PROGRAM GUIDE 2013

comfest.com community Festival 2012 57Keith LehmanEvery once in a while a spirit comesalong that is so big it is difficult even forlife to hang on to it. So it was with KeithLehman, who passed away on March 21st,2013 at the age of 63.Keith was a presence wherever he went,whether people met him socially or in connection with hisbusiness, Strawberry Fields. And, as veteran CommunityFestival attendee and booth worker Marilyn Kellnercommented in Keith’s Legacy.com guest book, “He was amemorable presence at the early ComFests.”Keith brought the Lehman family’s Dor-Lo Pizzato ComFest, where it was reputed to be ComFest’s firstcommercial food vendor. Long-time community activistJulie Boyland recalls that she, along with her children,worked for Keith. She remembers there were fights inthe early days whether to allow for-profit businesses atComFest. “It was decided that Keith was a communityorganization. Most of us ate up all his profit.”Dan Otanicar, Keith’s brother-in-law and founder withwife Kim of the pioneering vegetarian eatery Whole WorldPizza and Bakery, recollects, “The first year of ComFest,it was just card tables. The second year, Keith brought in[pizza] trailers.”ComFest stalwart Steve Abbott also noted Keith’shistoric tie with ComFest. “There was some story that Keithhelped provide some of the start-up funds for the first fewComFests.” Steve was among the many Comfesters andothers Keith employed. “I worked for him in the early ‘80’sselling pizza at the Circleville Pumpkin Show.”Former spouse MJ Jennings remembers Keith asa “trendsetter in a family of innovators. He foundedStrawberry Fields in 1977. It was the first smoothie businessin Ohio.”Kim Lehman Otanicar, Keith’s sister, said of Keith, “Hewas really outgoing, really smart, really proud of ComFest.He organized the concessions. He probably helped fund it,too. He put a lot of time and effort into it.”We remember Keith as a founder–and likely afunder–of ComFest, as an innovator of the Street Fair foodconcessions, and as an unbridled spirit who will not soon beforgotten.—Harry FarkasIN MEMORIAMLori McCargishIn early March of this year, friends of LoriMcCargish were shocked when word spread thatshe had become a victim of homicide, shot in herhome in Oregon.During the 1990s, Lori, a talentedphotographer, was director of a little galleryknown as the ACME Art Co., which, under her direction, playeda dynamic role in the early days of the Short North Arts District.She is remembered for her lively spirit, sense of humor, and as aleader in the arts community.Art galleries tend to be pretty quiet places. But whenLori became the director of ACME, every day was filled withactivities. Concerts, auctions, kids activities, Martian tarot cardreadings, theatrical productions in the basement, a monthly’zine, and even art shows in the bathroom. And many, manyparties. It was the place to meet new people (it's where myspouse and I met) and from noon, sometimes to midnight,something exciting was always happening. And that excitementfed the growth of the entire area.At the center of it all was Lori McCargish, who notonly managed what went on inside ACME but was skilledat navigating the outer world of grant writing, Arts Councilbureaucracies, and community networking.More than a few local artists had their first showingsbecause of Lori, whose contribution to the development ofthe Short North as an arts and cultural district are hard tooverestimate.Everyone who knew her liked to work with her because toher every contact was personal. She sincerely believed in people,in creativity, and in everything that is possible when you mixthose together. In fact, many people active with ACME werenot, technically speaking, artists themselves. Whenever someonecame to her with an impossible idea, Lori always listened, andshe’d ask what was needed to make it possible. Anything waspossible at ACME, including charging an admission price onGallery Hop night. The place was always packed.This past spring, friends gathered for a memorial to Loriat Alana’s restaurant. It was just as packed as any openingreception at ACME had ever been. She inspired everyone sheknew, and is remembered and missed by everyone who knewher.—Paul VolkerPaul Volker is a local artist who worked for 2 yearsas Lori' McCargish's Assistant Director at ACME Art Co.