StLGS bids farewell to another past-president with the passing on 26 October 2024 of Neil Fiala, who served in 2000–2001. Neil and his wife Barbara were active volunteers throughout the 1990s, and you can read more about them below. We also have a very special gift to all of you, courtesy of our intrepid "geospatial genealogist," Jim Bellenger, who has been working non-stop on creating maps for every cemetery on our website. This past week, we have finalized and uploaded about forty new maps, and the linked list below is a thank you for your generous donations to the society. Read on for all the details . . .
In Memoriam, Neil Fiala
Neil Fiala and his wife Barbara led the society’s annual trip to Salt Lake City prior to his being elected president in 2000. For all of his efforts in the previous decade, Neil received a society appreciation award in 1997 and an achievement award in 1999. After he left office, the society gave him an honorary life member award in 2002.
Neil had a fascinating life outside of his interest in genealogy. He performed as a dancer at the Muny Opera, in some local hotels, and on the Admiral tour boat. He played baseball and basketball in high school and went on to play professional baseball in the early 1950s for the minor league teams of the Cleveland Indians and the St. Louis Cardinals.
We send our sincere condolences to the Fiala family: Neil Jr. and his wife Kim, Rick, Sherry, Jim and his wife Elaine, Terri and her husband Matt, and all twelve of Neil’s grandchildren.
(Photo of Neil from the StLGS archives.)
New Cemetery Maps on the StLGS Website
Maps /wesleyan-cemetery-w06-map-1 (There are two additional maps for this cemetery; you can access them from the Centenary Methodist Cemetery Page.)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.