KC Star reporter Mike Hendricks had a Page One story in today’s paper that I’ll bet was the best read story in the paper.
It was the story of the late Ronnie Deffenbaugh’s $14 million (asking price), palatial residence, across the street from the Johnson County Landfill, which Deffenbaugh once owned and which holds the trash collected by those ubiquitous Deffenbaugh trucks we see throughout the Metro area.
…I know Hendricks’ story was well read because 1) our daughter, a rare, 26-year-old newspaper devotee, read it, and 2) when I was at McDonald’s at 79th and State Line this morning, a group of about five senior citizens was huddled around a woman who was reading the story aloud.
I haven’t seen a clutch of people gathered around a newspaper in years. So, Mike, congratulations — you had Kansas City turning the pages of the print edition today and going to the Website.
Oddly, Hendricks’ story ” “Trash titan’s home is for sale” — wasn’t the lead story in the paper. That honor went to Laura Bauer’s “Love conquers all” story, about Terri LaManno, one of three people shot to death last year outside Village Shalom and the Jewish Community Center.
As tragic and gripping as the LaManno story is, the Deffenbaugh story is more intriguing to me.
I mean, here’s a guy — Deffenbaugh — who, after being almost completely paralyzed as the result of a hospital mishap, built a 13,000-square-foot mansion, outfitted it with custom-made furniture and had waterfalls, fountains, an indoor-outdoor swimming pool and horse stables constructed outside. Plus, a 40,000-square-foot garage for his sports cars and antique fire engines.
Deffenbaugh got to enjoy the estate for only a few years. Work began in 2010, three years after Deffenbaugh fell off an X-ray table at Shawnee Mission Medical Center and broke his neck. He died last August at age 73.
In addition — according to Hendricks — “it as just him, and his staff” in the house. Twice divorced, Deffenbaugh had no partner or spouse for the last years of his life, although he did have children and grandchildren.
I’m sure this story prompted a lot of people besides me to think and reflect on Deffenbaugh and his end-of-life decisions. Why would he choose to spend millions on a humongous house and exquisite furnishings when he knew — had to — that he didn’t have long to live?
I guess he might have done it simply because he could…or maybe he wanted to go out in style. Perhaps he envisioned a front-page story that would supersede an obituary of any length. (His was longer than this post.)
But my first and persistent thought is that Ronnie might have been a lot better off arranging entry to the Jeanne Jugan Center, operated by the Little Sisters of the Poor at 87th and James A. Reed Road.
Instead of surrounding himself with luxury that he couldn’t fully appreciate, he could have had an airy room with lots of natural light, where he would have gotten great care and plenty of time to reflect and prepare for a happy death.
(I visited former State Sen. Harry Wiggins at the Jugan Center a few weeks before he died of cancer in 2004, and he was ensconced in an atmosphere of tenderness and serenity.)
…Now, I’m not saying Ronnie Deffenbaugh didn’t have great care or that he didn’t have a happy death. I truly hope he had both.
I’m just saying if it was me, and if I had all that money and had been almost completely paralyzed, I wouldn’t be spending millions on buildings and landscaping…I would just want to be in my comfortable ranch house, with my wife, daughter and maybe my son (if he wasn’t too busy) holding my hand and assuring me that God would forgive me my many trespasses and that, with luck, I would find peace and eternal happiness on the other side.
JimmyCsays: At the juncture of journalism and daily life in KC 
I have inside information that when his daughter committed suicide some years back, she was buried with around a quarter of a million in diamonds. I think you have a point Jim.
Holy crap!!
He had two sons, Ron Jr. and Robert. Tassy was the daughter who preceded him in death, as the obit says.
$14 million with a landfill view. They’ll raze it eventually, when there are no takers.
I have the feeling someone will buy the place, Leigh…probably at a significant discount, though. If Del Dunmire was still around, he might be a candidate.
Geez, Fitz. now you are just imitating Hearne Christopher. Kicking the dead and gossiping when they can’t get up and kick your ass. (Irony intended.) Stop this practice. It is unkind, unChristian, unbecoming and exhibits poor breeding and lack of news judgment on your part.
RD was generous beyond words. There’s not a public event for a church, non-profit or civic group that he didn’t provide free portapotties for. And ANYone who ran for the smallest public office within 100 miles of here received a contribution, if they asked. School board, water board, whatever. I know. RD supported me when I ran for City Council against Dan Snell, who had beaten up my neighbor. Whereas modern folk are too busy with soccer games and such to even vote, let alone write a check for even $10. It is VERY hard to run for small local offices.
So Fitz, the Corleone jab by your literary thug, Gary Foster–that’s not true and in fact defamatory, and should be deleted. You don’t mention the half million he gave to Old Shawnee Town 1929. Maybe the building project brought him joy.
But you started it. Questioning how he spent his hard-earned money. And believe me, it was. Started with $500 and a broke-down truck, ran off with his high school sweetheart who was disowned, and made something of himself.
Finally, second-guessing a disabled man’s choices? He lived in Denver quite a while, at the Craig Center, hoping for a medical breakthru that didn’t come in his lifetime.
Shame on you. Pick on the living. And someone with the same blessings of family that you enjoy.
There is $5 million home right next door to RD’s. Built by Carla and Cliff Hanson, remarkable. I’ve toured it. Cliff made a fortune as one of the Planters’ family. And Carla has a world-renowned collection of masks. One can only see the landfill from their 2nd floor. Not sure if RD’s house even features a second floor–I doubt it. And, that southern perimeter was heavily landscaped, so mostly a view of mature pine trees. In just a few years, the Deffenbaugh/Johnson County Landfill will be full, and then topped off with a golf course and other recreational uses, so a lovely view.
By the way, Del Dunmire is liquidating his vast collection, at an auction in Harrisonville, Sat. March 14. http://www.delstoybox.com/
He’s not dead yet. But if you are interested and jealous, which you often seem to be about people with more wealth than you, perhaps go pick on him for awhile! How the mighty have fallen…a popular KC pastime for bloggers on the fringe.
I see you’re now back on the record…with a vengeance.
My now Ex worked at Little Sisters of the Poor back in the early 90’s and it was an impressive place that was remarkably well run. The poor could go there and get fantastic care. Truly a worthy recipient of the largess of the rich.
OK, Gary, connect the dots. If the sale price of RDs house is high, then those monies go to his Foundation. And that money goes to non-profits. So you and Leigh snarking about the outcome of a real estate sale, while sniping at the late founder of the foundation–just how would that enure to the benefit of YOUR nominees for beneficiaries of that foundation? I have no idea about something that happened 35 years ago. I don’t subscribe to the Star or their archives. And if you don’t believe in redemption, then I guess you’re not celebrating Lent
I have reconsidered my comments Tracy and have taken your remonstration to heart. Please delete my comments except fot the one concerning Little Sisters. Ok Jimmy?
Gotta leave in the one about jewelry in the casket…That’s priceless, and consistent with spending millions of dollars on a mansion that you can’t even walk around in.