William John Becher III, Friday, April 7, 2023.

Beloved son of the late Joanne and William J. Becher II; brother of Michael (Maggie) Becher of Florida; father of Christina Becher; grandfather of Savannah Becher; uncle of Katherine and Matthew Becher; companion of Michelle Becher; and a dear friend of many.

William ate, slept and breathed sports throughout his life. From coaching an Amateur Baseball team for 40+ years to being inducted in the Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame. He had a love for the game of baseball. As a huge supporter of St. Louis sports, William spent many years rooting for the St. Louis Cardinals and the St. Louis Blues. He had a large respect for both Stan the Man Musial and Bobby Plager.

The obituary provides that there will be no services.

Bob Frischmann of Florissant left the following message on the Guestbook page of Bill’s obituary: Bill was a longtime baseball coach and a very fine one. He generously donated his time and energy for decades to help young people have productive fun on the ball field. I was honored to share his table last year when he was rightfully inducted into the St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame. Bill will be missed—a very fine man.

Jane Byers - April 19th, 2023

Over the last couple of years, Bill and I have exchanged a few emails. He was thrilled when he was inducted into the Greater St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022. I am happy he was so honored before he passed. I also gathered that he was very close to, and really appreciated, his parents, who supported his zeal for Stan Musial and the Cardinals. As he wrote: "Stan was my hero and my Dad would take me to Musial & Biggies, and Stan was always there and always took time to talk to the fans, including me. I was star struck. Remember 1964 well. Our first World Series to enjoy. I remember my Mom took the Maloney boys, Jim and Butch, and me to the last game where the Cards won the pennant and then let us stick around for 2 hours afterwards to celebrate with the players. She was awfully good to me." Bill grew up in Bissell Hills and attended Gibson Elementary and East Jr. High. At RGHS, Bill hung out with Pat Blakeney, Jim Barbour, Nancy Jackson, John Banocy, Sandy Elmer, Jim Maloney, Lauren Kowalski, Kathie Merinbaum, Pam Bridger, Connie Baumgart and Ellen Leonard. Bill drove his Dad’s classic 1953 Black Ford Convertible. Nancy told me they rode around in that big black convertible all the time—with the top up! She said they had so much fun riding around in that car!! Hearing about Bill has brought back some great memories and has made us very sad.

Dave Manning - April 19th, 2023

Senior year (probably spring of '69) we would pile into Bill's black convertible (top down) and go to play tackle football after school. It was a lot of fun and I still remember the gang singing Hey Jude at the top of our lungs with the wind blowing thru my now long gone curly locks... Goodbye Bill.

Cathy Belter

Obituary:
An obituary is not available for Cathy.

There are currently no tributes.

Maria Gahr (Bommarito)

Birth Date: 1951-05-23

Deceased Date: 2023-07-06

Obituary:
(Published on the Hutchens Mortuary and Cremation Center website)

Maria E. Gahr (nee: Bommarito) into the arms of the Lord on Thursday, July 6, 2023. Beloved wife of Mark S. Gahr for 44 years. Loving mother of Bob (Tammy) Tresch and Megan (Jörg) Augustin. Dear Nana of Nick and Tim Tresch and great-granddaughter Savannah Tresch. Dear sister of JoAnn (Bill) Klees and Sam (Mary) Bommarito. Cherished aunt of Bill (Trisha) Klees, Joe (Michelle) Klees and Kathy Bommarito. Dearest friend to Jackie Ellis. Our dear great-aunt, cousin and friend to many.

Funeral Thursday, July 13, 10:30 AM at Hutchens Mortuary & Cremation Center, 675 Graham Rd. Florissant, MO 63031. Interment Calvary Cemetery. Visitation Wednesday, 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

There are currently no tributes.

Tony Bono

Birth Date: 1951-05-17

Deceased Date: 1998-06-26

Obituary:
(Published on June 28, 1998 in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

Bono, Anthony M. "TONY", on Friday, June 26, 1998, Baptized into the Hope of Christ's Resurrection. Beloved husband of Donna M. Bono (nee Speichinger); Dear father of Ryan Shores; Dear son of Josephine M. and the late Sebastian A. Bono; Dear brother of Catherine Schuch, Mary Jo Friederich, and Christopher Bono; Dear son-in-law of Leo and Alice Speichinger; Dear brother-in-law of Tom and Kevin Speichinger and Elaine Miller; Dear uncle, nephew, cousin, and dear friend to many.

Funeral Tuesday, 9:15 a.m. from John L. Ziegenhein & Sons South County, 4830 Lemay Ferry Rd., to Our Lady of Providence Church, 8866 Pardee Rd., for 10 a.m. Mass, Interment Resurrection Cemetery. If desired, Contributions to the American Lung Association or the American Heart Association St. Louis Chapter would be appreciated. Visitation Monday 3 to 9 p.m.

(Published on June 28, 1998, in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

Anthony M. Bono Insurance Executive

Anthony M. Bono, vice president of marine claims for AON Risk Services of Missouri, died Friday (June 26, 1998) of congestive heart failure at St. Anthony's Medical Center. He was 47 and lived in Fenton.

Mr. Bono had been hospitaized for five weeks for complications following a heart attack.

Mr. Bono attended Florissant Valley Community College.

He had been a member of the U.S. Army Reserves.

He was a member of the Propeller Club of St. Louis and the American Waterways Operators.

Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Monday at the John L. Ziegenhein & Sons Funeral Home, 4830 Lemay Ferry Road.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Our Lady of Providence Catholic Church, 8866 Pardee Road, Affton. Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery, 6901 Mackenzie Road.

Among survivors are his wife, Donna; son, Ryan; mother, Josephine M. Bono of Bellefontaine Neighbors; brother, Christopher Bono of St. Peters; and two sisters, Catherine Schuch of Farmington and Mary Jo Friederich of Bellefontaine Neighbors.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Lung Association.

Anonymous - October 4th, 2023

I knew Tony through a friend next door because he was way too cool for me to ever meet on my own!

Anonymous - October 4th, 2023

Tony was one of the sweetest guys…no nonsense, truly a friend.