Camille Desmoulins Andre
December 18, 1916 — May 1, 2018
Camille Desmoulins Andre
Camille Desmoulins Andre
December 18, 1916 to May 1, 2018
A true gentleman, Cam endeared himself to all he met with his kindness, humor and grace. Active and engaged until shortly before his death, he defied his age. Though his life included many hardships, his sunny disposition always came through. He claimed to be the luckiest guy. Cam loved the outdoors, bridge, investing (taking tips to the end), reading, travel (reached six continents), gopher basketball and following the development of his kids and grandkids. He was good at reading people and working to their strengths.
Cam was born to Henry C. Andre and Mary Gillan Andre in Long Prairie, MN. His carefree days in small town Minnesota playing with his cousins ended when his father died in 1922. His mother moved to the twin cities and continued her work in abstracts and titles. His aunt, Johanna Gillan, at times lived with them, cooking the Norwegian food he loved. Having a working mother during the depression engendered independence and a work ethic. He operated a newsstand in Stadium Village that generated many stories and helped support the family.
Boy Scouts was important in his life, creating lifelong friendships and leading him to attend the University of Minnesota, through the encouragement of his scout leader. He graduated from Marshall High School and the U of M with majors in political science and economics, minors in German and Spanish.
He served in World War II, protecting the Panama Canal, and in intelligence, supervising reeducation of German prisoners of war in Ft. Sheridan, Illinois.
He married Marjorie Czaia on a thirteen-day leave. First daughter, Louise, was born during the war and didn’t meet her Dad for a year.
After the war, Cam took a job with PAS, a government consulting firm. He worked all over the country on jobs, that took him to Denver, where Jeanne was born, and Rhode Island for the birth of Suzanne. Their work-related travel included places as far afield as Montreal, Boise, Puerto Rico, San Diego, Bakersfield, Springfield, Chicago, Iowa, Indiana and Michigan.
They eventually settled in Oak Lawn, Illinois, where he became the first City Manager. Paul and Maureen were born on this stop. He was proud of his service, which was a volatile political situation that involved educating he City Council on the manager form of government. The next manager lasted six months and the Council begged Cam to return.
But he and Margie had moved back to Minnesota to be with their extended families. He became City Manager in St. Louis Park, serving for seven years. He was hired partly for his experience building a new City Hall. SLP City Hall went from a nineteenth century school house to the three-story building it currently inhabits - now over 50 years old.
Cancer took Margie in 1968. He subsequently married Elizabeth Minshall Caldwell, gaining two step-children, Ron and Kathleen.
His further public service included stints as Deputy City Manager in Kansas City, Missouri, Director of Environmental Control in Minneapolis (working with model cities and construction of the Metrodome) and a ten-year stint as Executive Director of the Metropolitan Transit Commission. He also served as Mayor of the City of St. Louis Park in 1976.
He was too young to quit at 65, so he took overseas consulting jobs, including studies on the Kelang Port in Malaysia, the water/sewer system in Ethiopia, water system personnel in Ghana, establishing a property records system in Lithuania, Various studies in Jamaica and local studies for the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District and Shakopee Mdewakaton Community. He also served as interim City Manager for the City of Brooklyn Center and interim Director of the League of Minnesota Cites.
After Betty died he tied the knot one more time, marrying Evelyn Carlson Czaia and gaining 11 more step-children.
He is survived by his wife, Evelyn Czaia; children Louise (John) Kuester, Jeanne Andre, Suzanne (Mahedi) Jiwani, Paul (Chris) Andre, and Maureen (Larry) Andre-Knudsen; step-children Ron (Paula) Caldwell, Kathleen Caldwell (Dennis Hansen), Phyllis (Paul) Haensel, Ellen Elavsky, Warren Czaia, John (Joan) Czaia, Roger (Karen) Czaia, Mary Jo (Mark) Jerve, Janet Czaia (Toby Rapson), Charles (Robin) Czaia, Frances Czaia (Ian Davis), Melinda Czaia (David Feider) and Margie (John) Zdechlik; grandchildren Pat (Maia) Caldwell, Kelley Caldwell, Tokumbo (Sheethal) Shobowale, Erin Kuester, Gretchen (Eric) Rawdon, Karl and Erik Rehpohl, Jeremiah Schapiro, Nathan Jiwani, Michael (Kathryn) Jiwani, Allyssa, Alex, and Ian Andre-Knudsen, Camille and Marie Andre. Great grandchildren Logan, Hannah, Sophia, Jeremiah, Sammy, Mikel, Dominic, Hudson, Rafael and Lydia.
December 18, 1916 to May 1, 2018
A true gentleman, Cam endeared himself to all he met with his kindness, humor and grace. Active and engaged until shortly before his death, he defied his age. Though his life included many hardships, his sunny disposition always came through. He claimed to be the luckiest guy. Cam loved the outdoors, bridge, investing (taking tips to the end), reading, travel (reached six continents), gopher basketball and following the development of his kids and grandkids. He was good at reading people and working to their strengths.
Cam was born to Henry C. Andre and Mary Gillan Andre in Long Prairie, MN. His carefree days in small town Minnesota playing with his cousins ended when his father died in 1922. His mother moved to the twin cities and continued her work in abstracts and titles. His aunt, Johanna Gillan, at times lived with them, cooking the Norwegian food he loved. Having a working mother during the depression engendered independence and a work ethic. He operated a newsstand in Stadium Village that generated many stories and helped support the family.
Boy Scouts was important in his life, creating lifelong friendships and leading him to attend the University of Minnesota, through the encouragement of his scout leader. He graduated from Marshall High School and the U of M with majors in political science and economics, minors in German and Spanish.
He served in World War II, protecting the Panama Canal, and in intelligence, supervising reeducation of German prisoners of war in Ft. Sheridan, Illinois.
He married Marjorie Czaia on a thirteen-day leave. First daughter, Louise, was born during the war and didn’t meet her Dad for a year.
After the war, Cam took a job with PAS, a government consulting firm. He worked all over the country on jobs, that took him to Denver, where Jeanne was born, and Rhode Island for the birth of Suzanne. Their work-related travel included places as far afield as Montreal, Boise, Puerto Rico, San Diego, Bakersfield, Springfield, Chicago, Iowa, Indiana and Michigan.
They eventually settled in Oak Lawn, Illinois, where he became the first City Manager. Paul and Maureen were born on this stop. He was proud of his service, which was a volatile political situation that involved educating he City Council on the manager form of government. The next manager lasted six months and the Council begged Cam to return.
But he and Margie had moved back to Minnesota to be with their extended families. He became City Manager in St. Louis Park, serving for seven years. He was hired partly for his experience building a new City Hall. SLP City Hall went from a nineteenth century school house to the three-story building it currently inhabits - now over 50 years old.
Cancer took Margie in 1968. He subsequently married Elizabeth Minshall Caldwell, gaining two step-children, Ron and Kathleen.
His further public service included stints as Deputy City Manager in Kansas City, Missouri, Director of Environmental Control in Minneapolis (working with model cities and construction of the Metrodome) and a ten-year stint as Executive Director of the Metropolitan Transit Commission. He also served as Mayor of the City of St. Louis Park in 1976.
He was too young to quit at 65, so he took overseas consulting jobs, including studies on the Kelang Port in Malaysia, the water/sewer system in Ethiopia, water system personnel in Ghana, establishing a property records system in Lithuania, Various studies in Jamaica and local studies for the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District and Shakopee Mdewakaton Community. He also served as interim City Manager for the City of Brooklyn Center and interim Director of the League of Minnesota Cites.
After Betty died he tied the knot one more time, marrying Evelyn Carlson Czaia and gaining 11 more step-children.
He is survived by his wife, Evelyn Czaia; children Louise (John) Kuester, Jeanne Andre, Suzanne (Mahedi) Jiwani, Paul (Chris) Andre, and Maureen (Larry) Andre-Knudsen; step-children Ron (Paula) Caldwell, Kathleen Caldwell (Dennis Hansen), Phyllis (Paul) Haensel, Ellen Elavsky, Warren Czaia, John (Joan) Czaia, Roger (Karen) Czaia, Mary Jo (Mark) Jerve, Janet Czaia (Toby Rapson), Charles (Robin) Czaia, Frances Czaia (Ian Davis), Melinda Czaia (David Feider) and Margie (John) Zdechlik; grandchildren Pat (Maia) Caldwell, Kelley Caldwell, Tokumbo (Sheethal) Shobowale, Erin Kuester, Gretchen (Eric) Rawdon, Karl and Erik Rehpohl, Jeremiah Schapiro, Nathan Jiwani, Michael (Kathryn) Jiwani, Allyssa, Alex, and Ian Andre-Knudsen, Camille and Marie Andre. Great grandchildren Logan, Hannah, Sophia, Jeremiah, Sammy, Mikel, Dominic, Hudson, Rafael and Lydia.
SERVICES Memorial Mass
Thursday, May 24, 2018 10:00 AM
Church of St. Lawrence 1203 5th St. SE. Minneapolis, MN 55414
Celebration of LifeSaturday, May 26, 2018 10:00 AM
Lakewood Cemetery Chapel 3600 Hennepin Avenue South Minneapolis,
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