Gerald Lawrence Bayuk

Growing up in Chicago, Jerry and Bill Bayuk were my two closest first cousins, with Jerry closest to my age. Our families spent Thanksgiving at my house; Christmas at the Bayuks'. I always remember hauling off what remained of black olives from dinner and Jerry and me eating them under my bed, forgetting to remove the pits to prevent discovery the next day. Through WWII, we collected tinfoil so he and Bill had big balls of it to recycle and sell. When as a high school frosh, I had a fan club for singer Dorothy Shay, Jerry helped me--as he always did in my ventures-- getting members and, when Dorothy was in Chicago at the Palmer House, he impressed everyone when he went with us in her new car to visit former dancers she worked with who were now at NU in Evanston. I remember being happy when he met Elaine who was good for him. When he went to work in the school supplies business, we joked that we both were connected with schools most of our lives. We and Elaine used to catch up on each other at least every Christmas. Jerry was a great driver, who exceeded his skilled father, so his last accident was devastating. I spoke to him by phone several months ago and, despite problems, he always had a note of cheer. I loved him then and now that he is, I'm sure, in heaven where he will do his best to get me and mine and all his family and friends to join him. Marie Jeanne Petrone Killker (a.k.a. cousin Mary Jean)