originally posted on 1/15/2021 1:56:31 PM
Photo: Linkenheimer Family Collection. View full-sized image.
He was such a wonderful person and always so friendly, helpful and personable. Words cannot convey how much he will be missed.
—Dave Hahner
ACE lost a gifted and beloved member with the death of Bill Linkenheimer Jr. on December 20 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Long-time active members of ACE since 1980, Bill Jr.; his wife, Elaine; and their son, Bill III have contributed in countless ways to ACE and to their community.
I always admired how he shared [a] passion for our hobby and he, along with his friendly greetings, were a fixture at any ACE event.
—Marlon Scott
Bill Jr.’s accomplishments in his community and ACE were many. A graduate of North Catholic High School and Duff’s Business Institute, Bill only recently retired from Bell Containers and 66-year career in the corrugated box industry. He was former president of the North Catholic High School Alumni Association and is in the school’s Hall of Fame. Bill was a Life Member of the Berkeley Hills Fire Company and was the last surviving founding member of the Ross Township Fire Police. In 2019 the township honored him for his 40 years of service to the fire police, although his service with the fire company dates back nearly half a century. Steve Korbel, president of the Ross Township Commissioners, wrote, “A pillar of the community. His legacy is incomparable.”
I remember seeing Bill III at Kennywood in 1980 with his dad and mom. He’s so lucky to have such supportive parents.
—Rich McClowry
Bill Jr. loved telling the story of how he and his son found ACE. The Linkenheimers as a family had visited many local and regional amusement parks, as well as Walt Disney World, and had heard about ACE, in particular thanks to a 1979 LIFE magazine article that included photos of ACE’s leaders at a closed West View Park — only a few miles from their home and one they visited frequently until it closed after the 1977 season. As it was before the internet era, they couldn’t figure out how to join the organization. In June 1980, an article in a local paper reported that ACE was visiting Kennywood for Coaster Con III, so Bill Jr. did some detective work, first calling the park and then the event’s host hotel to get a message to someone in authority in ACE to express an interest in joining ACE and attending the event. He got a call back and was told to show up at Kennywood early the following morning, well before the park opened. Bill Jr. and 13-year-old Bill III showed up as instructed and sat at the Potato Patch, where then Membership Director Clarence Hintze provided them with handwritten membership cards and event name badges. Their introduction to ACE was followed by ERT on Thunderbolt, sharing a train with Joe Barna and his coaster-riding dog, Zonker, among other colorful members. The rest is history.
Bill Jr. was one of the first to welcome me to ACE back in 1990. He was always so incredibly kind and inclusive to me and everyone he met. He set the stage and example for fellow ACE members to follow with dignity, respect and did that all with a whole lot of spirit of fun and adventure.
—Jody Shellene
The Linkenheimers joined ACE as a family and soon became volunteers. Bill Jr. and Elaine contributed to ACE on both the local and national levels and attended most Coaster Cons and ACE Western Pennsylvania events. In 2017, Bill Jr. was the recipient of The Golden Kenny, an annual award given to a regional member for enthusiasm and support for the ACE region. Elaine is involved in publications as an associate editor of RollerCoaster! and was on the editorial staff of ACE News. Bill III has held many leadership positions in ACE over the years, including ACE president and his current positions as social media manager and ACE Western Pennsylvania’s regional representative. Even though he rode coasters only occasionally in his later years, Bill Jr. loved seeing friends at ACE events and making new members feel welcome. Riding along with other ACE members who filled the Kennywood trolley in the park’s annual Fall Fantasy Parade was a highlight for him. As he waved and shouted to park guests along the parade route, ACE’s enthusiasm was on full display.
We will always remember how much we enjoyed riding the trolley with Bill in Kennywood’s Fall Fantasy Parade.
—The Lucas family
It is difficult to sum up a life as full and expansive as was Bill Linkenheimer Jr.’s. He loved to have fun, to make people laugh, and he loved to give back to his family, his church and his community. He lived his faith and was generous to a fault. Along with his wife and son, he was truly an ambassador for ACE and made everyone he met feel welcome and included. He will be remembered with love and smiles.
Bill Linkenheimer receives the Golden Kenny Award in 2017, seen here with the park’s PR guru, Nick Paradise.
Photo: Joel Brewton-Riling. View full-sized image.
Bill Jr. will be remembered for lots of things, but he was so welcoming and accepting.
—Mark Cole
He put the true meaning of the motto “You always have a friend in Pennsylvania.”
—Mark Eaton
Bill Jr. was a personality and an enthusiast for life, it seemed to me, outgoing and lively, and quite an unforgettable character.
—Randy Geisler
A life very well lived.
—Tracy Aulfinger
Bill Jr. was a wonderful and kind man. I have very fond memories of him from my preteen and early teen years in ACE.
—Dave Fake
I have to tell you that Bill Jr. was so nice and kind to me when I first joined ACE. Seems we could start up a conversation immediately just like it was yesterday.
—JoAnn Keeler
He was always a special person to us. He was always so funny and so cordial.
—Bill Figie
—Lee Ann Draud, ACE Publications Director
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