Geneva Remembers Those We Lost in 2012

2012 was an extraordinarily sad year for Geneva, IL.

In that 12-month time period, we lost literally dozens of our city's favorite sons and daughters, folks who who were pillars of our community and who have earned a place in Geneva's history books.

We talk a lot about institutional memory in Geneva, but few years have seen the passing of so many people who were institutions in their own right and who carried so many Geneva memories in their heads and in their hearts.

The list reads like a Geneva Who's Who: Merritt King, Dick Jaeger, John VanThournout, Mary Bencini, John Anderson, John Barton, Janet Safanda, Joe Radovich, Allen Mead, Roger Morris, Jack Ryan, Paul DesCoteaux.

This is the introduction to a series of Geneva Patch articles that will run from now through the first day or two of 2013. It will contain some background information, links to previously published articles and some personal memories of those whose lives have passed but will not be forgotten.

Rick Nagel
Geneva Patch editor
Dec. 21, 2012

Genevans Who Died in 2012

The following is just a partial timeline. For more complete coverage, please visit the Obituaries category under our News tab or the Death Notices category under our Announcements tab. If you know of any other Genevans who died during 2012, please add the announcement and/or contact Geneva Patch Editor Rick Nagel at rickn@patch.com.

January

• Geneva's Legendary Merritt King Dies at 93

February

March

April

• Geneva Banker John VanThournout Dies at 84

May

June

July

• Community Leader John Anderson Dies at 87

August

• Beloved Geneva Coach John Barton Dies at 71
• Geneva Preservationist Janet Safanda Will Be Remembered With Concert Saturday
• St. Mark's Hosts Sept. 8 Memorial Service for Geneva Entrepreneur Carlton Juby
• Loving Mother Mary Ann Nagel Dies at 89

September

October

• Visitation Oct. 15 for Longtime Geneva Teacher Don Brown

December