In Memoriam...       
Hammond High School, Class of 1959          

These pages are set aside to remember our former classmates who have died since graduating from Hammond High School in 1959.

If you have information or know of one of our classmates or teachers who has passed away, please let us know so we may add their name in our memorial tribute. We will post information and obituaries and try to keep it updated. Once you hear about someone and they are listed, you may want to share your memory of that classmate with us. If you have a photograph to display, you may upload that as well. Send your pictures or your announcements to: hhs59@yahoo.com

Revised: August 16, 2008.

Michael E. Abbott
Munster, Indiana

         Michael E. Abbott, age 65, of Munster, passed away November 20, 2007. He is survived by his loving wife Judy of 47 years; two sons: Parry and Scott Abbott of Munster; two daughters; Natalie (Terry) Klema and Tricia Abbott all of Munster; three granddaughters: Camille Burger, Elaine Klema and Katie Klema; one brother, Robert (Miriam) Abbott of Las Vegas, NV; several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held on Wednesday, November 28 at 8:00 p.m. with the Munster F.O.P. conducting services. Friends may call at the Burns-Kish Funeral Home, 8415 Calumet Avenue, Munster on Wednesday from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Mike was a graduate of Hammond High School class of 1959, a graduate of Calumet College, retired from the Munster Police Department after 25 years of service, and founded the detective division in the Munster Police Department. Mike helped to build Munster's firing range where he served as the training officer for firearms for all officers in the department. He was very active in Munster's F.O.P., served 20 years in security at the Community Hospital. He was a member and secretary of the "Good Guys Club" of Community Hospital. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Lake County Foundation for the Retarded or Arc BRIDGES of Lake County would be appreciated. He always received the love and respect of his family.

Source: The Times

David Michael Baer
Dec 20, 1940 - Aug 3, 1995

Richard S. Bajer
San Bernardino, California

September 15, 1941 - June 12, 2000
Richard married Alice R. Stuplich on February 24, 1962 in Orange County, California..
 He passed away in San Bernardino, California.

Jerry Betts
Dyer, Indiana

       Gerald T. Betts, 59, of Dyer, IN, passed away Thursday, May 10, 2001. Survived by wife of 38 years, Eleanor; son, John (Pam) Betts of Schererville; daughter Paula (Gus) Katsaros of Schererville; one sister, Marge (Richard) James of Dyer; one sister-in-law, Diane Betts of Cold Water, Michigan; six brothers in-law and seven sisters-in-law; numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by his parents, John and Dorothy Betts and one brother, Charles Betts.

Visitation will be on Friday, May 11th, from 2 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Fagen Miller Funeral Home, 1920 Hart St., Dyer, Indiana. Funeral services Saturday at 12:15 p.m. from the funeral home and at 1 p.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church in St. John, Indiana, with burial at Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens, Schererville, IN.

Mr. Betts was a teacher at Spohn and Riley Schools in Hammond for 32 years, now teaching at Bloom Trail High School in Sauk Village, IL. He was also teaching Adult Education Classes at the Hammond Career Center. Member of St. John the Evangelist Church and the Indiana Teachers Association. Donations would be appreciated to Hospice of the Calumet or World Wild Life Foundation. Gerald will be sadly missed by those who knew him.

Source: The Times, May 11, 2001

Jean Brown

George Connor
 Munster, Indiana

     George J. Connor, III Munster, IN George J. Connor, III 65, of Munster, IN passed away Sunday, December 3, 2006. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Cathy; three children: Crystal (Greg) Kime of Munster,IN, George J. Connor, IV of Hammond, IN and Ralph L. Connor of Munster, IN; three grandchildren, Stephanie and Sara Baker and Shane Connor; two brothers, Mike (Kay) Connor of Hammond, IN and Bill (Debbie) Connor of Portage, IN; one sister, Sharyn Connor of Florida; nieces and nephews.

     Friends are invited to meet with the family on Wednesday, December 6, 2006 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 PM at LaHayne Funeral Home, 6955 Southeastern Avenue, Hammond, IN. Burial will be private. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Munster, IN. George was a lifetime resident of this area, Chairman of the Board of Commonwealth Edison of Indiana, and a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church of Munster, IN where he served as an usher and treasurer of the congregation, and made sure that the Christmas Cross was put up and lit.

     He was a graduate of Hammond High School in 1959 and earned a B.S. in Business Administration, majoring in accounting, from Indiana University. George donated many pints of blood during his lifetime. He was an avid Cubs and Bears fan, bowled on the American Medical Oxygen League for 20 years, delivered food to the homeless, loved walking his dog, Buddy, and enjoyed horseback riding, hiking, golf, and spending time with his family.  

Published in The Times from 12/5/2006 - 12/6/2006.

Notes from Classmates

I am sorry to report that one of our classmates, George Connor, died Sunday at the age of 65. It was in the Times this morning.

George was a good guy and a funny friend. Two great high school stories always come to mind when I hear his name or think about him.

One was in Geometry class with Mr. Overman. George was to put a diagram on the chalk board and had his completed assignment written out. He balanced it on the chalk tray but while he was drawing his triangle on the board, the paper on the chalk tray slowly slid off and disappeared as it was sucked up into the 3 by 3 foot air ventilation shaft that was located beneath the chalk tray.

Mr. Overman continued to talk unaware of what was happening. But George, seeing the proof of his homework assignment disappear, was not to be overcome by the forces of nature. He grabbed the 3-foot wooden pointer that lay on the chalk tray and crawled up the air shaft to retrieve his work. Students could see the soles of his shoes and part of his legs sticking out as George used the wooden pointer to bat down the elusive paper.

The banging of the stick against the metal duct work sent echoes throughout Hammond High School.

Mr. Overman turned around and yelled, "George! What are you doing?"

"My paper! My paper!" George exclaimed, his voice coming from within the ventilation shaft and echoing into the classroom.

"George! Get out of there!" Overman responded as he bent down and started pulling George out of the belly of Hammond High School ventilation system.

George never completed his chalk drawing. He didn't have to. Overman was convinced that George had his homework done and knowing George, it had been done correctly.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The second memorable story of George Connor took place in Miss Work's Latin class. You will recall that Miss Work was attentive to detail and was easily moved to tears whenever things didn't go exactly as they should.

After handing a test back for student review and class discussion, she asked that students (who were sitting in alphabetical order) to pass their tests to the right, placing their tests on the bottom. Someone wasn't listening or didn't understand and placed their test on top, thus confusing the alphabetical order of the forms.

"Who did this?" Miss Work exclaimed. "I asked you to put your test on the bottom, not the top!" The stress of the day caught up with woman and the tears began to flow. A box of Kleenex was always on her desk... just in case.

The day came when we were discussing the Roman army and how they lived, traveled throughout the Roman Empire, and went about setting up their protective encampments....

"And when the Roman army set up camp," Miss Work quietly explained in her soft voice, "they would dig a ditch around their camp to protect themselves from..."

As Miss Work went on to finish her thought, a hand was raised from the attentive students...

"Yes, George?"

"Miss Work," asked George Connor, "What did they do with the dirt?"

"Well, George," she responded quietly, "I imagined they hauled it away..."

Feeling she had addressed the inquiry, Miss Work continued with her presentation of the Roman army...

Again the hand slowly went up.

"Yes, George?"

"Miss Work," George responded to her answer. "Why didn't they put the dirt on the side of the ditch?"

"Good point," Miss Work responded thinking she had appeased the inquiry of a listening student, "they probably put the dirt on the side of the ditch..." Thinking she had made her concession and agreed to an explanation, she continued...

"Miss Work?" the hand went up again.

"YES, George!" signs that Miss Work was about to lose her composure.

"What side of the ditch did they put the dirt?"

At that point Miss Work began to cry, reaching quickly for the box of Kleenex. "George, what different does it make WHICH side of the ditch the Romans put the dirt? Why can't we just move on..." The tears were flowing now as the class was witnessing true academic genius at work.

Thinking that Miss Work might be comforted in knowing his line of questions and trying to reassure her that there really was intellectual inquiry at the heart of his thought, George got up from his chair, went to the chalk board and illustrated the impact of the fortification if the dirt was placed on the inside or outside part of the ditch.

"If you put the dirt on the outside of the ditch," George explained, "then the enemy would have to come up over the mound of dirt and fall into the depths of the ditch. But if you put the dirt on the inside of the ditch, the enemy would have to jump into the ditch and climb out the height of the ditch plus the added height of the ditch..."

A perfectly good question! I don't recall which tactical maneuver was used by the Roman Army, no final explanation was ever given by Miss Work. But once again George demonstrated the academic inquisitiveness that was to follow him throughout his adult life.

This is one guy I am really going to miss...

Rich Barnes

Allen Kuehl

Allen L. Kuehl, 65, of Pinellas Park, died Sunday (May 20, 2007) at Hospice House Woodside under the care of Hospice of the Florida Suncoast. He was born in Gary, Ind., graduated from Hammond High School in 1959, and moved here in 1988 from Homewood, Ill. He worked for Illinois Bell for 20 years until retirement and later worked for Tampa Expanets Communications, the Flower Shoppe in Clearwater, and was an attendant for Mohn Funeral Home in Seminole. He was Catholic and attended Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. He was a member of Illinois Bell Pioneers and Gulf Beach Masonic Lodge 291  in Madeira Beach. Survivors include his wife of 28 years, J. Patricia; a son, Scott Allen, Largo; two daughters, Cynthia Stahl, Monee, Ill., and Susan Kuehl, Plainfield, Ill.; and three grandchildren, Wesley, Andrew, and Isabelle Stahl, all of Monee. Lewis W. Mohn Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Seminole.

Source: St. Petersburg Times

Ralph Powell, Jr., Ph.D.
Hammond, Indiana
May 13, 1941 - August 24, 2007

RALPH  D. POWELL, Ph.D. JR, age 66 of Chicago, formerly of Hammond, passed away on Friday, August 24, 2007 at the South Shore Hospital in Chicago. Survivors; three brothers, Joe Clark of Jackson, MS, Alfred Powell Sr. of Hammond and Robert (Teresa) Powell of Gary: four sisters, Eleanor Reese, Judy Burts, Nellie (Woodrow) Sohl, all of Hammond, Rosella Walls of Augusta, GA and many adoring nieces, nephews and a host of great nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Nellie Powell; brother-in-law, James Allen Walls and niece, Jacqueline Greer. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 1, 2007 at 11 a.m. at Mount Zion Church, 1047 Kenwood St, Hammond with Rev. William Collins officiating. Interment in Fern Oaks Cemetery, Griffith, The visitation will be held on Saturday, September 1, 2007 at Mount Zion Baptist Church from 10-11 a.m. prior to the funeral service. Dr. Powell received the Top 20 Who's Who in American Award at Franklin College in 1962. Hinton & Williams Funeral Home, East Chicago, in charge of the arrangements.

Marcia Schaw Beatty                   Munster, Indiana
 

      Marcia J. Beatty (Schaw) Munster, IN Marcia J. Beatty ( nee Schaw), age 65, of Munster, IN, died of cancer Saturday, January 20, 2007 in the William J. Riley Hospice Residence, Munster, IN.

     Survived by her husband William Beatty of 47 years and two sons: Brian Beatty of Munster, IN and Jeff Beatty of Munster, IN; daughter-in-law Julie Beatty of Munster, IN; sister Cynthia (James) Swarts of London, KY and two brothers: Walter (Madeleine) Schaw of Beaufort, NC and Paul Schaw of Munster, IN; grandchildren Scott Lindsey, Steven Beatty, Philip Chiang and Shelby Hsiao. Preceded in death by parents Walter and Mary (nee Barkal) Schaw.

     Visitation will take place Tuesday, January 23, 2007 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at Burns-Kish Funeral Home, 8415 Calumet Ave, Munster, IN. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home with Dr. Bassam Abdallah officiating. Burial will take place at Elmwood Cemetery Hammond.

     Marcy was a graduate of Hammond High School class of 1959, graduated Distinguished from Purdue Calumet with a degree in elementary education. She was a former teacher at Nathan Hale elementary school Lansing, IL. Past Director of NSSEA. Marcy was the founder and owner of School Stuff, Inc. with six locations in three states and was a generous sponsor of the Hammond Robotics Team. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Hammond Robotics team c/o School City of Hammond 41 Williams St. Hammond, IN 46320.

Northwest Indiana Times

Robert Smith

Mary Clayton (Grist) 
Hammond, Indiana

Mary Clayton Grist was a woman of simple tastes. She liked pizza, Coca-Cola and country music, was loyal to her company and dreamed about her husband succeeding in the music business.

Mrs. Grist, a 49 year old Hammond resident died Thursday (5/17/1990) in her home after a long illness caused by a stroke.

The 1959 graduate of Hammond High School was a native of Battle Creek, Michigan, who became a secretary after studying at the Moser Secretarial School. Her last job before she became ill in August, was as a secretary at St. Mary Medical Center in Gary.

Joyce Williams, who worked with Mrs. Grist in the hospital's medical staff department, said she was hired as a temporary staffer. "But she was such a hard worker and impressed us so much we hired her for a full time job."

Doris Moore of Gary, who supervised Mr. Grist, said she enjoyed staying busy. "She was a vivacious, friendly, petite redhead who liked to work and was concerned about others. Once she even made a baby blanket for my grandchild."

Her husband, steel worker Frank Grist, said his wife's greatest source of pride was the work she performed at St. Mary's. "She always talked about how good it made her feel."

He said she was fond of her cats, Midnight and Ebony. "We could never have any children, she liked to say I was the only child she ever had. But she treated her cats like kids."

Mrs. Grist enjoyed watching her husband perform on weekends in his country band and was so enamored of Coca-Cola, he said, that "She probably would have bathed in it if you asked her to."

The Grists were married for 15 years. "We had a very happy marriage, Mary was the kind of person who cared about everybody. She was one loving person."

Mrs Grist is survived by her husband, Frank; father in law, Frank; mother in law Berthel; aunt, Valcour Smith of Aberdeen, Miss; and numerous cousins.

Services were held in Hammond at LaHayne Funeral and she was buried at the Westville Cemetery.

This was in the Post-Tribune from Gary on May 19, 1990 - Saturday
I appreciate you putting this in the memorials. I will try to find the obit on Gerald Edwards and forward that to you. Thanks again. Judi Hart

Robert A. Selva
Schererville, Indiana
August 5, 1941 - December 15, 2002

Robert A. Selva, age 61, of Schererville passed away Sunday, December 15, 2002. He is survived by his wife, Karen (nee Kepperling); one brother, Stanley R. (Harriett) Selva, Jr. of Lexington, KY; one sister, Mary Anne Selva of Las Vegas, NV; mother-in-law, Mary Ann Kepperling of Highland; nephews, Scott and Todd Selva. Preceded in death by his parents, Stanly and Josephine Selva.

Visitation and services Thursday, December 19, 2002 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Solan-Pruzin Funeral Home (corner of Main and Kennedy Ave.) Schererville/Highland. Funeral services Thursday evening, 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home with Rev. Robert Crytzer officiating. Cremation to follow by Solan-Pruzin Crematory. Robert was the Controller of Good Hospitality Service of Vaparaiso, a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and a Army veteran. He was the Hammond Times, Athlete of the Year, 1958; Hammond High Hall of Fame inducted March 5, 1996 and a graduate of Western Michigan University. In lieu of flowers, donations to American Heart Association or Hospice of the Calumet Region would be appreciated.

Source: The Times

Just an interesting note: Bob was born at St. Margaret's Hospital in Hammond, Indiana, on the same day as another HHS '59 Classmate, Carol Joan Salczynski. Carole is married to HHS '59 Classmate, Richard Barnes, and they live in Miller Beach, Indiana.

 
Louis Wayne Reynolds
Scottsdale, Arizona
Jan.29-1941 / Sept.18-1976

After graduating from Hammond High, Lou attended the University of Wisconsin and then Arizona State University. He moved to the San Diego, CA, area where he was the district manager for a financial company. After two years, Lou and his family returned to Scottsdale, AZ where he joined the management staff at The Arizona Bank and served as bank manager until his death in 1976.

Lou married Kathleen Cramer of Hammond, Indiana. Kathleen and the boys moved back to the Calumet area following Lou's death. Kenny Reynolds, their son, is presently a teacher and head baseball coach at Thornton Fractional South in Lansing, Illinois.

In 1976, Lou began suffering with terrible headaches and hadn't told anyone how painful they had become. Finally, after being examined at the Barrows Neurological Center in Phoenix, AZ, Lou was diagnosed with a non-malignant brain tumor that had positioned itself in the left frontal section of his brain. During surgery, the tumor was successfully removed but his body reacted to the medication that was to keep the brain from swelling. Following the nine hour surgery, Lou become comatose during the night and never regained consciousness. Lou passed away five days later at noon on September 18, 1976 at the age of 35 years.

Lou loved the golfing climate and the beautiful scenery in Arizona. He was very active in the Scottsdale Kiwanis Club and had worked with Ernie Banks for "KIDS" and the Chicago Cubs Spring Training Games. When Lou's son started playing Little League, Lou joined as a team manager.

Lou was so talented in so many ways, and his life touched my whole family's being. He has been really missed all of these twenty-eight years.. He was my only brother...

Lou Reynolds is buried at the Green Acres Memorial Cemetery in Scottsdale, Arizona.

June Reynolds Thomson
HHS '53

 Jerry Borman

Killed in Vietnam
Visit the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, DC
 

To read memorial comments about Jerry Borman - Click here

Claudia Krawczyk
West Sunbury, Pennsylvania

Claudia was married to Robert Ingversen and living in West Sunbury, Pennsylvania.  Claudia had a congenital heart murmur and in 1988, she entered the hospital for open heart surgery to repair one of the heart valves. Claudia passed away on the operating table. Her husband reports that she was cremated and the ashes placed in her rose garden.

Robert Ingversen
1988

John Highland
Valparaiso, Indiana

Devoted Valparaiso Attorney Succumbs to Heart Attack
     John R. Highland didn't handle the high-profile cases that bring attorney's fame.
     But among his fellow lawyers, he earned another valuable commodity: respect.
     "He was an interesting human being," attorney Glenn Tabor said. "On the one hand, a big man physically, but on the other hand a gentle human being. When he represented a client, he devoted full-time to in depth legal research, to the fullest extent of the law."
     "He was a true advocate for his client."
     Highland, 50, who died Monday, March 16, 1992, in Indianapolis after suffering a heart attack, had been an attorney in Porter County since 1969.
     Born in Gary, he grew up in Hammond and graduated from Hammond High, where he played football, formed and interest in government and met his future wife, Martha Bamber.
     After graduating from Princeton University, where he also played football, he went to Indiana University Law School, graduating in 1966.
     Highland then served three years in the U.S. Marine Corps, advancing to the rank of Captain. His proudest achievement there, his wife said, was graduating at the top of his class in the naval justice school.
     Highland worked first with a Valparaiso law firm, practiced a short time in Hammond, then set up an office in Chesterton in the mid-1970s. He practiced there until two years ago, when he moved is office to his family's home in Valparaiso.
     In recent years, advancing multiple sclerosis weakened him and prevented him from some, but not all, of his favorite leisure pursuits.
     "He was a pretty active gardener," Martha Highland said. "He loved to putter around in his garden. After his mobility was limited, he was a great supervisor."
     But the law was his love.
     "He would have been happier," she said, "if he didn't have to charge his clients."
     Highland is survived by his wife, Martha; daughters, Kristin of Indianapolis, Laura of Muncie and Ashlee of Valparaiso; his mother, Janet Highland, Hammond; and sister, Jean Highland, New York.

Source: Post Tribune

William Brumm
1999

Jack Hugus
HHS'59 Class President

Jack Hugus, 61, collapsed and died on Friday, September 19th, 2003, in Elko, Nevada, as he was waiting to board a plane. Jack was on a birding expedition at the time.

Jack retired as vice president of Lockheed-Martin, and held a Ph.D. from Purdue University in Applied Math. He had also been in senior management at IBM Corporation and General Electric before joining Lockheed Martin. The eulogy was given by Steven Teets, Undersecretary of the Air Force and former CEO of Lockheed Martin.

Jack is survived by his former wife and classmate, Sandra Mayes Hugus, and their three daughters, Jackie, Kathleen and Laura.
 

Hi,

I just wanted to make a few corrections to your short note on Jack Hugus. He
died in the Elko, NV airport, not Reno. I was to be his guide and was
waiting for him in Reno when I heard the news. Also, he was not part of a
tour group; this was to be a private tour just for Jack. He had apparently
just seen his 726th species in North America, a Himalayan Snowcock, up in
the Ruby Mountains.

Thanks,

Rich Hoyer
Tucson, Arizona
Senior Field Leader
WINGS, Inc.

Here is a copy of an email that Jack left behind with regards to his interest in birding..

From: Jack & Kathy Hugus
To: rcarter@ xxx.xxx
 Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2002 2:23 PM
 Subject: Total Ticks


  Hello Robin,

  My name is Jack Hugus and I am a birder from VA.  We've never met, but a 
good friend of mine, named Jerry Schaefer, just retired and moved to No.
Augusta.  He had the privilege recently of running into you and a Columbia
Audubon group you were leading at, I think, Phinizy Swamp.  Jerry emailed me
and spoke very highly of that outing.

  Moreover, he said that he spoke with you about my interest in Total Ticks.
He said that you offered to provide me with some advice in that arena.
Having looked up your listing in the ABA List Report, I certainly welcome
that opportunity.

  Based on my own experience in other areas, and my relative newness at
Total Ticks, what I think I'd prefer to do, if it's acceptable to you, is to
ask an open-ended question. ( I'm sure I don't know enough to ask the most
central question.)  If you could tell me what approaches or strategies have
proven key to your success, that would help me immensely.  It would also
stimulate other questions in my mind.  I do not want to become a burden -
please be honest with me if I ask too many questions.

  Thanks in advance for anything you provide.

  Sincerely,

  Jack Hugus
  Leesburg, VA

Carolyn Forsythe Buster Welbon

1942 ~ 2008

Photo Compliments of The Chicago Tribune

Acclaimed restaurateur

Diners traveled for world-class cuisine
in an unlikely location

By Mary Owen | Chicago Tribune reporter

June 18, 2008

It was quite a risk to open a French-inspired restaurant in Calumet City in 1974, but Carolyn Buster Welbon and her then-husband created a phenomenon.

For about 20 years, The Cottage restaurant was the premier fine-dining restaurant in the south suburbs. It was so good that the one-story stucco building—inspired by a French inn the couple had visited—became a destination for Chicago residents.

"Calumet City was in the middle of nowhere," said Nancy Harris, Mrs. Welbon's friend and colleague. "About half-way there, you wondered why you were going but when you arrived you knew why. The food was so good."

Mrs. Welbon, 66, died Thursday, June 12, in an assisted living facility in Albuquerque.

She had been in a coma since April 4 when she hit her head after apparently falling down the stairs at her home in Santa Fe, said police, who have ruled out foul play.

She had moved into the house just a couple days before the fall, said her sister, Gladys Baker of Munster, Ind.

Mrs. Welbon first received attention in the Chicago area when she worked at The Bakery in Chicago, under the legendary chef Louis Szathmary.

She had no formal culinary training, save a 10-week gourmet cooking course offered by Sears, Roebuck and Co., before she started at the Bakery. Her previous job was in the office of a steel plant in Hammond.

At The Bakery, she ran the test kitchen to assist with Szathmary's cookbook. She also worked in the dining room and the kitchen to learn the intricacies of the restaurant business—always with the intention of opening her own place, colleagues said.

"She was like a sponge," said Gerald Buster, Welbon's ex-husband. "When you get a mentor like this guy, it was phenomenal for her."

The couple met while working at the Hammond steel plant. They married in 1965 and opened the Cottage Restaurant in 1974.

They had planned a low-key opening, but the buzz about a Szathmary apprentice drew 103 patrons on the first day.

"There was no way we were prepared for that," Buster said. "People thought we were a spin-off of The Bakery. It wasn't at all. We didn't copy any of his recipes at all; she had her own ideas of what she wanted to do."

The Cottage became well-known for its schnitzel, tasty soups, full-flavored game and autumnal setting. In a 1992 Tribune restaurant review, the touted dishes included smoked quail and wild mushrooms, venison with a stone-ground mustard sauce, roasted duck and swordfish with pomegranate-pistachio sauce.

Mrs. Welbon was the youngest of seven children. Growing up in Hammond, she would bake pies to make money.

Mrs. Welbon was founding member of the Chicago chapter of the Les Dames d'Escoffier, an international women's group for professionals in the food, beverage and hospitality industries. The local chapter was started 25 years ago.

Mrs. Welbon received an honorary degree from the Culinary College at Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island.

When the couple divorced in 1993, Buster brought in another chef. The restaurant closed in 1996.

Mrs. Welbon never worked in restaurants again. She lived in Rhode Island and southern Indiana briefly and married Paul Welbon. The couple moved to New Mexico, where he died in 1999.

Mrs. Welbon did some menu consultation work with an assisted living community in New Mexico, family said, but essentially retired.

Mrs. Welbon is also survived by two other sisters, Margaret Potts and Ada Mae Davis.

Visitation will begin at 10:30 a.m. with a service at 11 a.m. June 27 in Thorn Creek Reformed Church, 1875 E. 170th St., South Holland.

mailto:mowen@tribune.com

Read More About Carolyn's Death...

Revised: August 16, 2008.