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Eleanor Linn Allen
Former City of Grosse Pointe resident Eleanor Linn Allen, 87, died of pneumonia on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2002, at Central Carolina Hospital in Sanford, N.C.
Mrs. Allen was born in Flint. She was the wife of the late Richard M. Allen.
Arrangements were handled by the Miller-Boles Funeral Home of Sanford, N.C. A memorial service was held on Feb. 24, at the First Presbyterian Church in Sanford, N. C. Mrs. Allen was cremated.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 203 Hawkins Ave., Sanford, N.C. 27330.
Dr. Allen R. Beach
Onetime Grosse Pointe Farms resident and retired Naval Commander Allen Robert Beach, D. D. S., 85, of Caseville, and Laguna Hills, Calif., died of a heart attack on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2002, at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas, Nev.
He leaves his cherished memory to his wife of 60 years, Marie Margaret Riddle Beach; daughters Beverly Mina Beasley of Salt Lake City and Jayne Beach Randall of Richmond, Va.; grandchildren Heather Marie Beasley and John Robin Beasley of Salt Lake City, Utah and Jeremy Charles Randall and Jeannette Margaret-Asel Randall of Richmond.
Dr. Beach was born on August 9, 1916, in Pigeon and graduated from Eastern Michigan University and the University of Detroit School of Dentistry. He was a Commander in the United States Navy Dental Corps during both World War II and the Korean War.
He practiced dentistry in Grosse Pointe Woods and Caro.
He was loved and will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Dr. Beach is also survived by his sister Jennie Beach DeBoer of Caseville. He was predeceased by his brothers John Beach and Morse Beach of Pigeon and his parents Miles and Anna Beach of Pigeon.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, July 2, at 2 p.m., at the Caseville Methodist Church in Caseville.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the American Heart Association Midwest Office, Memorial Program, Department 77-3968, Chicago, IL 60678-3968, 1-(800)-242-8721, www.americanheart.org.
Stephen H. David
Stephen Harry David, 85, of Grosse Pointe Woods, died following a long illness, on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2002, at the St. John Senior Community Center in Detroit.
Born on Nov. 17, 1916, in Detroit, Mr. David attended Wayne State University and received a degree in Pharmacy in 1932.
He worked in the family drug store on State Fair in Detroit and was later hired by Parke, Davis & Co. of Detroit. He was the director of Product Pricing for Parke Davis/Warner Lambert when he retired.
Along with his wife of 62 years, Bernice Frances Anderson David, he enjoyed many trips with the Nomad Travel Club including circumnavigating the globe and visits to China, India, Australia and many European countries.
In addition, he enjoyed golfing and took special pleasure in outdoor activities.
Mr. David is survived by his wife, his daughters Diane Nancy Colombo and Arlene Gayle David; three grandchildren, Michael Colombo, Jennifer David and Douglas Menard and two great-grandchildren Phoenix Ward and Tyler Colombo.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, Feb. 28, at 11 a.m., at A. H. Peters Funeral Home, 20705 Mack Ave., in Grosse Pointe Woods.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army, Cottage Bon Secours Hospice or St. John Hospice.
Isabelle deMun Casgrain Donnelly
Grosse Pointe Park resident Isabelle deMun Casgrain Donnelly, 76, who dedicated her life to quiet kindness, died surrounded by her family at Bon Secours Hospital in Grosse Pointe on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2002.
Her proudest accomplishment was her successful 50-year marriage to John C. Donnelly, with whom she reared eight loving children. Mrs. Donnelly enjoyed a particularly close relationship with her 11 grandchildren, who could always count on her guidance, wisdom and love.
Mrs. Donnelly traced her lineage to the Mayflower, but her personal legacy arises out of the indelible mark she left on all she encountered. "Our mother lived a life of unconditional love and compassion rooted in deep faith. She also had a keen sense of humor that could brighten the dreariest situation," said her eldest child, Anne Bagno.
Nearly every Sunday throughout her marriage, Mrs. Donnelly presided over a pancake breakfast that was open to friends and family alike and came to be known simply as "Pancakes."
She graduated from the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Grosse Pointe and received a bachelor of arts degree from Manhattanville College in New York. Mrs. Donnelly was a member of the National Society of Colonial Dames of America in Michigan, the League of Catholic Women, the Sigma Gamma Association and the Grosse Pointe Farm and Garden Club.
In addition to her daughter Anne, Mrs. Donnelly is survived by her husband; her daughters Isabelle Donnelly, Josephine Dickerman, Laura (Phil) Filkin, Susan (William) Klotz; her sons John (Nancy) Donnelly, William Donnelly and Michael (Laura) Donnelly; her grandchildren John Trost V, Karl Trost, Jack Donnelly, Maureen Donnelly, Billy Dickerman, Lizzy Warren, Charlie Warren, Billy Klotz, Michael Klotz, Teddy Donnelly and Evie Donnelly and her sister Josephine Casgrain. She was predeceased by her son-in-law Robert Bagno.
Arrangements were handled by the Verheyden Funeral Home of Grosse Pointe Park. A funeral Mass was celebrated on Monday, Feb. 25, at St. Paul Catholic Church in Grosse Pointe Farms.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sigma Gamma Foundation, P. O. Box 36373, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236 or the charity of your choice.
Eugenia F. Gramley
Eugenia F. "Jean" Gramley, 95, died on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2002, at the St. John Senior Community Center in Detroit following a prolonged illness.
Born in Sheldon, Mo., Jean lived in Grosse Pointe Park for 68 years. She was a member of the Junior Goodwill, Theatre Arts, Junior Symphony and Oakland Hills Golf Club. In addition, she was an avid gardener and loved flowers.
A loving mother, Jean is survived by her daughter Helen Jean (Earl) Allard; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Dr. William H. Gramley.
Arrangements were handled by the Verheyden Funeral Home in Grosse Pointe Park. Private services and entombment were held at the White Chapel cemetery in Troy.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, 1820 Mount Elliott, Detroit, MI 48207.
Gust Nichols
Gust Nichols, who died on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2002, at his Grosse Pointe Woods home, lived up to his reputation of being an ingenious engineer as well as a very warm and loving father, husband and friend to people of all ages.
Born and raised in Detroit, Mr. Nichols graduated from Southeastern High School. After serving in the United States Navy, he attended Wayne State University and graduated from the Detroit Institute of Technology as a civil engineer.
He began a notable 31-year career with The Smith Group, formerly known as Smith, Hinchman & Grylls. His projects as associate and senior architect are legendary and include Kmart World Headquarters, the Shore Club Apartments, the Detroit Institute of Arts, Cobo Hall, Lincoln Chase Bank in Rochester, N.Y., and, most recently, the new terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.
Beyond a strong commitment to his career, he found time to be a mentor to youth at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church. As an adviser to the Greek Orthodox Youth Association, he led several hundred young people in charitable endeavors such as the annual Christmas caroling for patients at St. John Hospital and Medical Center, followed by spaghetti dinners which he lovingly prepared. He helped build team spirit with youth sports tournaments throughout the Midwest and Canada. Many of these young people will not only remember his warm smile but also his contagious laughter as they rode the roller coaster on their annual trips to Cedar Point. Mr. Nichols led this youth organization for more than 30 years, 18 of them with his late wife Betty, until her death in 1991.
His own children ranked No. 1 in his life. From coaching the Grosse Pointe Woods/Shores Little League team to photographing dance recitals, he followed every activity on to their college days at the University of Michigan where he joined in their passion for U of M football.
Mr. Nichols was a 32nd degree Mason and a Shriner, as well as member of the American Society of Testing and Materials, the Hellenic University Club and the Assumption Parish Council. In addition, he was a construction adviser for the Assumption Church, Cultural Center and the Eastpointe School on Marter Road.
His hobbies included photography, music, dancing and cooking.
Mr. Nichols is survived by his wife Grace, his children Lydia, fiancee of Joseph Villeneuve, Madelyn (Steve) Torakis; George (Christine) Nichols; his stepson Stephen (Laurel) Kalkanis; his granddaughter Elizabeth; his sister Pat Vasiliades; his brother Chris (Lois) Nichols; five nephews and nieces and three grandnephews and grandnieces.
Gust Nichols will forever remain a symbol of strength, kindness, dedication and caring to his family and those whose lives he touched.
Arrangements were handled by the Verheyden Funeral Home of Grosse Pointe Park. A funeral service was held on Feb. 27, at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in St. Clair Shores. Interment is at Cadillac Memorial Gardens in Mount Clemens.
Tributes may be made to the Assumption Church, Nichols Scholarship Fund, 21800 Marter Rd., St. Clair Shores, MI 48080.
William C. Potter
Longtime resident of Grosse Pointe Farms, William C. Potter, 79, the son of the late Dr. and Mrs. Lewis S. Potter, died on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2002, in Venice, Fla., due to kidney failure.
Mr. Potter was born in Detroit on Jan. 16, 1923.
His family history extends back to the early days of Detroit, where his great-great-grandfather, Claus Detlof Erichsen, owned one of the earliest hotels in downtown Detroit, the Hotel Erichsen, located at 118 and 150 Randolph St. His maternal grandfather, Dr. Hugo Erichsen was the founder of the Michigan Cremation Society and a well-known writer whose works can be found in the Burton Historical Collection of the Detroit Public Library. His father, Dr. Lewis Potter, and three brothers, George, Willis and Andrew, were well-known Detroit doctors in the 1930s.
William Potter attended Culver Military Academy and graduated from Grosse Pointe High School in 1941. He then attended the University of Michigan, where he was a member of Chi Phi Fraternity. His university education was interrupted by service in the United States Navy. He graduated from Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy in New York as an ensign and served in World War II on an oil tanker in the South Pacific theater.
He continued his education following the war in the engineering school at the University of Michigan, graduating in the class of 1947. After his graduation, he met and married
Marian Burton of Lansing in 1949. The Potters were married
for 52 years.
Mr. Potter became a registered professional engineer, a member of ASHRAE, and was the co-founder of his own company, Potter-Claiborn-Geelhood, Mechanical Engineers of Troy.
In past years, he was a member of the Grosse Pointe Hunt Club and an active member of the Grosse Pointe United Church. He served his church as an usher, trustee and as a carpenter for play equipment for the Grosse Pointe Congregational Cooperative Nursery. He was also a member of the Senior Men's Club of Grosse Pointe.
He enjoyed boating, bridge and was an enthusiastic booster of the University of Michigan football team. He was particularly fond of the Traverse City area where the Potters have had a summer home since 1969 at Glen Lake. He had wintered in Venice, Fla., for the last several years.
Mr. Potter is survived by his wife Marian; his sons Randy (Sheila) Potter of Troy, Jeff (Sue) Potter of Birmingham and Lance Potter of Chicago, Ill.; his grandsons Ted Potter and Josh Potter and his brother George Potter of Fort Myers, Fla.
A memorial service will be held at Grosse Pointe United Church, 240 Chalfonte in Grosse Pointe Farms, on Friday, March 15, at 2:30 p.m. Cremation took place in Venice, Fla. His remains will be interred at the church's Columbarium Garden at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Grosse Pointe United Church, 240 Chalfonte in Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236, or the American Heart/Stroke Association.
