by Ken Lahmers
and Brent Hovey
Editor and Reporter
Aurora --Humble, generous and compassionate are a few descriptions of longtime school district supporter Linda (Tacl) Allenspach, who died May 5 after a battle with cancer.
She was diagnosed in December 2007.
Her husband, David, and three children were with her at the Cleveland Clinic's Southpointe Hospice Center, as was the Rev. Bill Schnell of the Church in Aurora.
Schnell said they all shared stories and prayers.
A memorial service will take place May 17 at 11 a.m. at the Church in Aurora, with a reception to follow in fellowship hall.
A benefit fund for Mrs. Allenspach has been opened at National City Bank to help with medical expenses. Anyone wishing to donate can make a deposit in her name.
"In speaking with her family, two words to summarize her life kept coming up: unselfish and humble," said Schnell. "She was a perfect combination of that. She volunteered in many organizations, but never drew attention to herself."
Mrs. Allenspach was born June 2, 1950 in the Lakewood-Bay Village area, and moved to Aurora in 1953 from Westlake and graduated from the local high school in 1968.
She attended Ohio State University and Hiram College, and received an associate's degree from the now defunct Tobe Cobrun in New York City.
She married David Allenspach in 1972 and the couple reared three children -- Jason, Ryan and Katie -- all graduate of AHS.
From 1968 to 1978, he worked at Halle Brothers department stores in downtown Cleveland and Severance and Summit malls.
AFTER HER father died, she inherited his B and C Paper Co. that provided cardboard to various companies.
She began her volunteer efforts when her children first entered school, including chaperoning for field trips and baking for events.
She was one of eight parents who were instrumental in creating the Aurora Orchestra Association, was president of the group from 1997 to 2002 and was a founding member of the New Aurora High School Alumni Association in 1994. She served as president until her death.
Mrs. Allenspach also was a trustee with the Aurora Schools Foundation since 1999 and was its president until her health prevented her from continuing.
She spearheaded the annual Friend of the Schools banquet, was very active in the Aurora All-Sports Boosters, took over membership coordination in 2002 and helped Ed Jasany with the concessions stands and Debbie Worman with sports buttons.
Along with School Board member Ann Morrison, Mrs. Al-lenspach began the Ultimate Boosters membership drive in 2003 through the Aurora Schools Foundation to alleviate many mailings sent to Aurorans by the four school booster clubs.
"You are only as good as the people around you," Mrs. Allenspach once said. "I've worked with many great parents over the years who have a passion for giving back their time to our schools and city, which makes Aurora a great place to live and raise a family."
Schnell said Mrs. Allenspach was a special person.
"I think the community will see evidence of that at her memorial service," he said. "There will be a big turnout of people whose lives she touched with her generosity."
DEBBIE Worman, who worked many times with Mrs. Allenspach at the concession stands for sports events, fondly recalls her.
"Linda had a passion for the kids like I've never seen," said Worman. "She would've done anything for them.
"She did all the ordering of food and supplies, was there to take the products off the trucks, put them away and even find the best prices for things. There would be an unexpected trip to Marc's at the last minute, too."
Worman said she and Mrs. Allenspach had a lot of laughs together. "We'd get to the stadium for every home football game around 2:30 p.m. and would collapse around 5, just when people were starting to come in," she said.
"I can't even begin to say how much work and dedication that woman did. At the end of the night, we'd walk out of there saying to each other, 'I wonder who won the game. I wonder who we were playing.'"
Aurora baseball coach George Snider called Mrs. Allenspach "the heart and soul of service in the school community.
"It didn't matter what the activity was -- from band to sports -- when the phone rang it was Linda organizing some activity and looking for volunteers. When she couldn't get enough help, she did it all by herself.
"It was never a part-time or individual thing with her. She was supportive of all activities, all the time."
Schools Superintendent Russ Bennett said Mrs. Allenspach was "absolutely an icon. She made Aurora better. Someone who truly had her heart in the right place. She can't be replaced. There was only one Linda Allenspach."
E-mail: bhovey@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3155