November 16, 2024

Written with love by Kim Fritchie upon her family’s request

The City of Lee’s Summit and surrounding cities of Raytown, Greenwood, and Lake Lotawana as well as the wider Jackson County community has lost a remarkable individual with the passing of Linda Ahern, Owner and Publisher of the Lee’s Summit Tribune.

Linda, who passed away on Saturday, Nov. 2, was known for her unwavering commitment to the people in her life and our communities – first responders, military personnel and veterans, the Boy Scouts, elected officials, friends, colleagues, and most of all family.

Linda’s life was guided by her generous nature, her curiosity, and her quest for the truth. As her friend and former Lee’s Summit City Council member Phyllis Edson said, “Linda was generous – always giving to the Boy Scouts, the VFW and veterans, and especially her grandkids. She was very proud of them and talked about them often.” Many did not know that she took care of her brother in her own home for several years until his death. Edson went on to emphasize Linda’s commitment to first responders by explaining a little-known fact – that Linda allowed the Lee’s Summit Fire Department to store the historic firetruck used in parades in her garage for years before it was recently moved to the newest fire station.

Lee’s Summit Mayor Bill Baird and Linda spoke often. He said, “She was a truth seeker. She sought justice, and there is no more noble thing in my book.” He explained that Linda valued giving everyone a voice, and she sought information for the public. “She did see things clearly, and she knew everything that was going on.” The mayor pointed out that Linda made friends with many elected officials to stay in touch and in the know. “People saw her as trustworthy and told her things.” In fact, mayors of several cities talked with her, and she was good friends with both Mayor Baird and former Lee’s Summit Mayor Karen Messerli. Baird said, “She was the most connected person that you never saw,” because she preferred to stay behind the scenes.

Linda’s world revolved around journalism. She had held positions with the Kansas City Star, the Pony Express, The Blue Springs Examiner, the Lake Lotawana News, the Oak Grove Town and Country, The Lee’s Summit Journal, and her paper – the Lee’s Summit Tribune. Her former co-worker Sally Groves wrote, “She had ink in her blood, and when she shared her dream with me about her venture into the Lee’s Summit Newspaper market, I was thrilled.” Many commented on the announcement of her passing in regard to the service she provided to the Lee’s Summit and surrounding communities through the Tribune.

Fred Liggett, a sports reporter for the Tribune and friend, told of Linda giving him an opportunity to write for the paper in 2010 and then having him start covering The Mavericks games in 2011 and writing the column “Meet A Maverick.” Since that time, the coverage expanded to prep sports in Lee’s Summit, KC Comets Soccer, KC Royals, Sporting KC and a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs. He observed that, “Linda was very quick to promote city events, promote Lee’s Summit accomplishments and anything to help raise the profile of the community.” Anyone who approached her with a request to run a marriage announcement, an obituary or a story about a recent LSR7 graduate who made the honor roll at their college of choice received their request at no charge.

In addition, Linda truly cared about her friends as witnessed by Liggett when he said, “I still recall the night I attended a Mavs hockey game in Tulsa which started at 7:05 p.m. The game ended at 9:45 and by 10:15 I was on my way back home to Lee’s Summit. My phone rang at 1 a.m., and it was Linda worried I may have fallen asleep at the wheel of my rental car.” He said that she was “always willing to help out and happy to lend a hand. That’s how I will remember Linda.”

Those who knew Linda well knew that she had a humorous side. Mayor Baird said, “She made me laugh.” Linda liked to tell stories, and the mayor said he listened to them until she was done. “She loved irony, was satirical, and believed in karma. She would always call me after a meeting that I was not necessarily proud of to debrief. Her call would make me laugh.

Other qualities embodied by Linda were tenacity and resilience. Edson pointed out, “At some point in her career, she was a private investigator. She was an excellent investigator and could really track down information!” Some would say that she never slept given the late-night conversations she would have with them. Others like Rich Schubert marveled at her “ability to keep in touch with towns’ and the county’s goings-on. She stayed in touch with the people, groups, committees, churches, and schools, resulting in the long hours she dedicated to reporting in the Tribune.” As Mayor Baird concluded, “She was a warrior until the end.”

On the Tribune’s Facebook page, many comments and descriptors can be found to describe Linda and her impact upon our community and the people in it.

Here are just a few:
She was one of a kind. ~ Mary Wiesemann
Linda was an institution in Lee’s Summit. ~ Jean Davis
She loved Lee’s Summit. ~ Teresa Aytes Feagans
She had so much love for our city. ~ Neighborhood Café
What a wonderful person and community pillar. ~ Dave Mosby
She left an indelible mark on our community. ~ Dom Bennett
She was such a community person. She did so many things behind the scenes for several organizations. ~ Betty Sharp
She was so supportive of the youth in Lee’s Summit. ~ Jayne Hartwig
She had a heart of gold not only for her family but for the Lee’s Summit community. ~ Yvonne Norton-Holt

May Linda Quick Ahern rest in peace, knowing that her legacy of service and care for her family, friends, and community will continue to inspire for years to come.