Evelyn “Evie” (Bellis) Gulick of Easton PA, 95, who devoted her life to her family, church, local amateur theatre, and her beloved city of Easton, died Sunday, November 10, 2024, at Abington Manor Memory Care.
Born March 6, 1929, in Easton PA, she was the daughter of the late Parks and Grace (Litsinger) Bellis. She and her husband, Charles “Chas” Gulick were married 67 years until his death in 2017.
Evie graduated from Easton Area High School in 1946, and was an active member of her class reunion committee.
In her early years, she was a drama teacher at Miss Jeanne’s School of Dance Arts in Bethlehem, coached Warren and Hunterdon County Miss America Locals in beauty pageants, and was the director of the Wilson Borough Jubilee Celebration. She worked as church secretary at the former Olivet Presbyterian Church in Easton PA, while also serving as its youth group director. She performed at Pennsylvania Playhouse and Guthsville Playhouse. She directed and wrote musical sketch comedy shows for TNT (The New Theatre).
Evie loved performing in community theater. In 1946, she joined the Easton Player’s Guild. The group merged with the Easton Express Glee Club in 1948 to form Chansonnette Theatre. It was there she met Chas, and they both became charter members of Chansonnette. Evie performed in over 80 shows for Chansonnette. Her favorite roles were Dolly Levi in “Hello Dolly”, Mame Dennis in “Mame”, Reno Sweeney in “Anything Goes”, Wildcat Jackson in “Wildcat”, Lorelei Lee in “Lorelei”, Lola in “Damn Yankees”, and Ella Peterson in “Bells Are Ringing”. When not performing onstage, Evie made costumes, choreographed, painted sets, and sold tickets and ads. In later years, she loved performing in Chansonnette’s small shows at various nursing homes throughout the Valley.
In her 50’s, Evie embarked on a new career incorporating her love of the City of Easton. She worked for the Downtown Improvement Group (DIG) in the 1970’s as its Executive Director, which later became Two Rivers Area Commerce Council (TRACC). Evie worked as TRACC’s Director of Marketing and Promotions. In 1976 for the Bicentennial, Evie was one of the co-founders of Easton’s “Community Spirit Days” with former Mayor Henry Schulz, his assistant Phil Levine, and the Reverend Harry Maue of the Olivet Presbyterian Church. For that event, Evie and her husband co-wrote a Bicentennial Pageant. It was such a success, the following year community leaders decided to make the event an annual one, and it was named Easton Area Heritage Day, which now draws tens of thousands of people to the downtown every year. Evie served as Executive Director of Heritage Day for close to 20 years. She also was Executive Director of Easton’s Shad Fishing Tournament, and was known as “Shad Lady” by fishermen on both sides of the Delaware.
Evie was the first female member of the Kiwanis Club in Easton, and was President Elect of the Sales & Marketing Executives of Easton. After retiring from TRACC, she became assistant manager of the then-restored Hotel Easton. Following that she decided to run her own marketing and special events consultancy company called Gulick Associates.
She was a member of the former Olivet Presbyterian Church, Easton where she loved singing in the church choir. Most recently, she was a member of the First Moravian Church, Easton.
Evie’s greatest role was that of mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Evie was loved and adored as “Nanny Evie” by her family, as well as many family friends.
She is lovingly missed by her two daughters, Donna Giobbi and her husband, Herb of Arlington, VA; Angel Gulick of Easton PA; a son, Mark Gulick and his wife, Rhonda of Whitehall, PA; her 6 grandchildren Shannon Cuocco, Matthew Giobbi, Ashley Ofray, Amanda Giobbi, Jared Gulick, and Benjamin Giobbi; and, her 3 great-grandchildren Lauren Cuocco, Jayden Ofray, and Savana Ofray.
Evie is predeceased by her parents, her husband, and her siblings Charles Lothrop, Audrey Bergenback, Dick Lothrop, Donald Bellis, and Carl Bellis.
Her family would like to recognize and thank Abington Manor for their exceptional care of their mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother during her journey with Alzheimer’s.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, November 18, 2024 in First Moravian Church, 225 N. 10th St., Easton. A visitation will be held from 10:00 am until service time on Monday in the church. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association and Ascend Hospice. Please offer online condolences at www.ashtonfuneralhome.com.
Tracy Damiani
November 11, 2024 at 1:33 pm
Our Beautiful Nanny Evie. Now she can lead the Angelic Choir with Chas and Auntie Jean. They will be the best performances Heaven has ever seen!
She and Chas inspired our family to be better people every day through their energetic, bright, selfless examples. Love them and miss them
Shannon Cuocco
November 11, 2024 at 1:42 pm
Rest peacefully Nanny. You’re with Pap and the rest of your loved ones who went before you. Love you! xoxo
Shannon, Keith, and Lauren
Michael Skrocki
November 12, 2024 at 9:05 am
My condolences to Angel and the rest of the Gulick family. Evie was a very special lady.
Michael
Kathy Presto
November 12, 2024 at 10:30 am
I enjoyed performing and learning from Evie at Chansonette Theatre. I joined Chansonette when she returned to do Mame and had a marvelous 20+ years with her on stage. Evie was so charismatic and inspirational as she made all of her parts come to life for so many thru the decades of singing and dancing. I will miss her but know she is a dancing and singing angel in heaven with Chas and Jean and so many other Chansonette actors. God Bless you Evie for making me a better person – you will be missed but you are in my memory bank and the many photos i have of our time together on and off stage.
Marshall Wolff
November 12, 2024 at 10:55 am
A wonderful obituary for the original Easton ‘Ambassador’. I had the pleasure of knowing Evie from much of her community activity; she was always upbeat and organized about whatever was on her plate, and there was a lot.
Lucky to have known her and Chas. You have lost a special one. Marshall
Mike McFadden
November 12, 2024 at 12:56 pm
Evelyn had great pride in her community and her West Ward neighborhood. She always volunteered to lead and participate in any activity which was for the benefit of her neighborhood. Easton employed her to co administer a grant program for the West Ward. She was highly respected in these endeavors and enjoyed the confidence of elected officials and citizens. There are few like her. We only wish that there were more. It was a privilege to have worked with her.
Sharon J. Davis
November 13, 2024 at 10:53 am
I viewed Evelyn as a role model for her community building skills and her willingness to lift up younger women. She and Charles were wonderful friends to my own late father, Jack Davis. Her legacy in Easton will never die. My condolences to her family.
Sharon Davis
Caryn Rufo
November 13, 2024 at 6:37 pm
Sending you all love and prayers during this difficult time. Evie was a light that shone brightly in everything that she touched. Her life was a beautiful example of service. She was a blessing to many. I am lucky to have known her and to have been warmly welcomed more times than I can count. Thank you for your example, Evie. You will be missed. ♥️🙏🏻
Lois Lum
November 21, 2024 at 3:47 pm
My sympathies go to the whole family. We have many happy memories of Evelyn and Charles through the years, especially in the Chansonette theatre. Evelyn was a tireless worker, and so very community-minded.