Andrew Bavas Obituary

Bavas, Andrew Lucian "Nick" Of Chicago, Illinois, age 86, much beloved husband, uncle and friend, died peacefully at home, with his family by his side, on Sunday, May 15, 2016 after a brief illness. He was born on September 15, 1929 in Alton, Illinois, son of Nicholas and Inez Hildegard (nee Ash) Bavas. After attending high school in Alton, where he was a member of the football team, Andy served in the United States Army. He received a Master's Degree in Urban Policy and Planning from Roosevelt University in Chicago. Andy began his career working for the Federal Government in the Department of Health and Human Services. Andy was chosen by the University of Illinois at Chicago to help create a Master's Program Urban Planning and Policy for the College of Urban Sciences. Launched in 1973, this program was designed to provide an interdisciplinary framework in which to deal with real world problems faced by cities around the globe. As Director of this program, Andy became a wonderful mentor, administrator and facilitator for the students. The program was affectionately known as "MUPP", and the hundreds of students it has since trained as "MUPPlings." Andy served as Dean of the Urban Sciences from 1975-1977. After retiring from this position, Andrew worked with students in the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. Andy loved to write and paint. Andy was an avid skier, spending part of his youth working and skiing in Ketchum, Idaho and continuing to ski into his eighties. He and his much beloved wife Joyce traveled in Europe and the United States with their friends and family. He loved sharing meals with friends, telling funny stories and entertaining his nieces and nephews. Throughout his life, Andy maintained a deep interest in world affairs and the environment and advocated for protection of wildlife and natural habitats. Andy is survived by his loving wife, Joyce Diane Wiegand-Bavas, of Chicago, Illinois; sister-in-law, Joanne Armstrong and her husband Don Moon of Waukegan, Illinois; brother-in-law, Thomas Wiegand and his wife Suzanne of Holden, Massachusetts; niece, Meg Armstrong and her husband Barry Guiduli of Westport, CT; niece, Jennifer Armstrong and her partner James Taylor of Beach Park, Illinois; niece, Trisha Schlackman and her husband Robert of Dix Hills, NY; niece, Susan Wiegand of Bristol, Rhode Island; nephew, Thomas Wiegand and his wife Karen of Jefferson, Massachusetts; great-nieces and nephews, Bruno and Sophie Guiduli; Jessica Armstrong; Abby and Dana Schlackman; and Emily, William and Andrew Wiegand. His parents and his niece Sarah Armstrong preceded him in death. Visitation will be 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Monday, May 23 at Gent Funeral Home in Alton, Illinois, followed by burial in the Valhalla Memorial Park in Godfrey, Illinois. Andy was committed to the preservation of our ecosystems and the life they support on our planet. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the environmental charity of your choice. Gent Funeral home in Alton, Illinois is in charge of all arrangements.