Alberta Lee was a rare and remarkable leader. She and I came from very different political views, yet we worked together on several projects of community service.
She asked me once to sit in on a phone call. The man on the other line was berating me. Alberta said, “Wait a minute, she’s right here with me. Let’s see what she has to say!”
Alberta was a quiet person, who led with dignity and respect for all people. She was everywhere in our community. Girl Scouts? Alberta was there. Chamber of Commerce? Alberta was there. Basketball games? There she was again. Even throughout grueling cancer treatment, she never missed a beat.
It was not her way to make big speeches, it was her way to speak quietly and with dignity, even in disagreement, never a cross word. Her motive was never suspect. She always stood up for what was good for Allen County.
Alberta was instrumental in bringing Community Action and Head Start back into Allen County, not programs that were necessarily favored by her political party. After endless meetings with staff of DHS in Chicago, she was asked why Allen County should have control of these programs again. Her response quite simply: Those are our children, it’s our tax money, and it belongs to Allen County. Oh, by the way, we won’t be giving up. We got the grant.
The leadership shown by Alberta Lee should be a lesson to anyone in public service. She was the best kind of public servant.
Rochelle Twining
Lima
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