While on the subject of cool panoramic photos shot by friends, today’s Shot of the Day comes from my pal Mark Chestnut, who lives in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He took this full 360 degree panorama when Milwaukee’s Miller Park was nearly completed. Look closely, and can just make out the the new park in the background.
I ran accross your blog when I did a search for Hope Waldecker. I was saddened to read she had died. What really shocked me was that Jeff was dead too. I knew them both very well when my parents and Hope did auctions together. Hope was the auctioneer, and my mother was the record keeper. They did auctions together for at least 3 or 4 years until Hope “retired”. I was only 11 or 12 at the time, but Hope put me to work too as a runner. I took items from the auction block after they were sold, and ran them back to the pay area.
My mom and Hope were more than just business associates. I remember spending time at Hopes house, having dinner and playing board games with Jeff and Hope’s foster daughter, Debbie. Jeff was always very sweet to me. I had the biggest crush on him when I was around 11, I think he really got a kick out of that. After Hope got out of the auction business, Jeff had an antique shop on the east side of Milwaukee, kitty corner from my highschool. He would always wave or come out and say hi, when I walked by. I also remember taking a lot of teasing about my Catholic School uniform, among other things. Jeff loved to tease.
From your post it sounded like you knew Hope fairly well. She was certainly an original. The one thing her death notice didn’t mention was that she was a dancer. I don’t know if she stripped or not, but I remember seeing her scrapbooks with many pictures of her in showgirl costumes. She was very beautiful. I hope you got to see the pictures too.
Thank you, for your post and also the pictures you included. I never would have known what happened to them if you hadn’t.