THE INSIDER PATTY UNLEASHED

THE INSIDER

check mate!

Five members of the Saint Louis University chess team participated in the World Chess Olympiad in India earlier this month. Coach Alejandro Ramírez also coached the U.S. women’s team at the event.

STUDENTS ONBOARD A SLCL BOOKMOBILE CIRCA 1960

around the world

The Festival of Nations is back! The event, which supports critical services for refugees and immigrants, will be held in Tower Grove Park on Aug. 27 and 28.

For more information, visit festivalofnationsstl.org.

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happy 75th!

The St. Louis County Library is celebrating a big birthday this year! To mark its 75th year, the library will host a variety of activities, including a 75 Things To Do at SLCL challenge, historical talks, trivia, scavenger hunts and special giveaways.

Find out more at slcl.org/75.

giving back

The Assistance League of St. Louis recently received a $4,750 donation from 100 Women Who Care.

Pictured: Assistance League members Polly Rutherford and Yolanda Perez-Cunningham with Julie Hermann and Lisa Rosenstock of 100 Women Who Care

PATTY

by patty hannum

THERE IS A 1994 FILM I am

sure you’ve all seen, Four Weddings and a Funeral. It is one of those movies when you happen upon it, you stop and finish it. I doubt it won any awards, but it is sweet, kind and stars Hugh Grant who is nice on the eyes.

I was thinking about that movie last weekend as I attended my nephew Tom’s wedding. Two of my brothers have died in the past six months. Two too many as far as I am concerned, but I don’t control the world—I merely dream that I do. Life though has a way of moving on even though you are still grieving. Tom married Jen, and Shelby and Ted, another nephew, welcomed a new son. So, our movie would be titled Two Funerals, A Wedding and a Baby.

While I think my nephew Tom is almost as good-looking as Hugh Grant (he pulled off velvet loafers with his tux!), his wedding was bittersweet. Not only because two of his uncles weren’t there but because his best man and best friend since first grade died earlier in the year. Life has been just a series of gut punches for all the Fitzgeralds, but somehow that song by one-hit wonder Chumbawamba keeps playing in the back of my head: “I get knocked down but I get up again. You’re never gonna keep me down.”

And that’s what this weekend felt like. When the band started playing, it was time to start dancing, but my peeps weren’t there to make me look better. Both my brothers, Tim and John, danced at weddings. They weren’t good dancers; they weren’t even average. All of us lack any sort of rhythm, but we act with the confidence of The Radio City Rockettes. Once “Shout” started, it seemed wrong not to dance. So, as the lead singer encouraged us to ‘get a little louder now,’ we did. I could see my brother Mike and his wife, Pam, dancing. Teresa and David, parents of the groom, were in the thick of the mob, and I swear on the other side, Tim and John were doing the same thing, still as goofy as ever but nonetheless throwing their hands back and kicking their heels up just like the lyrics of the song tells them to. (Oh, for those of you counting Fitzgeralds, yes, Dennis was missing. He had an excused absence!)

Over the past few months, I’ve learned a lot about grief. It hurts and it is uncomfortable. I can’t even begin to imagine how hard it must be to lose your spouse. I know how it feels to lose a parent but not in the prime of their life. All I know is that when a sibling dies, it feels like a little piece of you is missing. Strangely, I think I still see them in crowds of people, and my dreams about them are always about the nice stuff they did, not any of the typical brother/sister teasing. I just miss Tim and John.

But last weekend, we were all together. Dancing, or at least attempting to, and singing along, “Say that you love me … “

I hope you see all the people you want to see. Peace my peeps. &

Bibliophiles won’t want to miss the St. Louis Jewish Community Center’s biannual Used Book Sale. The sale is Aug. 28 to Sept. 1, and thousands of books will be available. To learn more, visit jccstl.com.

FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESSES

FUN FACT: WHAT DOES YOUR FAMILY ENJOY DOING TOGETHER OUTSIDE OF BUSINESS?

ANDY SCHENCK, LYNN SCHENCK

ACCESSIBLE HOME HEALTH CARE OF ST LOUIS

Andy Schenck started the business three years ago and recruited his mother to assist in marketing. Accessible provides compassionate care assisting clients in their homes. Services include toileting, bathing, dressing, medicine reminders, food preparation, transportation and light housekeeping. FUN FACT: Snow skiing, golfing and pickleball 443 N. New Ballas, Road No. 231 | 314.738.9979 | accessiblestl.com

OWNER MAGGIE HOLTMAN AND FAMILY ADVANCED NURSING SERVICES OF ST. LOUIS

We provide one-on-one private duty nursing care. We have all skill levels of aides, RNs and LPNs. We have been in business for more than 36 years, and we take wonderful care of our clients. FUN FACT: We enjoy family vacations in Beaver Creek, Colorado! 141 N. Meramec Ave., No. 102 314.863.3030 advancednursing.org

PAULA ANDREW, MEGHAN HERMANN-DEBARTOLO, TOMMY

ESPENSCHIED, WENDY HERMANN, ANN ESPENSCHIED ESPENSCHIED HERMANN GROUP BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESERVICES ALLIANCE REAL ESTATE

We are a residential real estate team specializing in the central corridor. With more than 50 years of combined experience and multi-generational agents, we are not only a family of agents— we like to think of our clients as family as well. FUN FACT: We all love spending time outdoors, and our pets are a big part of our families. 8077 Maryland Ave. | 314.872.6797 | espenschiedhermanngroup.com

KATIE KIRK ROSS, VICKI AND DAVID HOLTON THE KIRK HOLTON TEAM JANET MCAFEE REAL ESTATE

The Kirk Holton Team is a family real estate legacy, consisting of husband and wife Vicki and David and Vicki’s daughter, Katie Kirk Ross. For more than 20 years, our team has helped our clients achieve their real estate goals in the greater St. Louis community and beyond. FUN FACT: Vacationing together in northern Michigan in a five-generation cabin 9889 Clayton Road | 314.997.4800 | 314.283.5155 | kirkholtonteam.com

GLADYS, JAMES L. AND STAFFORD MANION

GLADYS MANION REAL ESTATE

Established in 1936, Gladys Manion is one of the most well-respected luxury real estate agencies in St. Louis. Led by third-generation owner Stafford H. Manion, the company is bigger and more productive than ever. Still, the company’s values have remained the same for more than 85 years—clients come first. FUN FACT: Golf, cooking, squash, fitness and travel! 8227 Maryland Ave. | 314.721.4755 | gladysmanion.com

GENOVESE JEWELERS

As one of the largest jewelers in the country, Genovese offers an unparalleled selection of diamonds, gems and fine and fashion jewelry, as well as in-house custom jewelry artisans for customers seeking one-of-a-kind creations. Genovese has served St. Louis for more than 40 years. FUN FACT: The Genovese family enjoys cooking together. 12460 Olive Blvd. | 314.878.6203 genovesejewelers.com

SHELLEY AND TOM SMITH SPECIAL SOLUTIONS

Parents have been consulting Special Solutions to personalize their children’s school experience since 2009. Whether it is a demanding private or public school curriculum, we address the issues interfering with school success through effective coaching, tutoring and safe, open communication. FUN FACT: Shopping for vintage mid-century collectables 9225 Manchester Road, Ste. 100 314.475.5035 specialsolutions.com

AMANDA ALEJANDRO THE REALTY SHOP

While The Realty Shop has been in business since 2018, our family-owned parent company, VUE Enterprises, has been operating in St. Louis since 1927. The Realty Shop provides a one-stop ecosystem for comprehensive real estate services. FUN FACT: Spending time together as a family! 12395 Olive Blvd., Ste. 200 314.372.0324 realtyshopstl.com