Dr. William Kenneth Saigh

Saigh, Dr. William Kenneth 89, of Clayton, Missouri was called by God to be with Him on April 8, 2009. Dr. William Saigh is survived by his daughter, Victoria Saigh Brillhart (Dr. Allen Thompson Brillhart III); granddaughter Emily Saigh Valli; his son Michael Martin Saigh; grandson Andrew Saigh. He is survived by his sister-in-law Deemana Spudich (John); nieces Christine and Dimana Spudich of Granite City, Illinois and many, many loving friends. His parents, Freda (Haddad) and Michael Saigh preceded him in death. His wife of 33 years, Dr. Christine Pashoff Saigh also preceded him in death and brothers Fred Saigh, Victor Saigh, and his sisters Rose Saigh, and Victoria Schuttee. William was born in Kewanee, Illinois on October 1, 1919. He is a graduate of Benjamin Blewett High School in St. Louis and began to work on his under graduate degree at University of Missouri from 1939-1940. During that time, he served in the Army Infantry of the United States in World War II in the Alaskan Aleutian Islands on the island of Attu. After World War II, he became a student at Purdue University from 1945-1946 and then transferred to Washington University from 1946-1949. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1949 from Washington University. He earned his Master of Science degree from Washington University in 1950. During this time he worked with the Cardinals at Sportsman's Park where he was manager of the concessions department. One of his fondest memories was going to Spring Training in St. Petersburg, Florida with the Cardinals. He wore a Cardinals uniform and tried his hand at batting practice. He got wood on a few, but soon decided this rookie would not make it in major league baseball. He later attended Saint Louis University from 1957-1961 and earned his Ph.D. in Business Administration from Saint Louis University in 1961. His teaching experiences include Florida Atlantic University of Boca Raton, San Diego State College, University of Missouri at St. Louis, and Saint Louis University. In 1976, William and Christine opened a new and innovative restaurant in Clayton. This new concept of entree salads as a meal was a success and subsequently several Lettuce Leaf restaurants opened in the St. Louis area. They included a downtown location, Crestwood, Westport, Chesterfield and Kansas City, Missouri. Several years after the Lettuce Leaf restaurants were sold, William and Christine opened the Gourmet Canning Factory on Delmar Boulevard in University City. This restaurant offered 125 different recipes of various soups. They eventually ended the business in 1999. William held memberships in various organizations including the American Marketing Association and the Sales and Marketing Executive International. He also received the honor of being named Small Business Person of The Year for the state of Missouri in 1983, Life Skills Foundation Employer of the Year Award in 1985, and National Restaurant Association Award of Recognition for the Lettuce Leaf Restaurants in 1989. William was a founding member of Sts. Cyril and Methody Orthodox Church in Granite City, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to: Sts. Cyril and Methody Church, 4770 Maryville Road, Granite City, Illinois 62040. What wonderful memories you have given all of us. We love you and miss you so much. We know you are at peace and with your Lord, Jesus Christ. Services: Funeral services Tues., April 14, 2009, 11 a.m. at KRIEGSHAUSER WEST Mortuary Chapel, 9450 Olive Blvd., Olivette, MO. Interment Sunset Hill Cemetery, Glen Carbon, IL. Visitation Tues., 9 a.m. until time of service.