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A Tribute to Deb Koplen
“One
person can change the face of their community…”
---Rick
Herold
This
past Tuesday many of us attended the funeral of Deb Koplen. Deb had
been diagnosed with cancer just before Thanksgiving and she joined
the Lord last week.
Trying
to describe Deb is really tough. Let’s just say her bright red
hair fit her personality perfectly. She could cuss with the best
sailor anywhere, she could get your dander up in world record pace
and she let you know in no uncertain terms she was in-charge.
She
loved her church, her friends, Miss Chips (her beloved dog) and
Central Bark (Grand Prairie’s first dog park). Deb Koplen was in
one word: a crackerjack!
I
heard a Pastor say this recently and it fit Deb to a tee, “When I
wake up every morning, the first thing that I pray to the Dear Lord
is to have Deb on my side!”
Despite
having no relatives at the funeral Tuesday, St. Johns Lutheran Church
was packed. Why? This boisterous red-head had many friends and
touched many lives.
Don’t
get me wrong, Deb and I stood toe to toe going back and forth on
numerous occasions. When we forgot to list the Spring Fling in the
cities marketing brochure, she attacked us with all guns blaring.
You see, Deb Koplen was no “milktoast”. She was in your face and
I think it’s safe to say…never minced words! She could even get
this old Parks Director to spin his head in amazement.
But,
Lord, did I respect her passion. She had drive, tenacity, and an
inherent nature not to accept “no” as an answer.
When Deb decided it was a time for Grand Prairie to have a Dog Park she rallied citizens who had dogs, then our department, and finally the Parks Board and City Council.
She
pulled out all the stops. From bringing dogs to City Council, to
calling every City Council member, to telling us just what she
expected. She was a natural leader, maybe a little too Vince
Lombardy at times, but lead she did never the less.
“Rick,
you are marketing this all wrong”, she would say. “We are not
building a Dog Park, we are building a Park for People who Love
Dogs”. I can’t tell you how many times Deb pounded that into our
heads.
Deb had such passion; A vision to create a park where animals and dogs could socialize together. And, truly friends, that is what has happened at Central Bark. It really is a special place.
However, Deb had a soft side as well. She would come to Parks Board meetings and brag about the department. When she found out I was in the market for a new dog, she went and bought a book and brought it to me and said Rick “this breed of dog is exactly what you need”. Her church, her friends, her Paw Pals co-members, her four-legged friends all had a special place in Deb Kaplen’s heart.
Deb Koplen left her mark at her church, with her many friends, her co-workers, her beloved Paw Pals organization and with those of us who worked with her in Parks and Recreation. Deb Koplen was a “crackerjack”.
The Pastor delivered a wonderful message in tribute to Deb Tuesday. We laughed, we cried, we shook our heads in agreement. For that one moment in time, everyone was on Deb’s side and Deb looked down from heaven and said, “It’s about time!”
Miss Chips, you had a helleva Mother! We will miss ya Deb.…
A
side note…
In
a few weeks, Deb’s church family, friends, Paw Pals leaders and
Parks and Recreation Department officials will honor Deb with a
special plaque that will be placed at Central Bark. The role that
Deb played in making it happen will be remembered forever…..
Revised: 02/09/09
