THE BRUTAL MURDER OF George L. Shea

I currently manage over 35,000 memorials on Find a Grave.  25,000+ of the memorials are ones I created, the remainder were created by others who may have died or just didn't want to look after them any more.  Every day I check my favorite cemeteries to see if any memorials are up for transfer.  One of my favorite cemeteries is Hollywood Forever, in Hollywood, California.  Recently a memorial from Hollywood Forever became available for transfer:

After I had it transferred to me I decided to check further into the Cause of Death of George Shea.  When a young person dies I am always curious as to what happened.  Was it an accident, or a disease?  When I checked Newspapers.com for George Shea and 1916, here's what I found:

The San Diego (CA) Sun - 21 Apr 1916

The story was about a 25 year old waiter named George L. Shea who was living at the Santa Rita Hotel in San Diego.  His body was found by Night Police Officer L.A. Lusk in the weeds behind the Benbough Furniture Company, on Arctic near E Street in San Diego.  Arctic Street is now Kettner Boulevard.

Officer Lusk found a man's hat and signs of struggle on the sidewalk and examining the trampled weeds, found Shea's body lying about twenty feet back.

I don't know why this story particularly affected me, but I decided to look further into it and see if the murderer was ever brought to justice.

Before we look further into the brutal murder of George Shea, let's see what we can "dig up" about him.

George L. Shea was born in Maine in January of 1887.  His parents were Daniel Shea (1861-1914) and Mary Margaret O'Malley (1861-1892).  Daniel and Margaret were married September 9, 1882 in Dumfries, Charlotte, New Brunswick, Canada.  They had a total of five children:  Mable/Mrs. John Young (1883-1919), May Edith/Mrs. Karl F. Brehme (1885-1968), George (1887-1916), Jane Ella/Mrs. Eugene E. Clark (1888-1947) and Thomas (1891-1892).  

George's father Daniel Shea worked for the Maine Central Railroad and the Canadian Pacific Railroad.  He started as a Fireman, and worked his way up to being a Locomotive Engineer.

George's mother, Mary Margaret O'Malley Shea died in 1892 in Vanceboro, Maine.  She was thirty-one years old.  She was buried in the Catholic Section of the Vanceboro Cemetery in Vanceboro, Maine:

The 1900 US Census shows the Shea Family living in the Town of Vanceboro, Maine.  The Census Enumerator spelled their last name "Shay."  The family consisted of: Daniel (38 years old and Widowed), Mable M. (17), May E. (14), George L. (13), Jennie E. (11) and Sarah Shay, Daniel's mother (85).  Sarah said she had given birth to one child, and that child was still living in 1900.

Daniel listed his occupation as "R. R. Fireman," the children were all "At School" and Daniel's mother did not list an occupation.  They could all read and write, and they rented the house where they were living.  Daniel, Mable and May were all born in Canada.  They told the Enumerator that they emigrated to the United States in 1887.  For the purposes of the 1900 Census they were Resident Aliens.

Daniel Shay married again on July 12, 1902 in Winn, Maine to Charlotte "Lottie" Orr (1866-1930).

The 1910 US Census finds Daniel Shea living in Mattawamkeag, Maine with his wife and daughter Ella,  George is no longer living with them.  George Shea shows up in the 1910 Census in Tacoma, Washington as a Lodger at 4821 Warner Street.  4821 South Warner Street is now in the middle of the Tacoma Cemetery; North Warner Street ends at 37th Street.  George listed his occupation as "Waiter."  He also said he had been out of work for six weeks during 1909. 

The 1910 Tacoma City Directory shows George living at 1330 1/2 South C Street in Tacoma.  That plot is now part of the University of Tacoma and no longer exists as a specific address.

George Shea registered to vote in 1912.  He was living in Los Angeles at the time, at 705 1/2 S. Broadway.  His occupation was "Waiter" and his party affiliation was "Republican."  The State Theater Building, built in 1921 occupies that spot today.

The 1914 City Directory for San Diego shows George Shea as a "Waiter" at the "Palace Cafe:"

The Palace Cafe was said to the the "Handsomest, High Class Cafe in the West."

The next time George Shea's name appears in print is in the Long Beach (CA) Telegram and Daily News from August 23, 1915:

George Shea registered to vote in San Diego in 1916.  He reported his address as the "Hotel Dorm" but I could not find a hotel by that name in San Diego in 1916.  If it was a hotel dormitory, the hotel name was not listed.  He still listed his occupation as "Waiter" but now he registered as a Democrat.

That brings us to the fateful night of Friday, April 21, 1916.

If you have a weak stomach you should probably skip the next section.

According to newspaper accounts, George Shea's murder was particularly brutal.  One referred to his body as "fiendishly mutilated."  Another account said, "His head terribly beaten with a heavy paving brick, and his clothes ripped and torn, hanging in shreds and covered with blood..."  It was suggested that "Shea was hit while walking along the sidewalk and that thereupon he fell and knocked one of his teeth out.  The theory is that Shea, while still alive, was taken into the weeds and clubbed to death with the paving brick and possibly robbed."

He was last seen at 11:30 pm Thursday night under the influence of liquor.  Whether he was with a companion or not is unknown.  

The San Diego Union newspaper reported on April 22, 1916 that the George Shea murder case was proving difficult to solve:

The San Diego Union from the next day reported that a "Ring of Degenerates" had been uncovered:

San Diego (CA) Union - 23 Apr 1916

"The belief of the police (was) that the killing was done by a frenzied degenerate...but revealed no fact that bore directly on the case in hand."

One has to remember that George Shea's murder took place in 1916.  We are so used to watching TV shows like "Forensic Files" that we can't comprehend that there was a time when murders were very hard to solve unless the killing was done by a close relative or friend of the deceased - which did not seem to be the case in the George Shea murder.  In fact, in the US they only started using fingerprints as evidence in 1892.

The Inquest into the murder of George Shea was scheduled for April 24 but newspapers reported that "Unless unforeseen developments take place, no fact concerning (Shea's) assailant or assailants can be revealed by the police."

The Inquest determined that George Shea was murdered by "party or parties unknown."  One new piece of evidence was presented - a heavy iron bolt, blood spattered and more than a foot in length.  After the Inquest, the body of George Shea was released to his family - specifically to John Young, Shea's brother-in-law (Mable's husband) from Los Angeles.  

On April 25, the day after the Inquest, newspapers reported that five suspects had been arrested in the George Shea murder case.  One was released, but four remained in custody.  They were: Felix Gilmartin (31) a "clubman," Thomas Coburn (36), a "gambler," C. L. Harris, a "waiter," and James Donovan. a "jockey."

Harris was in serious condition from injuries he could not satisfactorily explain; Coburn was seen in an altercation with George Shea after midnight on the morning of the murder; Gilmartin was Coburn's roommate, although police had not uncovered any direct connection between him and Shea; and Donovan was arrested near Tijuana on suspicion.

George Shea's funeral was held on April 25, 1916 from the parlors of Cunningham and O'Connor in Hollywood with interment at Hollywood Forever.  Here is his Death Notice from the San Diego Union from April 24, 1916:

The San Diego Union - 24 Apr 1916

Here is his Death Notice from the Los Angeles Times from April 25, 1916:

The Los Angeles Times - 25 Apr 1916

  

Some of the newspaper accounts of the George Shea murder were quick to point out his shortcomings, such as his drinking.  It was almost as if they implied that Shea deserved what he got.  Not everyone was so unkind.  This is from the Escondido (CA) Times-Advocate of April 28, 1916:

"A quiet and gentlemanly young man."

On April 26 there was another arrest in the Shea case, and by April 30, it too led nowhere:

San Diego (CA) Union - 30 Apr 1916

As the days went by, the trail of the murderer of George Shea grew colder.  The San Diego Evening Tribune reported on May 3, 1916 that police were now looking for an unidentified Negro.  The Negro was said to be "Leering at women and children and causing consternation wherever he appears." 
 

On May 7, 1916 the San Diego Union newspaper reported on an attempted murder that had many similarities to the murder of George Shea:

After this lead also went nowhere, the investigation ground to a stop.  Every lead had been followed up on the police and every lead led nowhere.  George Shea's name was not even mentioned in the newspaper until September 11, 1916, five months after his murder:

San Diego Evening Tribune - 11 Sep 1916

Believe it or not, the article above is the last time the murder of George Shea was mentioned in any newspaper.  It appears that the case just ended - unsolved.  I researched extensively and could find nothing further that mentioned George Shea.  I even turned to Mike Kelly, the researcher nonpareil who also was unable to find anything more written about the murder of George Shea.

I examined lists of cold case homicides, but 1916 was just too far back to show up on most of the lists.  I even found a man named James Stewart (not that one) who investigates cold case homicides in the San Diego area.  He responded that he did a fair amount of research on the 1910s but he never ran across the George Shea case.  Another dead end. 

As I prepared to finish this article by reporting that the murder of George Shea remained unsolved 110 years after it happened I stumbled upon information that changed everything. 

In doing genealogy research, if you hit a brick wall they tell you to start over and review everything you know about the person.  I did that for George Shea.  As I mentioned above, there is no mention about the murder of George Shea after September of 1916.  However, the Pasadena Star News from January 29, 1919 reported something interesting:

George Shea was murdered April 21, 1916.  The Pasadena paper in January of 1919 referred to the "Killing of "Robert" Shea three years before."  

The San Diego Evening News from the same date reports even more information about the murder of "Thomas Shea:"

George Shea was a waiter and he was murdered on "Arctic near E Street" which could be "near the foot of F Street."  There are too many coincidences - this has to be referring to the murder of George Shea.

Here's the Los Angeles Evening Express again from January 29, 1919:

Shaffer said that he couldn't remember whether or not he had murdered George/Thomas/Robert Shea but it is very possible he killed Shea without ever knowing his name.  

Newspapers reported Shaffer was a "degenerate."  On April 22, 1916 San Diego papers reported that Shea's murder was "the work of degenerates."

Lacking any additional information I think it is safe to say that George Shea was murdered by Allen C. Shaffer.  So then was Shaffer convicted and sent to jail for the rest of his natural life?  No.

On January 30, 1919 the Los Angeles Evening Express reported that:

So then, can we report that Shaffer was convicted in a military court and sent to the brig for the rest of his natural life?  No.

The San Diego Police Department's way of dealing with Allen Schaffer was to turn him back over to the Army.  The Army's way of dealing with Allen Schaffer was to turn him back over to us - by means of an Army Discharge:

Looking at the records above, Albert Shaffer received an Honorable Discharge whereas the record for Allen C. Shaffer just says "Discharge May 31, 1919 by order of the Secretary of War."

It appears that Allen C. Shaffer's past misdeeds finally caught up with him.  Here is his record from San Quentin Prison in California:

On May 23, 1919 he was convicted of Second Degree Murder and sentenced to 10 years to Life in Prison.

Chester Allen Shaffer, whose real name was Allen C. Shaffer, died in prison on April 23, 1926:

He was buried in the San Quentin Prison Cemetery, Plot #255.  The graves in the San Quentin Prison Cemetery were marked with wooden markers or crosses with the prisoner's inmate number instead of name.  The Cemetery is no longer used and back in the 1980s any grave markers that had not been destroyed by fire, theft or time were removed.

It is unfortunate that neither Allen C. Shaffer nor anyone else was ever convicted of the murder of George Shea.  But justice ultimately prevailed and Shea's murderer was sent to prison for other murders he had committed.  In 1926 Shaffer went in front of the Great Judge we will all someday face.

One of the reasons I started this blog back in September of 2011 was so the people I profiled would not be forgotten.  George Shea was certainly one of those.  Even his murder fell through the cracks.  So, let's not forget the man whose life brutally ended on April 21, 1916.

George Shea - a quiet and gentlemanly young man - may he rest in peace.

KRINN'S PHARMACY, 609 CUSTER AVE., EVANSTON - Edward M. Krinn, R.Ph.G.

Those people who are familiar with my blog already know that I spent my childhood on Harvard Terrace in Evanston, Illinois.  I recently heard from someone who grew up two doors away from me and she said that "Harvard Terrace in the 50s and 60s was a great place to grow up."  I certainly agree with that.  One place that was familiar to us was our neighborhood pharmacy - Krinn Drug at 609 Custer Avenue.  Krinn's (as we always referred to it) was owned by Edward M. Krinn, a Registered Pharmacist.  Recently I was filling Find a Grave requests in Westlawn Cemetery and I came across the grave of Edward Krinn's brother Joseph.  That made me think about the pharmacy and Edward Krinn.  I decided that would be a good topic for a blog article inasmuch as it brought back many happy memories.  So, before we take a look at the Krinn Pharmacies (yes, there was more than one), let's see what we can dig up about Edward M. Krinn, R. Ph. G.

Edward Krinn was born Yitzhok Krinsky on September 27, 1910 in Chicago to Nachman Musaf (Nathan) Krinsky (1862-1936) and Rachel Elkes (1867-1957).  Both Nachman and Rachel were from what was called "Russia/Poland" back then but is now Belarus.  They were married January 15, 1891 in what is now Hrodna, Belarus.  The groom was twenty-eight years old; the bride was twenty-four.

Nachman and Rachel Krinsky were blessed with six children - three boys and three girls.  They are:  Chashe (Anna) M. Krinsky/Mrs. Dietrich Kemptner (1892-1981), Leva (Leah) Krinn (1896-1984), Elisheva (Ella) Krinski/Mrs. Enos H. Margolin (1897-1985), Abraham Musaf (Robert) Krinsky (1899-1965), Joseph Krinsky (1905-1983), and Yitzhok (Edward) M. Krinn (1910-1990).

Some members of the family "Americanized" their last name to "Krinn," the others stuck with "Krinsky."

Nachman Krinsky was a cigar maker by trade.  He came by himself to the United States arriving on August 3, 1900.  When he came to the US to get established, his wife, three daughters and one son waited in Russia/Poland for him to send for them.  He did send for them and they came to the US on the RMS Etruria, departing from Liverpool, England, June 11, 1904 and arriving in New York June 19, 1904.

The RMS Etruria

The 1910 Census Enumerator came to the Krinsky home on April 18, 1910.  The family was living at 2150 W. Armitage in Chicago:

2150 W. Armitage, Chicago, Illinois

  

The family consisted of:  Nachman Krinsky (45 years old), wife Rachel (42), daughters Annie (18), Leva (15) and Ela (13), sons Abe (11) and Joseph (4).  Nachman and Rachel said they had been married twenty years, and it was the first marriage for them both.  Rachel said she had given birth to five children, and all five were alive in 1910.  All were born in Russia (Jewish) except Joseph who was born in Illinois.  All of them could read, write and speak English except for Joseph.  Nachman gave his occupation as "Cigar Maker in a Factory."  Annie was a Stenographer.  Although Yitzhok would not be born until later that year, this gives you a good idea of what he was born into.

As stated above, Yitzhok Krinsky was born September 27, 1910 in Chicago.  The Cook County, Illinois Birth Register shows his first name as Isadore.  

The 1920 US Census shows the Krinsky family has moved to 1856 N. Humboldt Boulevard in Chicago:

1856 N. Humboldt Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois

.   

The family consisted of:  Nachman Krinsky (54 years old), wife Rachel (53), daughters Leah (24) and Ella (23), and sons Abe (20), Joe (14), and Edward (9).  We do not know when Yitzhok/Isadore Krinsky changed his first name to Edward but we see from this Census that he was calling himself Edward by the age of 9. 

Nachman Krinsky reported that he came to the United States in 1900, the rest in 1905 (it was actually 1904) except for Joseph and Edward who were born in Illinois.  

All those who were not native born reported that they became naturalized citizens in 1910 (it was actually July 16, 1909).  They could all read/write and speak English except those born outside the US said their native tongue was "Yiddish."

Nachman reported his occupation as Cigar Maker in a Cigar Shop, Leah was a Bookkeeper in a Cloak House, Ella did Clerical Work for a Newspaper, and Abe was an Office Man in a Glove Factory.

Anna Krinsky no longer lived with the family - she had married Dietrich Klemptner in 1913.

Edward Krinn attended Hibbard High School in Chicago, Class of 1926.  Here is his yearbook photo:

The 1930 US Census finds the Krinsky Family living at 4807 N. St. Louis Avenue in Chicago:

4807 N. St. Louis Ave., Chicago

  

The family consisted of Nachman Krinsky (65 years old), wife Rachel (61), daughter Leah (28), and sons Joseph (24) and Edward (19).  They reported that they rented their apartment for $70/month and they did have a radio.  Nachman said he was been 30 years old when he got married, Rachel said she was 26.  Actually he was 28 and she was 24.  But remember, the Jewish calendar does not always easily translate to the Gregorian calendar.  Interestingly, they now reported their mother tongue as "Polish" as opposed to the "Yiddish" they had previously reported.

Nachman said his Occupation was "Cigar Maker for a Tobacco Manufacturing Company."  Rachel did not report an occupation, Leah was a "Bookkeeper for a Retail Dress Shop," Joseph was the "Proprietor of a Drug Store," and Edward reported his occupation as "None."

Edward's older brother Joseph Krinsky had graduated from the University of Illinois in Champaign in 1925 with a Certificate of Pharmacy, followed in 1926 with a Graduate of Pharmacy degree.   

Edward first attended Crane College, then followed in his older brother's footsteps to the University of Illinois where he obtained his Pharmacy degree,  While at the U of I Edward joined the Kappa Alpha Sigma fraternity.

After graduation Edward joined Joseph in his pharmacy at 2901 W. Devon in Chicago in 1932.  

2901 W. Devon, Chicago

In March of 1933, it was announced that Edward M. Krinn was engaged to Florence "Dolly" Chiplovitz of Hammond, Indiana.  Her parents threw her an engagement party that was written about in the Lake County (IN) Times on March 13, 1933:

Florence Chiplovitz was born April 28, 1910 in Iron Mountain, Michigan to Peter Chiplovitz (1868-1938) and Gertrude Meltzer (1867-1936).  Here is her Birth Certificate:

Peter and Gertrude were from Russia/Poland like the Krinskys.  They married in the old country and came to the United States in 1902.  When they came to the US they "Americanized" their last name to Chiplovitz from its original "Tseplovich."  As time went on, the second generation just used "Chip" as their last name.  Peter Chiplovitz owned a grocery store in Hammond, Indiana.  

Peter and Gertrude were blessed with ten children:  Sarah/Mrs. Louis Green (1884-1984), Anna (1888-1970), Sophie/Mrs. Maurice Bishop (1891-1982), Samuel (1892-1915), Oscar (1895-1977), Helen Anna/Mrs. Mannie L. Bishop (1898-1989), Bertha "Birdie"/Mrs. Herman Krieger/Mrs. Ben Diamond (1900-1982),  Bessie/Mrs. Leo C. Arkin (1901-1967), Harry (1908-1995), and Florence "Dolly"/Mrs. Edward Krinn (1910-2004).

Dolly's brother Oscar changed his last name to "Love."

Dolly Chiplovitz graduated from Hammond High School, Hammond, Indiana in 1928.  Here is her high school yearbook picture:

Dolly Chiplovitz and Edward Krinsky were married September 16, 1933 in Chicago.  The bride was twenty-three; the groom was twenty-two:

The Hammond (IN) Times - 18 Sep 1933

After their honeymoon in the Wisconsin Dells, the newlyweds were living at 3356 Eastwood Avenue, Chicago.  A modern apartment building occupies that spot today.

In 1935 Edward Krinn opened his own pharmacy at 609 Custer Avenue in Evanston.  Here's the entry from the 1935 Evanston Directory:

It also indicated that the newlyweds have moved - to 1335 W. Birchwood Avenue in Chicago:

1335 W. Birchwood Avenue, Chicago

Note:  Everyone (including my mother), called my father "Craig."  It was the same way with Edward Krinn.  In all the years I knew of him, I never heard anyone call him Ed or Edward or even Eddie.  It was always "Krinn."  "I ran into Krinn in the post office today," or I stopped by Krinn's on the way home from work," or "Have the doctor call Krinn."  So, for the remainder of this article if I am referring to Edward M. Krinn I'll just call him Krinn.

Krinn had worked closely with his brother Joseph at the pharmacy on Devon.  He knew that he needed an additional pharmacist to work with him in Evanston.  I'm not sure how they came to know each other, but in 1935 Krinn hired Kenneth Brooks Teague (1900-1966) to work with him in the Evanston store.  From the beginning Mr. Teague was Krinn's right hand man.  In fact, Teague died from a massive heart attack while working in the pharmacy in 1966. 

From the very beginning Krinn recognized the power of advertising.  He wanted to make sure that everyone was aware of the new pharmacy in town.  Here Krinn's is prominently featured in a full page ad from the Evanston Review of October 24, 1935:

In about 1933 Krinn's father's health began to deteriorate. He had retired in 1926 when he was sixty years old, but as he got older he had more and more health problems.  It got to the point where he could no longer be cared for at home, and the family moved him into the Ellis Avenue Rest Home at 4836 N. Drake in Chicago:

4836 N. Drake, Chicago

Nachman Krinsky died in the Ellis Avenue Rest Home on May 17, 1936.  He was seventy years old (his tombstone says 72).  He died from heart disease.  Here is his Death Certificate:

Here is his Death Notice:

Chicago Tribune - 18 May 1936

He is buried at Jewish Waldheim Cemetery in Forest Park, Gate 54 - Order B'rith Abraham - Row 60, Lot 60, Grave 3:

Nachman Musaf Krinsky

Hebrew Translation:  Nochman son of Yudel David

The 1940 US Census shows Krinn and his wife still living at 1335 W. Birchwood in Chicago.  The family consisted of:  Edward (29 years old) and Florence (29).  Neither of them was currently in school; Edward had 5 years of college; Florence had one year of college.  Edward listed his occupation as "Pharmacist/Proprietor of a Retail Drug Store."  They were both living in the same place in 1935.

The Evanston Review from July 19, 1945 told of a rampage that damaged five cars, including Krinn's:

Times certainly have changed.  The Evanston Review of April 25, 1946 reported a robbery at Krinn's:

The robbers stole cigarettes, perfume and cash - no mention of any stolen drugs.  If this were to happen today, they would steal the drugs and cash and forget the cigarettes and perfume.

Speaking of perfume, the Evanston Review from June 6, 1946 carried Krinn's ad for "Masculine Toiletries:"

In addition to being a pharmacy, Krinn's also sold film and film developing, toys, newspapers and magazines, chewing gum and mints, and personal care items including perfumes and colognes.

But every once in a while Krinn would advertise something you would not expect to find in a pharmacy, like this ad for the "Color King Wonder Pen":

Chicago Tribune - 13 Nov 1949

Krinn is listed all the way at the bottom under Evanston:

The 1950 US Census for Krinn and Dolly is a disappointment.  Most of the census form is not filled in for either of them:

About the only useful information it gives is they are now living at 1910 W. Chase Avenue in Chicago.

1910 W. Chase Avenue, Chicago

A new drug law went into effect on April 26, 1952.  Apparently before that time a pharmacist could refill an existing prescription without the doctor's knowledge or consent.  The law changed that, and from then on no prescriptions could be refilled without specific instructions from the doctor.  The law also prohibited the over-the-counter sale of certain medications and required pharmacists to record in writing all prescriptions received over the telephone.  All Evanston pharmacists (including Krinn) supported this new law and took out a full page ad in the Evanston Review of April 24, 1952:

Krinn's mother, Rachel Elkes Krinsky died June 7, 1957 in Chicago.  She was ninety years old (although her tombstone says 91).  Here is her Death Notice:

Chicago Tribune - 8 Jun 1957

Like her husband, she was buried at Jewish Waldheim Cemetery in Forest Park, Gate 54 - Order B'rith Abraham:

Rachel Elkes Krinsky

Rochel son of Avraham

Late in 1953 Krinn and Dolly decided it was time to  move up, as it were and they bought a home at 584 Braeside Road in Highland Park.  

Chicago Tribune - 20 Sep 1953

A home built in 1993 occupies that lot today.  However, on March 7, 1953, before the Krinns owned the home, it was featured in the Chicago Tribune's "The Home of the Week" feature.  Luckily it includes photos so we can see what the home looked like even though it no longer exists:

Quite a change from the apartments Krinn had lived in his entire life.  The term has been tremendously overused, but I think it is safe to call 584 Braeside "Mid-Century Modern."

Krinn and Kenneth Teague were of one mind politically.  They wrote a letter to the Evanston Review that was published February 15, 1962 endorsing Sam Johns for Chief of Police.  At that time Johns was a Captain with the EPD:

  

Johns was not chosen to be Evanston's Chief of Police but he did go on to become the Chief of Police of Crystal Lake, Illinois a position he held for twenty-four years.

Krinn was always active in professional trade organizations for the pharmaceutical industry.  In November of 1962 the Evanston Review reported Krinn's election as Treasurer of the Evanston Pharmaceutical Association:

In the Evanston Review of February 27, 1964 the Evanston Pharmaceutical Association took out a full-page ad reminding Evanstonians to "Trust Your Neighbor - Your Evanston Pharmacist."  Of course Krinn was prominently featured (I apologize for the quality of the image):

Krinn retired in 1967 when he was fifty-seven years old.  He and Dolly wanted to enjoy life and travelled extensively - especially to Europe.  

Krinn was an avid fisherman, something he pursued with gusto after his retirement.  The Evanston Review from March 14, 1968 reported the following "fish story:"

Edward M. Krinn died July 4, 1990 at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston.  He was seventy-nine years old.  Here is his Death Notice (Note Dolly's Maiden Name is listed as "Chip.":

Chicago Tribune - 06 Jul 1990

He had extensive obituaries in several local newspapers.  Here's his obituary from the Chicago Sun-Times of July 06, 1990:

Surprisingly there was no obituary for Krinn in the Evanston Review.  But researcher nonpareil Mike Kelly found one for Krinn in the Highland Park News from July 26, 1990:

Krinn's Death Record shows the place of interment as Montrose Cemetery in Chicago.  I went to Montrose Cemetery recently with the hopes that I could photograph Krinn's (and Dolly's) graves.  The attendant told me Krinn was cremated there but his cremains were returned to the Funeral Home (Piser Weinstein Menorah Chapels in Wilmette) for final disposition. He is not interred at Montrose Cemetery.

Krinn was our neighborhood pharmacist - something you seldom see anymore.  We knew him and trusted him.  He was a valuable resource throughout our lives.  Both the good things that happen in life and the bad often include a pharmacist and Krinn or one of his associates were always there when we needed them.

Edward M. Krinn, our Family Pharmacist, may he rest in peace.

 

The Rest of the Story

Florence "Dolly" Chiplovitz Krinn - After Krinn's death in 1990, Dolly stayed in the Braeside house until 1993 when she moved to an apartment at 1230 Park Avenue W, #227, in Highland Park.

1230 Park Avenue W., Highland Park, Illinois

In 1996 she moved to 658 N. Vallarta Circle, Palm Springs, California:  

658 N. Vallarta Circle, Palm Springs

In 2001 she moved back to Chicagoland - to Wilmette.  Dolly died April 24, 2004 in Wilmette.  She was ninety-three years old.  Here is her Death Notice:

Chicago Tribune - 25 Apr 2004

I don't know for sure, but I suspect she was cremated and her ashes scattered like her husband's.

Kenneth Brooks Teague - As I mentioned above, Mr. Teague joined Krinn shortly after he opened his Evanston pharmacy.  Unfortunately he had a massive heart attack and died while he was working in the pharmacy on April 14, 1966.  He was sixty five years old.  Here is his obituary:

The Evanston Review - 21 Apr, 1966

He is buried in Memorial Park Cemetery, Skokie, Illinois:

 

Jack E. Rouse (1930-2001) When Krinn retired in 1967 he sold the pharmacy to Jack Rouse, who had come to work for him after the death of Kenneth Teague.  Rouse had previously been employed by Shrout Pharmacy in Evanston.  He closed the pharmacy in 1972 because of repeated burglaries and armed robberies at the store.  In 1978 he was quoted as saying "The troubles began when the neighborhood started to change and burglaries became more frequent.  After getting robbed, threatened, and having the insurance cancelled, I decided to leave because that was no way to live."  After Krinn's, Rouse worked for Osco at Church Street and Sherman Avenue in Evanston until he retired in 1995.  He died in St. Louis, Missouri in 2001.  Note:  Rouse's step daughter Lauren Rouse (Drouin) was a ballerina with the Joffrey Ballet (among others). 

The building where Krinn's Pharmacy was located in the 600 block of Custer Avenue was razed in 1985 and replaced with townhomes.

I know that many people who read this were customers of Krinn's back in the day - some perhaps even worked there.  Please feel free to share your "Krinn Stories" with me.  I will gladly publish them as addenda to this article.