John Robert Alspach

ALSPACH, John R., PE, 89, of Tampa and a former Toledo City manager, and safety-service director in Maumee and Oregon, died Thursday, April 23, 2009 in St. Joseph’s Hospital, Tampa, of injuries suffered in a traffic accident. A civil engineer, Mr. Alspach was city manager from April 1, 1960 to Dec. 4, 1961. His tenure in the appointed, officially non-political position was cut short by politics. A Democrat, he came under fierce criticism from Republicans during the 1961 council races and decided to resign after the election, which left the GOP with an 8-1 majority. Of the city manager’s job, he said: “It’s OK when everything is going right – but that’s a small part of the time. It can get to be a rat race.” Toledo voters abolished the city manager position in the early 1990’s in favor of a strong-mayor form of city government. In 1952, Mr. Alspach became Maumee’s first safety-service director, and from 1968 to 1970 he held the same position in Oregon. In 1959, he was appointed to succeed Guy Neeper as Lucas County engineer. Between public service jobs, Mr. Alspach worked in his own engineering and surveying firm. National Survey Service. In 1971, he moved to the West Indies to be administrative general manager of Bostleman International LTD., a firm founded by Toledo builder Fred W. Bostleman. He returned to Toledo in 1974. In 1979, he left for Annapolis for a stint as a consultant, and then moved to Tampa. A 1960 profile of Mr. Alspach in The Blade described him as a family man who could be found at his Aldringham Road home most evenings. “John Alspach plays neither bridge nor golf. He takes an occasional drink and smokes nonfilter cigarettes. For relaxation, he reads historical novels and plays a game of pinochle or rummy,” the article said. Mr. Alspach and his wife, Marjorie, reared two sons and a daughter. Mrs. Alspach died in 1991, and that same year he married Maria Benito. Mr. Alspach was a graduate of Scott High School and the University of Toledo. He was a Navy veteran of World War II, during which he taught radio and attended classes at the University of Pennsylvania and a mid-shipmen’s school at Cornell University. He attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the Navy. He worked as a Civil Engineer into his 80’s. Some local D.O.T. projects included the Tampa downtown Trolley, Section “8” Veterans Expressway, Suncoast Highway near Auburndale, Florida, Water and Sewage Plant on Waters & Sheldon Rd.. Surviving are his wife, Maria; daughter, Pamela; son, Douglas and granddaughter, Sarah. Memorial Service with Military Honors to be held Friday, 5/22/09, 7:30 PM at 3908 Venetian Way, Tampa, Florida 33634, the family home.