Allen Daniel Smith

Allen Daniel Smith, passed away September 27, 2017. Born February 21, 1948 in Cleveland, Ohio, at Booth Memorial Hospital to Donald D. Smith & Edna Mae (Jackson); Wife, Mary Jo (Bordonaro); Children: Damon N (Jesse Faciana), Morgan L (Adrienne Grady), Russell W. Curtis; Grandchildren: Maisie, Nellie, Evie, Betsy, Austen and Jamie; Siblings: Donna D. (Zuro), David, Dennis D. (Kay Fagan), Daniel D. (Ellen), Deanna D. (Baker), Ken; And many nieces and nephews. Attended Euclid High School where he captained the tennis team to the city championship, 1966, Otterbein College, then entered the U.S. Army in August, 1968. Basic training at Fort Hood, KY; AIT at Fort Polk, LA; 1969 was sent to Vietnam as a machine gunner with the 3rd Brigade of the 82nd Airborne. Attended and graduated from Cleveland State University with a B.A. in English Literature. Life experiences: spent much time growing up with his grandparents living at Euclid Beach Amusement Park and traveling throughout the Midwest with his grandfather to race his midget race car. Travels included: dancing with headhunters in Borneo; experiencing martial law in Beijing with his sons; standing amid 100,000 penguins in the midnight sun of the Antarctica; snorkeling in the Galapagos Island with the giant tortoises and hammerhead sharks; climbing some of the tallest mountains in North America in Mexico; spending almost 3 months in the Grand Canyon, including twice descending the entire length of the Colorado River; racing various cars at Daytona Speedway, Sebring and Road America; and catching a 140 lb. halibut. Allen traveled around the world to China and the Soviet Union on a People to People Goodwill Mission, stood between the paws of the Sphinx, meditated in the pit of the Great Pyramid and walked in the footprints of Jesus in Israel and Egypt. Travels included all but two of the United States at least twice and an excess of sixty countries around the world. World experiences included owning and operating Damon Morgan Corporation, McDonald restaurants that have been located in Lake, Geauga & Ashtabula counties; served as Secretary, Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Northeast Ohio McDonald’s Owner/Operator Association; was Chairman of the Ronald McDonald House Charities for many years and then was honored by being named Chairman Emeritus. Allen received the Golden Arch Award which is McDonald’s Lifetime Achievement Award given to less than 1% of owners. Allen served on many boards including: Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland, Lake County Indian Museum, Lake County Society for Rehabilitation, Grand River Partners, Salvation Army of Ashtabula County (Chairman), Cleveland State University Visiting Committee, Cleveland Museum of Natural History Natural Areas and the Association for Research and Enlightenment (Virginia Beach, VA). It was through his love and appreciation of nature that Allen met the love of his life through the Grand River Partners. Together they compressed so many life experiences into the years they shared. Whether it was helicoptering over the Grand Canyon or Alaskan Glaciers, or dealing with far too many health issues. Allen was so very thankful to be with the woman he chose to be his partner for life. She also brought life into their house in the form of their dogs, Marley and Willow, who Allen learned to care for and love dearly. The family will receive friends from 1-3 pm and 5-7 pm Saturday October 7, 2017 at Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 8466 Mentor Ave., Mentor, OH. A Military Honors Service will be held outdoors at 11:45 am Sunday October 8, 2017 at LaMalfa Center, 5783 Heisley Rd, Mentor, OH 44060, followed by a Celebration of Life Service and luncheon in the LaMalfa chapel. Send flowers and offer condolences at www.brunners.com. In Allen’s memory contributions may be made to the Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland, 10415 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44106.

Allen Daniel Smith

February 21, 1948 - September 27, 2017