Lew Stamp’s wife passes away

Plaid Casson Stamp, wife of former BJ photographer Lew Stamp, passed away.

Plaid led an amazing life in both journalism and as a conservationist.

She grew up next door a 100-acre farm and a Nike missile site in the Pittsburgh area.

Lew took a BJ buyout in 2008 after spending 30 years at Ol’ Blue Walls.

Another newspaper photographer, Ken Steinhoff, who was at the Palm Beach (Florida) Post for 35 years before taking a buyout, was the best man at Plaid and Lew’s wedding. He tells an interesting story:

Lew was a photographer on the Ohio University Post. He was a nice guy with curly red hair and a pale complexion. He and a beautiful black reporter became an item. You could tell they were getting serious by the sparks that flew between them, and I don’t mean the static electricity kind you get by shuffling your feet on the carpet.

One day they came over and said, “We going to get married and we’d like for you to be Lew’s best man.”

I gave them a long lookover, then, in my most southern of Swampeast Missouri tones drawled, sorrowfully, “You know I like you two, but I’m sorry, but I can’t give you my blessing. There are some things that are just wrong. Wrong. I’m sorry.”

They were crestfallen. They hadn’t taken me to be One of Those People.  

“Lew, your last name is Stamp.”

Looking at his bride-to-be, I continued, “Your first name is Plaid. There is no way in the world that I want to be a part of making you Plaid Stamp until death do you part.”

Of course, I relented. I tried to recruit Lew to work with me at The Gastonia Gazette, but he had the good sense to turn me down. He still pops up on Facebook from time to time.

Warm and great sentiments.

There will be a Celebration of Life from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, February 15 at the Schermesser Funeral Home, 600 E. Turkeyfoot Lake Road.

Plaid’s obituary:

Plaid Lynn Stamp (Casson)

I am survived by my husband of 47 years, Lew Stamp; son, Lewis Stamp III; daughter-in-law, Halie; grandson, Lewis Keith Stamp IV, and oh what a joy he is!

Here in Akron and across the country I have been fortunate to have many wonderful friends with whom I have shared the joys, and tribulations which make life as we know it so rich a tapestry. I am blessed that so many of them have been able to give of their time and energy to pause and visit with me as my time draws short. I am especially blessed to have also been able to share in the lives of the young children of my close friends, and family.

Those close to me know I have a passion for conserving and managing natural resources, energy issues and environmental protection. I see the broad lakes region just south of Akron as more than just isolated communities, but as a living environmental economic district that needed a big picture approach, where quality water was the life blood flowing through the region. My zealousness for these topics is rooted in my growing up next door to a several hundred acre farm and a sprawling Nike missile site, while living only 20 minutes away from the robust culture of Pittsburgh, with my dance class at the University of Pittsburgh and my music lessons in Squirrel Hill.

Over those years I volunteered as a Candy Striper at the hospital, and as a camp counselor. At Chartiers Valley High School I became editor of the school newspaper, followed by a journalism scholarship at Ohio University, where I met and married my husband Lew, we also worked together on the Ohio University POST.

 We both followed our journalism careers on to Dayton, Ohio, where I worked at the Kettering Oakwood Times, and Fairborn Herald. Then after a brief stay in Kansas with the wonderful people at Meseraull Publishing, we moved on to Columbia, Missouri, where I furthered my education at Columbia College and worked at the Daily Tribune.

In 1978, we moved to Akron to work in newspapering, I at the Suburbanite. Later I joined the American Cancer Society to lead the Summit County residential donations campaign. There is a notable irony in that. In addition, I worked in communications for LifeCenter Plus fitness center in Hudson.

In my volunteer life, I was active in and held the position of Secretary for the Friends of Metro Parks Serving Summit County for 20 years, which included traveling to Columbus frequently to meet with Ohio State legislators on environmental issues. I helped found the Friends of Portage Lakes State Parks, a Cub Scout pack (3336), a Boy Scout troop (336) Go Frog Patrol!, served as trustee of Friends for the Preservation of Ohio State Parks, became the president of Portage Lakes Advisory Council for over a decade, sitting on the Technical Advisory Committee, for the purpose of spreading the vision of sustainable living in the Portage Lakes Watershed, Summit County and beyond, where I was active until my death.

There will be a gathering of family and friends to celebrate the Life of Lynn on Saturday, February 15, 2020 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Schermesser Funeral Home, 600 E. Turkeyfoot Lake Road, Akron, Ohio 44319. Memorial contributions can be made in Lynn’s name to the American Cancer Society, 3500 Embassy Parkway, Ste. 150, Akron, Ohio 44333. To leave a special message online for the family, visit our website at www. schermesserfh.com .