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gofundme.com/f/gofundmecomhelp-a-good-guy-aka-steve-allen
Help A Good Guy -aka- Steve Allen
(3rd Story Update October 9, 2019)
It breaks my heart to share that on Sunday afternoon, September 15, 2019, Steve Allen at the age of 61 years old, departed his life while surrounded by family and close friends at the Cleveland Clinic Hospital’s main campus, at 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio. To make matters worse, because of his physical health, Steve could not obtain affordable life insurance, and he died without coverage. He had a policy a few years ago, but it lapsed. Therefore, I set up this GoFundMe fundraiser as a means to raise money to pay for final expenses for a burial or cremation, and memorial services for my beloved nephew, Steve Allen.
My name is Linda Woodruff, and Steve Allen was my oldest nephew, but he was more like a brother to me because we grew up in the same household. When Steve's mother died, my parents (his maternal grandparents) were already taking care of Steve and his sister along with my eight siblings. Today, there are only three of us siblings left. Although I am just a few years older than Steve is, I remember helping my mother around the house, and I even changed Steve’s diapers a few times. Steve really meant a lot me as I learned how to take care of him when his mother could not. Steve's father took off right before the birth of Steve's sister, and our family has never heard from him again. Steve's mother suffered with schizophrenia after her husband left her, and she passed away in a mental institution in 1967, in Cleveland, Ohio.
I set up this GoFundMe.com fundraiser on September 20, 2019, and shared it to my Facebook page. I asked family and friends to each donate $61.00. I came up with this donation amount as it coincides with Steve’s age at the time of his death. Some donated more and others donated less. However, all donations of any amount are highly appreciated! In addition, if you have not supported this fundraiser yet, but would like to, it is not too late, so please make your donation today!
As of now, Steve's sister, Debra and I have located a Funeral Service in Akron, Ohio who will perform a direct cremation at a reasonable price. Initially, I reported that Steve's remains were at the Cuyahoga Coroner's, but that was wrong. His remains stayed at the Cleveland Clinic Hospital where the autopsy was performed. The Funeral Service picked up his remains yesterday, Tuesday, October 8, 2019.
Unfortunately, Steve suffered an acute critical illness that resulted in a hospital stay for the very first time in his adult life. On Thursday, September 12, Steve called 911 and reported that he could not breathe. When the EMS got to his home in Lakewood, Ohio, they found him unresponsive, his heart stopped, and he was not breathing: but they revived him, and then rushed him to Lakewood Hospital’s Emergency Department (closest one) in Lakewood, Ohio. We learned later that one of his lungs had collapsed, and his kidneys had shut down.
Within a very short time, Lakewood’s ER transferred Steve to the Coronary Intensive Care Unit at the Cleveland Clinic Hospital Main Campus where he remained unresponsive to life-sustaining treatment for three days. On the third day, Sunday, September 15, 2019, his only sibling and next-of-kin, who at that time was in the hospital in Akron, Ohio, authorized all life-sustaining efforts for Steve to discontinue. Moments later, the examining physician said, "I am so sorry for your loss."
Yes, Steve Allen really was ‘A Good Guy.’ Although he did not have much, he was always willing to help those in need and share whatever he had with others. If you needed a place to stay, Steve’s door was open. In fact, I lived with him for a whole year when I moved back to Cleveland from Cincinnati. When Steve heard that I needed help, I didn't have to call him, he reached out to me! I will never forget that. We got along swell! Besides me, there were others . . . . If you were in prison, Steve regularly put a few dollars on the books for you. While he had very little, he never asked for much. Steve never complained about anything, he was always respectful, and lived a simple and quiet life. He loved being at home watching TV, listening to music, and spending time with his family and friends. He lived at his last residence for 22 years and he liked his neighbors and community. Although he never married nor had children, Steve was content.
Nonetheless, during the mid to late 1990s, doctors diagnosed Steve with COPD (Coronary Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). During that time, he was a client at the Center for Families and Children on Rocky River Drive, in Cleveland, Ohio where he received consistent treatment for schizophrenia. Steve dealt with this mental health issue nearly all of his life. When he was about 16 years old, someone accused Steve of stealing a bike, and the Juvenile Court ordered him to serve one year in a boy’s detention facility. I think it was in Ohio. He spent about a year in that place, and when he came home, Steve was not the same. Not the same happy, go lucky, silly kid he used to be. Something happened to him while he was away, and from that point on, life was very difficult for my nephew.
As time passed, the love and support of his family and friends helped him get through some rough times. Before Momma passed away in 1984, she told my brother and me … “always look out for Steve.” We honored her request the best we could. My brother passed away over ten years ago.
Over the years, as Steve matured, he got the professional help that he needed, and it made a big difference in his life. He became more settled and compliant with keeping his doctor’s appointments and taking his meds. Steve became self-sufficient. Now, as the matriarch of my family, it is my duty and obligation to take care of this final chapter for Steve Allen.
Will you please help me with this endeavor and make a donation today? We want to honor my beloved nephew's death with the dignity and respect that he deserves. It is the least that we can do.
As of today, October 9, 2019, we have raised a total of $1,907.00, thanks to all you Faithful Supporters. We are still expecting to receive a couple more donations in the days ahead. Nonetheless, we have moved forward and have planned and scheduled a Memorial Service, and repast at the Woman's Club Pavilion in Lakewood, Ohio, which will take place on Tuesday, October 22, 2019, from 12 noon to 5 p.m. The Memorial Service will begin at 12:00 o'clock noon, immediately followed by a balloon release ceremony, and then the repast.
In closing, on behalf of Debra and me, we both thank you from the very depths of our hearts for your loving support and generous donations. We could not have done it without you! God Bless You! ~
Help A Good Guy -aka- Steve Allen
(3rd Story Update October 9, 2019)
It breaks my heart to share that on Sunday afternoon, September 15, 2019, Steve Allen at the age of 61 years old, departed his life while surrounded by family and close friends at the Cleveland Clinic Hospital’s main campus, at 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio. To make matters worse, because of his physical health, Steve could not obtain affordable life insurance, and he died without coverage. He had a policy a few years ago, but it lapsed. Therefore, I set up this GoFundMe fundraiser as a means to raise money to pay for final expenses for a burial or cremation, and memorial services for my beloved nephew, Steve Allen.
My name is Linda Woodruff, and Steve Allen was my oldest nephew, but he was more like a brother to me because we grew up in the same household. When Steve's mother died, my parents (his maternal grandparents) were already taking care of Steve and his sister along with my eight siblings. Today, there are only three of us siblings left. Although I am just a few years older than Steve is, I remember helping my mother around the house, and I even changed Steve’s diapers a few times. Steve really meant a lot me as I learned how to take care of him when his mother could not. Steve's father took off right before the birth of Steve's sister, and our family has never heard from him again. Steve's mother suffered with schizophrenia after her husband left her, and she passed away in a mental institution in 1967, in Cleveland, Ohio.
I set up this GoFundMe.com fundraiser on September 20, 2019, and shared it to my Facebook page. I asked family and friends to each donate $61.00. I came up with this donation amount as it coincides with Steve’s age at the time of his death. Some donated more and others donated less. However, all donations of any amount are highly appreciated! In addition, if you have not supported this fundraiser yet, but would like to, it is not too late, so please make your donation today!
As of now, Steve's sister, Debra and I have located a Funeral Service in Akron, Ohio who will perform a direct cremation at a reasonable price. Initially, I reported that Steve's remains were at the Cuyahoga Coroner's, but that was wrong. His remains stayed at the Cleveland Clinic Hospital where the autopsy was performed. The Funeral Service picked up his remains yesterday, Tuesday, October 8, 2019.
Unfortunately, Steve suffered an acute critical illness that resulted in a hospital stay for the very first time in his adult life. On Thursday, September 12, Steve called 911 and reported that he could not breathe. When the EMS got to his home in Lakewood, Ohio, they found him unresponsive, his heart stopped, and he was not breathing: but they revived him, and then rushed him to Lakewood Hospital’s Emergency Department (closest one) in Lakewood, Ohio. We learned later that one of his lungs had collapsed, and his kidneys had shut down.
Within a very short time, Lakewood’s ER transferred Steve to the Coronary Intensive Care Unit at the Cleveland Clinic Hospital Main Campus where he remained unresponsive to life-sustaining treatment for three days. On the third day, Sunday, September 15, 2019, his only sibling and next-of-kin, who at that time was in the hospital in Akron, Ohio, authorized all life-sustaining efforts for Steve to discontinue. Moments later, the examining physician said, "I am so sorry for your loss."
Yes, Steve Allen really was ‘A Good Guy.’ Although he did not have much, he was always willing to help those in need and share whatever he had with others. If you needed a place to stay, Steve’s door was open. In fact, I lived with him for a whole year when I moved back to Cleveland from Cincinnati. When Steve heard that I needed help, I didn't have to call him, he reached out to me! I will never forget that. We got along swell! Besides me, there were others . . . . If you were in prison, Steve regularly put a few dollars on the books for you. While he had very little, he never asked for much. Steve never complained about anything, he was always respectful, and lived a simple and quiet life. He loved being at home watching TV, listening to music, and spending time with his family and friends. He lived at his last residence for 22 years and he liked his neighbors and community. Although he never married nor had children, Steve was content.
Nonetheless, during the mid to late 1990s, doctors diagnosed Steve with COPD (Coronary Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). During that time, he was a client at the Center for Families and Children on Rocky River Drive, in Cleveland, Ohio where he received consistent treatment for schizophrenia. Steve dealt with this mental health issue nearly all of his life. When he was about 16 years old, someone accused Steve of stealing a bike, and the Juvenile Court ordered him to serve one year in a boy’s detention facility. I think it was in Ohio. He spent about a year in that place, and when he came home, Steve was not the same. Not the same happy, go lucky, silly kid he used to be. Something happened to him while he was away, and from that point on, life was very difficult for my nephew.
As time passed, the love and support of his family and friends helped him get through some rough times. Before Momma passed away in 1984, she told my brother and me … “always look out for Steve.” We honored her request the best we could. My brother passed away over ten years ago.
Over the years, as Steve matured, he got the professional help that he needed, and it made a big difference in his life. He became more settled and compliant with keeping his doctor’s appointments and taking his meds. Steve became self-sufficient. Now, as the matriarch of my family, it is my duty and obligation to take care of this final chapter for Steve Allen.
Will you please help me with this endeavor and make a donation today? We want to honor my beloved nephew's death with the dignity and respect that he deserves. It is the least that we can do.
As of today, October 9, 2019, we have raised a total of $1,907.00, thanks to all you Faithful Supporters. We are still expecting to receive a couple more donations in the days ahead. Nonetheless, we have moved forward and have planned and scheduled a Memorial Service, and repast at the Woman's Club Pavilion in Lakewood, Ohio, which will take place on Tuesday, October 22, 2019, from 12 noon to 5 p.m. The Memorial Service will begin at 12:00 o'clock noon, immediately followed by a balloon release ceremony, and then the repast.
In closing, on behalf of Debra and me, we both thank you from the very depths of our hearts for your loving support and generous donations. We could not have done it without you! God Bless You! ~