Tribute Paul Allegri, a victim of a hit-and-run, was an organ donor
Who: Paul Allegri of Kansas City
Age: 56
When and how he died: March 11 in a hit-and-run accident near his home
Neighborhood guy: Paul was a fixture in his Waldo neighborhood, his siblings said. Born
and raised in the area, he lived in Waldo most of his life, except while attending
college and serving in the military.
"You'd often see him walking down Wornall on a regular basis," said his sister,
Mimi Kopulos. "He'd just come into your house and make you laugh."
Paul, who was one of six children, attended Catholic schools and De La Salle Academy for
high school, when he took up photography.
"He was really talented," Kopulos said. "He even made a darkroom in my
parents' basement."
After a stint attending the University of Texas at Arlington, Paul became a photographer
in the Air Force. After his service, he worked a number of jobs as a photographic
specialist. Most recently, he worked in packaging for YRC Worldwide.
A nice guy: Paul made friends easily and knew many people from all walks of life, family
members said. Whether at a friend's house or a neighborhood pub, Paul liked to have a
good time.
"He could sit down with a drunk at the end of a bar and listen to his sad story, and
Paul would be totally comfortable," said his brother, Stephen Allegri.
"He wasn't judgmental and he liked everybody," Kopulos said. "He was our
family's Kramer from the TV show 'Seinfeld.' He came into a room like a gust of
wind."
Unusual gift-giver: Paul had a penchant for garage sales.
"He couldn't throw anything away," Kopulos said. "He loved to go to the
thrift stores and shop, and he couldn't pass a garage sale."
Said Stephen Allegri: "Big Lots was like Nordstrom to Paul."
Family members got a little taste of Paul's shopping talents each holiday.
"He'd wrap your gift in the car and run inside with it," Kopulos said. "It
was likely he had bought it just minutes before. One year, he bought me a mink stole from
a thrift store, and it shed all over."
Paul's gifts always were unique, like the item he bought his brother for Christmas 2000.
"He got me this clock that would wake you up and tell you the day, date and your
horoscope, and I thought that was pretty neat," Stephen Allegri said. "I got it
all set up and I wake up to it saying, 'Good morning. This is May 5, 1978,' so I knew he
must have gotten a good deal on it."
Added Kopulos: "Everyone who knew him has a story to tell, and they're funny."
Although Paul was a loner of sorts, his siblings said he was an unselfish person. Kopulos
said her brother had left instructions to donate his organs if anything happened to him.
"His kidneys are with two men in their 40s, and his other organs will be used,"
Kopulos said. "In the end, he gave back in a big way."
Survivors include: A son, his sister, his brother, their spouses and many nieces and
nephews.
The last word: Though life's ups and downs, Paul always was loved.
"He was such a wonderful guy, always smiling," Kopulos said.
Kansas City Star, The (MO) - Tuesday, April 13, 2010
INFORMATION PROVIDED BY JONI (HEDRICK) DIETZ
Who: Paul Allegri of Kansas City
Age: 56
When and how he died: March 11 in a hit-and-run accident near his home
Neighborhood guy: Paul was a fixture in his Waldo neighborhood, his siblings said. Born
and raised in the area, he lived in Waldo most of his life, except while attending
college and serving in the military.
"You'd often see him walking down Wornall on a regular basis," said his sister,
Mimi Kopulos. "He'd just come into your house and make you laugh."
Paul, who was one of six children, attended Catholic schools and De La Salle Academy for
high school, when he took up photography.
"He was really talented," Kopulos said. "He even made a darkroom in my
parents' basement."
After a stint attending the University of Texas at Arlington, Paul became a photographer
in the Air Force. After his service, he worked a number of jobs as a photographic
specialist. Most recently, he worked in packaging for YRC Worldwide.
A nice guy: Paul made friends easily and knew many people from all walks of life, family
members said. Whether at a friend's house or a neighborhood pub, Paul liked to have a
good time.
"He could sit down with a drunk at the end of a bar and listen to his sad story, and
Paul would be totally comfortable," said his brother, Stephen Allegri.
"He wasn't judgmental and he liked everybody," Kopulos said. "He was our
family's Kramer from the TV show 'Seinfeld.' He came into a room like a gust of
wind."
Unusual gift-giver: Paul had a penchant for garage sales.
"He couldn't throw anything away," Kopulos said. "He loved to go to the
thrift stores and shop, and he couldn't pass a garage sale."
Said Stephen Allegri: "Big Lots was like Nordstrom to Paul."
Family members got a little taste of Paul's shopping talents each holiday.
"He'd wrap your gift in the car and run inside with it," Kopulos said. "It
was likely he had bought it just minutes before. One year, he bought me a mink stole from
a thrift store, and it shed all over."
Paul's gifts always were unique, like the item he bought his brother for Christmas 2000.
"He got me this clock that would wake you up and tell you the day, date and your
horoscope, and I thought that was pretty neat," Stephen Allegri said. "I got it
all set up and I wake up to it saying, 'Good morning. This is May 5, 1978,' so I knew he
must have gotten a good deal on it."
Added Kopulos: "Everyone who knew him has a story to tell, and they're funny."
Although Paul was a loner of sorts, his siblings said he was an unselfish person. Kopulos
said her brother had left instructions to donate his organs if anything happened to him.
"His kidneys are with two men in their 40s, and his other organs will be used,"
Kopulos said. "In the end, he gave back in a big way."
Survivors include: A son, his sister, his brother, their spouses and many nieces and
nephews.
The last word: Though life's ups and downs, Paul always was loved.
"He was such a wonderful guy, always smiling," Kopulos said.
Kansas City Star, The (MO) - Tuesday, April 13, 2010
INFORMATION PROVIDED BY JONI (HEDRICK) DIETZ
Tribute Paul Allegri, a victim of a hit-and-run, was an organ donor
Who: Paul Allegri of Kansas City
Age: 56
When and how he died: March 11 in a hit-and-run accident near his home
Neighborhood guy: Paul was a fixture in his Waldo neighborhood, his siblings said. Born
and raised in the area, he lived in Waldo most of his life, except while attending
college and serving in the military.
"You'd often see him walking down Wornall on a regular basis," said his sister,
Mimi Kopulos. "He'd just come into your house and make you laugh."
Paul, who was one of six children, attended Catholic schools and De La Salle Academy for
high school, when he took up photography.
"He was really talented," Kopulos said. "He even made a darkroom in my
parents' basement."
After a stint attending the University of Texas at Arlington, Paul became a photographer
in the Air Force. After his service, he worked a number of jobs as a photographic
specialist. Most recently, he worked in packaging for YRC Worldwide.
A nice guy: Paul made friends easily and knew many people from all walks of life, family
members said. Whether at a friend's house or a neighborhood pub, Paul liked to have a
good time.
"He could sit down with a drunk at the end of a bar and listen to his sad story, and
Paul would be totally comfortable," said his brother, Stephen Allegri.
"He wasn't judgmental and he liked everybody," Kopulos said. "He was our
family's Kramer from the TV show 'Seinfeld.' He came into a room like a gust of
wind."
Unusual gift-giver: Paul had a penchant for garage sales.
"He couldn't throw anything away," Kopulos said. "He loved to go to the
thrift stores and shop, and he couldn't pass a garage sale."
Said Stephen Allegri: "Big Lots was like Nordstrom to Paul."
Family members got a little taste of Paul's shopping talents each holiday.
"He'd wrap your gift in the car and run inside with it," Kopulos said. "It
was likely he had bought it just minutes before. One year, he bought me a mink stole from
a thrift store, and it shed all over."
Paul's gifts always were unique, like the item he bought his brother for Christmas 2000.
"He got me this clock that would wake you up and tell you the day, date and your
horoscope, and I thought that was pretty neat," Stephen Allegri said. "I got it
all set up and I wake up to it saying, 'Good morning. This is May 5, 1978,' so I knew he
must have gotten a good deal on it."
Added Kopulos: "Everyone who knew him has a story to tell, and they're funny."
Although Paul was a loner of sorts, his siblings said he was an unselfish person. Kopulos
said her brother had left instructions to donate his organs if anything happened to him.
"His kidneys are with two men in their 40s, and his other organs will be used,"
Kopulos said. "In the end, he gave back in a big way."
Survivors include: A son, his sister, his brother, their spouses and many nieces and
nephews.
The last word: Though life's ups and downs, Paul always was loved.
"He was such a wonderful guy, always smiling," Kopulos said.
Kansas City Star, The (MO) - Tuesday, April 13, 2010
INFORMATION PROVIDED BY JONI (HEDRICK) DIETZ
Who: Paul Allegri of Kansas City
Age: 56
When and how he died: March 11 in a hit-and-run accident near his home
Neighborhood guy: Paul was a fixture in his Waldo neighborhood, his siblings said. Born
and raised in the area, he lived in Waldo most of his life, except while attending
college and serving in the military.
"You'd often see him walking down Wornall on a regular basis," said his sister,
Mimi Kopulos. "He'd just come into your house and make you laugh."
Paul, who was one of six children, attended Catholic schools and De La Salle Academy for
high school, when he took up photography.
"He was really talented," Kopulos said. "He even made a darkroom in my
parents' basement."
After a stint attending the University of Texas at Arlington, Paul became a photographer
in the Air Force. After his service, he worked a number of jobs as a photographic
specialist. Most recently, he worked in packaging for YRC Worldwide.
A nice guy: Paul made friends easily and knew many people from all walks of life, family
members said. Whether at a friend's house or a neighborhood pub, Paul liked to have a
good time.
"He could sit down with a drunk at the end of a bar and listen to his sad story, and
Paul would be totally comfortable," said his brother, Stephen Allegri.
"He wasn't judgmental and he liked everybody," Kopulos said. "He was our
family's Kramer from the TV show 'Seinfeld.' He came into a room like a gust of
wind."
Unusual gift-giver: Paul had a penchant for garage sales.
"He couldn't throw anything away," Kopulos said. "He loved to go to the
thrift stores and shop, and he couldn't pass a garage sale."
Said Stephen Allegri: "Big Lots was like Nordstrom to Paul."
Family members got a little taste of Paul's shopping talents each holiday.
"He'd wrap your gift in the car and run inside with it," Kopulos said. "It
was likely he had bought it just minutes before. One year, he bought me a mink stole from
a thrift store, and it shed all over."
Paul's gifts always were unique, like the item he bought his brother for Christmas 2000.
"He got me this clock that would wake you up and tell you the day, date and your
horoscope, and I thought that was pretty neat," Stephen Allegri said. "I got it
all set up and I wake up to it saying, 'Good morning. This is May 5, 1978,' so I knew he
must have gotten a good deal on it."
Added Kopulos: "Everyone who knew him has a story to tell, and they're funny."
Although Paul was a loner of sorts, his siblings said he was an unselfish person. Kopulos
said her brother had left instructions to donate his organs if anything happened to him.
"His kidneys are with two men in their 40s, and his other organs will be used,"
Kopulos said. "In the end, he gave back in a big way."
Survivors include: A son, his sister, his brother, their spouses and many nieces and
nephews.
The last word: Though life's ups and downs, Paul always was loved.
"He was such a wonderful guy, always smiling," Kopulos said.
Kansas City Star, The (MO) - Tuesday, April 13, 2010
INFORMATION PROVIDED BY JONI (HEDRICK) DIETZ
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