Remembering Linda Alexander
A Herrington Lake Legend
Linda Alexander's Legacy on Herrington Lake Lives on Through Heartfelt Memories
by Bobby Childers
September 23, 2023
I started this article thinking I would simply be learning a little about a member of the lake community, whose name appears in memorial on the Herrington Lake Conservation League’s annual September golf fundraiser. It seemed like a great idea to find out more and introduce her to a community that wasn't as familiar with her and help promote the event. But it turned into something quite different ….
If we were only to read a bio of her, we’d be greatly impressed by her work history alone. Linda worked for Lockheed Martin, serving NASA as a senior leader, herself with degrees from local Transylvania University in physics and math. An aeronautical engineer, Linda built a phenomenal career around one of America’s proudest institutions. “She would always say she was a rocket scientist (jokingly), but she really was," Beth Boursaw laughed over the phone.
Beth, the current president of the Herrington Lake Conservation League seems like a great place to start with discovering more about Linda. Beth told me she had grown up in nearby Somerset, Kentucky, and she had gone on to higher education at Transylvania. Beth had just moved into her new Herrington Lake home when she first met Linda, after she, herself, had become involved in the HLCL. "When I first met her, I moved here in 2000, and that's when the league was just starting. The league started late 2000, 2001, and she was on it … long before me," Beth explains, highlighting Linda's early involvement in the league. "I don't know, we just kind of clicked and stayed together and she ended up being one of my best friends.”
Linda played a crucial role in the Herrington Lake Conservation League, tirelessly working to preserve the lake's natural beauty. Beth acknowledges Linda's pivotal role, saying, "I don't know that it (HLCL) would still be here if she had not been there.” Linda's dedication led to the adoption of environmentally friendly practices around the area, demonstrating her commitment to the lake's well-being. In fact, one major piece of progress was that she personally shopped new county legislation about using only “encapsulated Styrofoam” on Herrington. She took the proposed statute to all three counties and pressed the issue into their hands until it was done.
Linda was already in one of her terms as President when Beth took up the Treasurer role in 2004. “She was the longest serving president of the Conservation League,” Beth mentioned, “Just about 11 years. I came on as president after she passed away in 2019." Beth revealed that Linda had cancer. I had assumed as much, but didn’t want to pry or make anyone feel like I was being reckless with someone’s memory. I could tell that this was more than just an “informational background interview”. Beth was easily conveying emotions we would find with any friend who had lost someone special. Linda had battled cancer, and it took her life on May 6, 2019. I came away from that first call with Beth more motivated than I had been, simply inspired by the story she told me.
Linda Alexander, a name that became synonymous with dedication, drive, and community spirit, continues to inspire those who were fortunate enough to cross paths with her around the communities of Herrington Lake. Her life was marked by a profound influence on the people and the place she held dear. Linda was not just a dedicated local conservationist and a passionate volunteer - she was a loving friend. This legacy continues to lift up those who knew her and those who are working to preserve Herrington’s beauty and well-being. Her remarkable life, marked by dedication to her community and an unwavering spirit, serves as a testament to the power of passion and self-assuredness.
Linda is most lovingly remembered for the profound impact she had on those around her. In a heartfelt conversation with Leslie Thomas, a close friend and neighbor of Linda, we gain more insight into the life and spirit of this extraordinary individual. "Linda brought joy to so many through her selfless service to the community," Leslie shared. "She had a deep love for Herrington Lake - it was her happy place. She was always busy doing things for others - she just wouldn't slow down," Leslie chuckled fondly. "Linda lived life to the fullest."
One of the most striking aspects of Linda's character was her ability to balance a high-powered career with her warm and nurturing personality. Leslie reveals, "She had approximately 700 people under her at Lockheed Martin when they had the NASA contract. Honestly, most of them were men... She was able to tackle that with humor … and stories that were incredible." Leslie spoke briefly of how Linda’s personality may have turned some people off, as perhaps too “know-it-all” or aggressive. A common misinterpretation and stereotype of women in leadership positions.
On the phone, Leslie's voice is thick with fond memories as she recalls how Linda, the first person she met when she moved to Herrington (her neighbor, in fact), quickly became a cherished friend and even the godmother of Leslie's children. "We called her our Director of Crisis Management," Leslie chuckles, reminiscing about Linda's unwavering support during times of need. For a moment, I took Leslie’s comment to be about crises on the lake, but nope - I quickly realized she just meant “in life”. Although Linda was perhaps best known as leading the HLCL conservation efforts for over a decade, she was so much more. It seems her personal relationships are what truly made the earth move for people in her orbit.
“I remember coming to the lake, and Herrington has always just been … ‘What it is’, you know? You know that there's going to be wood and there's going to be stuff in the lake. But when she took over, she teamed up with John Tudor (previous owner, Sunset Marina).” Leslie told me how she and Linda had moved to Herrington at just about the same time. They had much in common, professionally, as managers of people - Leslie, a middle school principal, and Linda, recently having retired from NASA. But, it was very quick work making Linda part of the family. “I mean, every holiday, you know, she was there.” When did Linda move her aging mother down to Herrington from Texas? Mom became part of the family, as well. “We just did everything together,” Leslie says.
Connecting with local resident Tona Tudor, I was able to piece together more about Linda’s efforts on the lake with her and her husband. John and Tona Tudor were owners of Sunset Marina, "When she took over, she teamed up with John. And I mean, the lake is just not at all the same today that it was 30 years ago." Working with John on an annual contract to get work crews on the lake, all of these efforts combined to get Herrington back-on-track as a place we all could more thoroughly enjoy, “...he was kind of her go-to when the work on the lake needed to be done,” Tona shares.
Linda's influence was not limited to these “professional achievements” at work, or even in our community, Leslie explains, "The way she lived her life and the contributions that she made … that sometimes she was aware that it was a contribution, and sometimes she wasn't." Sometimes, she just did what needed to be done, and didn’t need, desire, or require a “thank you.” Linda's devotion to the lake, her dedication to the Conservation League, and her acts of kindness all left indelible marks on the community. The lesson here? Linda had focused on living fully and making contributions through projects, large and small, and daily kindnesses of every measure.
Linda's talents extended to a love of photography, and her love for the lake often led her to capture its beauty through her lens. Her photographs became cherished mementos for those who knew her. Armed with her camera and her beloved dogs, she captured the lake's beauty and shared it with her friends, leaving behind a meaningful one-of-a-kind collection of photographs spread around the community of friends and loved ones she had nearby. "We've got an art wall that's just nothing but her photography," Leslie mentions. “She’d get in her boat with those dogs and ride around to residences around the lake, checking on issues.” We absolutely can’t forget about her dogs, Shadey and Shadow - her true babies. Beloved by Linda, they now live next door with the Thomas family.
In another astounding story - confirmed by everyone - I find that she was an accomplished tailor with her own clothing label. Linda's talents extended to sewing custom drapes, bedspreads, pillows, and even elaborate Halloween costumes for Leslie's children (and others!). Leslie recalls, "She made all of my kids' Halloween costumes, and they were not just your typical Halloween costumes. I mean, they were something." She made alterations to wedding dresses, prom dresses, homecoming suits, and just about anything you might think. As that “Director of Crisis Management'', you could count on Linda busting out solutions for just about any family emergency.
Linda was an accomplished tailor. Linda especially treasured her role as a bonus grandmother (and true godmother) to Leslie's children. "My kids knew that they had a family member right there," Leslie speaks of how easily Linda became true family to her own. Right next door, the kids knew if they needed anything … well, it turns out they all needed each other. And that was the life they all built on this lake.
Leslie and I oscillate between topics, jumping from her HLCL work to her job at Lockheed, and then back to personal stories - wherever the conversation and memories decided to flow. Speaking of her professional career, Leslie says "She never talked a lot about it, there was a lot of classified information, of course, but to be on that level … and then at the same time, this was the same lady who would record children's TV shows, so that my daughter would go over there and just hang out in her basement while she sewed and would make her smoothies and popcorn." Leslie speaks also of her young son standing before a grieving crowd at Linda’s funeral. He also had some things to say, in the best way that a young adult can, no doubt inspired by this very woman. This was the impact she had on people.
Turning to Linda’s eventual diagnosis and illness, Leslie feels thankful that she had just retired and was able to be there for Linda during the last parts of her life. ” When I retired, it was kind of interesting, because I guess I retired in May? And then October is when she was diagnosed. So, I kind of felt like that was a ‘God Thing’, too. Because then I was .. I was able to take care of her.”
"She never had to spend a day in the hospital. Unless you know, it was warranted, but she was able to be at home right up to the very end. So, you know, we were thankful for that. She was so positive, right up .. right up to the very end.” It’s difficult to speak without emotion. Leslie recalls being that “family member” for Linda, paying her bills, making food, personal care - even continuing to get phone calls from irate lake members about this-that-and-the-other although she had stepped down in her role as leader of the HLCL.
Like family, Linda spent holidays with those loved ones around her.
A community had come to trust her and rely on her. “Big shoes to fill” for even the most gifted and talented of us, to be sure. “I would go in every day, and there would be at least three or four messages from people on the lake that they had a dead dock, you know, float up on there, or they were angry about something and I'm thinking ‘this is a volunteer position, right?’ She’s volunteering, and people are calling and fussing at you because their bank has a dead dock on it. Right.” We both mull that for a moment in our conversation. It’s easy to see that any description of Linda as “dedicated” is simply too easy, and a complete understatement. It went beyond… But that’s what she spent her time doing. She’d hop on her boat with the dogs, and head out into the lake to check on this person’s shoreline, or to look at some other problem. Even while extremely ill, she was giving out notes on what to do to help others around the lake.
The HLCL community honored her legacy by naming their annual golf scramble fundraiser after her. Linda made a lasting difference. She inspired people and empowered those around her to go after what they believed in, what they wanted to achieve. Beth mentions, “she always did it her own way. Or, she seemed to. And didn't really apologize for it.” Linda Alexander sounds like she was truly a remarkable person. We could all use a friend like that in our lives. We could all be inspired by any person like that in our lives.
In a world where history often fades into the background, individuals like Linda Alexander shine brightly as beacons of inspiration and positive change. Linda’s memory lives on not only in the hearts of those who knew her but also through the efforts of individuals such as ourselves, who want better for people who come after us, especially when it comes to the lake. Not only do we strive to preserve the lake, but also to celebrate the rich local history and exceptional individuals who have left their mark on the Herrington Lake community.
We must remember the profound impact one person can have on a community. In the case of Linda, dedication to preserving the beauty of Herrington Lake and all of her enduring friendships serve as a lasting legacy of strength, passion, and community spirit. In celebrating Linda's life, we honor the remarkable woman who left a powerful mark on Herrington Lake and all those who had the privilege of knowing her.