Born on March 2, 1892, Helen was the fourth of James and Rose Cook's seven children.4 James was an electrical engineer and Rose (née Haney) was the daughter of Irish immigrants. Helen and her sisters5 all showed a proclivity for music at a young age, singing in church choirs and lyceum programs in central Illinois. They were blessed with strong voices at a wide range of octaves, and on stage they supplemented their pleasing harmonies with bright, fashionable costumes that turned spectators' heads. Their act quickly drew attention on the vaudeville circuit as they took their show on the road beginning around 1909.
For about two years in the early thirties, Buck and Helen ran a sandwich shop on 95th Street called "Buck Weaver's," where the special was french fried spareribs. The restaurant was poorly managed, however, and they were forced to shut it down.33 Buck found a more enjoyable job as a pari-mutuel clerk at the Sportsman's Park horse racing track in suburban Cicero, where he worked for many years.
In 1952, Helen suffered a serious stroke, resulting in partial paralysis on her left side. She learned to walk again with the help of a cane, but had to wear a knee brace to keep her leg from collapsing. Niece Bette Scanlan, who had by then started working at the Chicago Sun-Times where she was a reporter for decades, bought Buck and Helen a television set and they stayed at home every evening watching their favorite shows.34
Buck died of a heart attack on January 31, 1956, ending their marriage after 41 years. The ballplayer and the vaudeville star, who had met on the other side of the country while each were at the top of their respective fields, remained devoted to each other long after the spotlights faded away. Helen stayed in Chicago, living with her sister Marie for nearly a decade afterward. She died on September 7, 1965, at the age of 73 and was buried near her husband at Mount Hope Cemetery.35
For about two years in the early thirties, Buck and Helen ran a sandwich shop on 95th Street called "Buck Weaver's," where the special was french fried spareribs. The restaurant was poorly managed, however, and they were forced to shut it down.33 Buck found a more enjoyable job as a pari-mutuel clerk at the Sportsman's Park horse racing track in suburban Cicero, where he worked for many years.
In 1952, Helen suffered a serious stroke, resulting in partial paralysis on her left side. She learned to walk again with the help of a cane, but had to wear a knee brace to keep her leg from collapsing. Niece Bette Scanlan, who had by then started working at the Chicago Sun-Times where she was a reporter for decades, bought Buck and Helen a television set and they stayed at home every evening watching their favorite shows.34
Buck died of a heart attack on January 31, 1956, ending their marriage after 41 years. The ballplayer and the vaudeville star, who had met on the other side of the country while each were at the top of their respective fields, remained devoted to each other long after the spotlights faded away. Helen stayed in Chicago, living with her sister Marie for nearly a decade afterward. She died on September 7, 1965, at the age of 73 and was buried near her husband at Mount Hope Cemetery.35
Born on March 2, 1892, Helen was the fourth of James and Rose Cook's seven children.4 James was an electrical engineer and Rose (née Haney) was the daughter of Irish immigrants. Helen and her sisters5 all showed a proclivity for music at a young age, singing in church choirs and lyceum programs in central Illinois. They were blessed with strong voices at a wide range of octaves, and on stage they supplemented their pleasing harmonies with bright, fashionable costumes that turned spectators' heads. Their act quickly drew attention on the vaudeville circuit as they took their show on the road beginning around 1909.
For about two years in the early thirties, Buck and Helen ran a sandwich shop on 95th Street called "Buck Weaver's," where the special was french fried spareribs. The restaurant was poorly managed, however, and they were forced to shut it down.33 Buck found a more enjoyable job as a pari-mutuel clerk at the Sportsman's Park horse racing track in suburban Cicero, where he worked for many years.
In 1952, Helen suffered a serious stroke, resulting in partial paralysis on her left side. She learned to walk again with the help of a cane, but had to wear a knee brace to keep her leg from collapsing. Niece Bette Scanlan, who had by then started working at the Chicago Sun-Times where she was a reporter for decades, bought Buck and Helen a television set and they stayed at home every evening watching their favorite shows.34
Buck died of a heart attack on January 31, 1956, ending their marriage after 41 years. The ballplayer and the vaudeville star, who had met on the other side of the country while each were at the top of their respective fields, remained devoted to each other long after the spotlights faded away. Helen stayed in Chicago, living with her sister Marie for nearly a decade afterward. She died on September 7, 1965, at the age of 73 and was buried near her husband at Mount Hope Cemetery.35
For about two years in the early thirties, Buck and Helen ran a sandwich shop on 95th Street called "Buck Weaver's," where the special was french fried spareribs. The restaurant was poorly managed, however, and they were forced to shut it down.33 Buck found a more enjoyable job as a pari-mutuel clerk at the Sportsman's Park horse racing track in suburban Cicero, where he worked for many years.
In 1952, Helen suffered a serious stroke, resulting in partial paralysis on her left side. She learned to walk again with the help of a cane, but had to wear a knee brace to keep her leg from collapsing. Niece Bette Scanlan, who had by then started working at the Chicago Sun-Times where she was a reporter for decades, bought Buck and Helen a television set and they stayed at home every evening watching their favorite shows.34
Buck died of a heart attack on January 31, 1956, ending their marriage after 41 years. The ballplayer and the vaudeville star, who had met on the other side of the country while each were at the top of their respective fields, remained devoted to each other long after the spotlights faded away. Helen stayed in Chicago, living with her sister Marie for nearly a decade afterward. She died on September 7, 1965, at the age of 73 and was buried near her husband at Mount Hope Cemetery.35
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