Chatham Memories | Supermarket Employees Remember

Employees Remember

Chatham Reunion 2025 Group Photo
Check the 2025 page for photos HERE

We wish to THANK the French Family
Paul French and Daughters put on a Fantastic Show
~ Dave French - Bakery Mgr. at Stores #12/#33 (passed away a few years ago)... This is his Son and Grand children

We DO have A FaceBook Page chatham.supermarkets
You can search FaceBook for Chatham and find Chatham Supermarkets

Sad News to Report
Curt Lesnau

...passed away - Curt is Tsuch Lesnau’s husband
He was a great guy we will all miss from Chathams.

Wujek Calcatera
Schoenherr at 16 Mile Rd.
3:00 - 9:00
Tuesday Sept 30th.

c/o Judy Hartner

Sad News to Report

Danny Voss
Daniel Martin Voss was born July 30, 1950, and passed away April 22, 2025. Dan was born in Detroit, Michigan and grew up in Roseville, graduated from Sacred Heart High School with his twin sister, Pat in 1968.

He was preceded in death by his parents Earl and Nancy Voss along with his siblings Katherine, Thomas, Ann, Patricia, Mary and Gerard and his brother-in-law Larry.

Dan worked in the grocery industry (Mostly at Chathams) his whole life. He enjoyed baseball, bowling and golfing with his siblings.

Dan was always a great guy to work with, he will be missed
c/o Charlie van Gogh

Sad News to Report
Dennis Baryj
...Dennis passed away on June 8 after a short illness.
He enjoyed his memories of Chatham.

c/o daughter, Michelle

Sad News to Report
Joe Jedrzejek
and
Diane Wolfe
(formally Diane Young/Reszczyk)
Joe Jedrzejek passed away on July 9th of liver failure.
Diane Wolfe passed on July 4th from a rare blood disorder.

Both Joe and Diane worked for Chatham for many years.

c/o... Robin Jedrzejek

A Chatham Memory
about Alan Gordon

Alan Gordon was my father. He started working for Chatham in the fifties
and was the first manager at Harper and Gratiot, then 13 and Hoover and 12 and Gratiot,
then district manager. He then worked in the main office until 1978.

I was surprised he was not on your list.
Although he is in one of the photos. Just didn't want him to be forgotten.
He passed away in January 2002 when he was 90 years old.

by Linda (Gordon) Berriman - Daughter

Message from Bill Pritchett
Worked at Meat Plant and Truck Driver

I'm the one whom sent info about G.M. Warehouse in Taylor...driver there for 3 yrs... meat plant start a Store #13... breaking sides of meat.. packaged and ship to near by stores... 17 and 18 were in that group as well as #26 in the Livonia mall... In 73 it had moved to Joy Rd. and Shafer... In the old allied foods meat plant... Bob Nichols plant mgr... Sam Santilli plant mgr ... Carol Gregory plant office mgr... Rodger Placinta shipping mgr..... This plant cut swinging sides to be able to ship to all stores to be further broken down for counter sales.... also cut and packaged all pork...one line off sausages as well... Slowly graduating in to more and more distribution of more and more product...package lunch meat... etc....then in 1979 or 1980 the Frazho plant opened with a complete new receiving and shipping full tilt state of the art operation still by same mgt personnel.... Then in 1982 handwriting was on the wall.. I had oportunity to go to Florida... ***boom gone never looked back***.... Started in March 1965 at E.J. Korvettes.... in March or April of that year Chatham bought stores 12 .. 13.. and 14..... I was at 14... and store mgr George Lowry told newly union personel... *hell let the kid stay he'll be 16 next month...* as you had to be at least 16 to become a member of retail clerks ...in 1973 when I started driving I became a teamster... 10 yr there and 24 more in Florida gives me a nice sum to live... Owe a lot to Chatham for the start...
Thank you Bill Pritchett for sharing

A message from Kerry Gelles
Around 1973 in the Prepack lunchroom in the Frazo warehouse,
for Art Connelly's retirement
Art is the one in the center of the picture. He was the manager of the prepack department.
I (Kerry Gelles) am the third one in the line against the wall. Sitting at the table on the rear left
is Richard Smith (Smitty) a hilo driver and behind him not viewable is Bob Langley,
I recognize his hat lol. There a lot of folks there that I can't remember their names. Old age!
I only worked there for a year before going to the truck garage.
The picture quality is not the best but maybe someone can recognize the others and let you know.
c/o... Kerry Gelles
1973-1985 Prepack and truck garage.

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