Former trustee, community leader dies

A long-time New Harmony community leader and public servant, Ivan Alsop, died Saturday, Feb. 11 at his home surrounded by his family.
Ivan Alsop, 83, was born and raised in the small town and was instrumental in the plans and followthrough to construct a new school building in town.
Alsop, however, was saddened by the school board's decision to close the school at the end of this year.
He was a graduate of New Harmony High School and had considered the town "the garden spot of the world."
New Harmony native Kenyon Bailey, who was a fellow member of the New Harmony Kiwanis Club, said Ivan was the kind of man who could talk to anybody.
Bailey said Alsop would joke around with people he had never met and was always up for starting good conversation.
Bailey recalled times when Alsop would chat with folks from out of town, saying he was "the best looking man in town," for a laugh.
"He's always been the communicator," Bailey said. "He can talk to anybody."
Along with being a member of the Kiwanis, Alsop was also a member of the Arctic Masonic Lodge 394, the Workingmen's Institute and Johnson United Methodist Church.
For two decades, Alsop also served the community as the Harmony Township Trustee and Assessor and was a member of the New Harmony School Board. Alsop was also a former member of the New Harmony Fire Department.
Funeral service is planned for Wednesday, Feb. 15 at the Ribeyre Gymnasium at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
More obituary information can be found on page A2.
 

Ivan Alsop