LoBue, Dennis

From HistoryWiki
(Redirected from Dennis LoBue)

Dennis LoBue Soundex Code L100

Dennis LoBue (1942-2012) is the co-owner of the LoBue/Corrin Garden, 1526 W. Juneway Terrace.

Dennis LoBue, 70, whose Rogers Park garden won the 2010 Mayor's Landscape Award for the single-family homes category in the city's north region, died of bone cancer Wednesday, February 1, 2012, at Evanston Hospital.

Mr. LoBue was born in Chicago Heights, Illinois and grew up in Harvey, Illinois, where he graduated from Thornton Township High School in 1959. He joined the U.S. Air Force, but was medically discharged three months later after his eardrums burst during a flight to training camp.

Upon returning to Chicago, Dennis LoBue worked as a female impersonator under the name "Dee LoBue" at venues including the Chat-Chat Lounge, 4526 N. Sheridan Road in Uptown. "I decided I liked it so much that I did it for a living," LoBue said in a 1999 interview with Outlines, an LGBT publication formerly published by the Windy City Media Group in 2000. "From 1959, when I got out of the service and got back to Chicago, until 1966, that's all I did to make a living. It was great."

Dennis worked as a lunchtime waiter at Bentley's Wine Bar, 1751 N. Halsted Street, and Lino's, 222 W. Ontario Street, in Chicago. While at Lino's, he also helped with fundraisers, where he waited on such notables as President Bill Clinton and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, Senator Carol Moseley Braun, and Illinois Governor Jim Edgar, according to his partner of 34 years, Darwin Corrin. "He was funny and charming, someone people were just naturally drawn to," John Hoffmann, co-chair of the Fairy Gardeners Guild, said.

Dennis retired from Lino's in 1986 after injuring his knee and after that spent endless hours in his garden. He took up needlepoint in 2001, following a knee operation, and designed all of his own pieces, selling pillows, jackets and hats at art fairs. "He paid so much attention to detail, whether it was cooking, gardening, needlepoint, or entertaining," said his friend Suzanne Kraus. "Mostly, he just loved to create."

Mr. LoBue learned how to garden through trial and error, and was constantly rearranging the plants, shrubs and more than 100 varieties of perennials that cover his 100-foot-deep backyard garden, which also includes a 3,500-gallon pond filled with koi. "It has a beautiful park-like setting, with winding paths and benches, so that everywhere you look it's peaceful and tranquil," said John Hoffmann. "You have no idea you're in the city."

Dennis LoBue was sharing his garden during a Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society garden walk more than 15 years ago when he and a friend first considered the possibility of a garden walk hosted by fellow gays and lesbians. They placed an ad in a newspaper to see if there was any interest. There was, quite a bit in fact, and in 1996 the Fairy Gardeners Guild was organized. "The response was amazing," said Darwin Corrin, Mr. LoBue's partner and a fellow member of the guild. "It caught on from the very beginning."

The guild now numbers close to 100 members from Chicago and the suburbs. Members meet 10 times throughout the year to exchange information on everything from attracting hummingbirds and potting plants to planning a potluck dinner. "We look forward to a good meal as much as a few great gardening tips," Darwin Corrin said.

When Mr. LoBue received his mayoral award in 2010, he presented Mayor Richard M. Daley with honey collected from bees in his backyard. "The honey was in a jar in his coat pocket and I had no idea he had it with him," Corrin recalled with a chuckle. "I think even the mayor was a bit surprised."

Dennis LoBue is survived by his loving partner of 34 years, Darwin Corrin; mother Adeline; brothers Russell and Mark (Nancy); sister Linda Zyback, who preceded him in death; nephews David, Tom Markanich (Linda), Tony Markanich (Wilma); nieces Gina Hernandez (Tim), Tracy Vanderah (Kurt) and Jaclin Eiermann.

A celebration of his life was held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 4, 2012, at the Rogers Park Unity Church, 1925 W. Thome Avenue.