Robert Neff’s customer appreciation celebration started when friends tried to help the local businessman after his wife died in 2007. Since then, it has become Germantown’s defacto Fourth of July party as well as the only fireworks display in town.

But this year, the carry-in picnic on July 3 at Neff’s Lawn Care in German Twp. turned tragic. A little more than three weeks later, a well-known retired school superintendent has died, 14 people hospitalized, including a 4-year-old girl who is in serious condition, and at least 75 people sickened from an E. coli outbreak that public health officials say stemmed from the picnic.

Investigators still do not know the cause of what has been called a significant outbreak. They admit they may never know despite dozens of interviews with those who attended the picnic and extensive testing.

More than a week after becoming violently ill from an E. coli infection, it seemed that Lowell Draffen had finally pulled out of danger. A few days earlier, his kidneys had been shutting down, and he breathed through a ventilator. But by July 21, he was sitting up, eating a soft diet, and speaking a few words.

“It seemed he was on the right track,” recalled his son, Todd Draffen of Ft. Myers, Fla. “I felt OK about going home.”

Three days later, on July 24, Draffen died suddenly from what the family believes to have been a heart attack or a stroke. Apparently depleted by his 15-day illness, Draffen, who served as superintendent at Valley View, Trotwood-Madison and Mad River school districts, is the only fatality in the E. coli outbreak.

The Draffens often attended Neff’s Lawn Care celebration, their son recalled, because “it was a fun community thing to get together and have a great time socially. My dad worked so long in the school system, and he was well known.”

Four Draffen family members sickened

At the picnic, Draffen’s granddaughter Delaney Lyons, 12, feasted on hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, deviled eggs, cookies and brownies, a Hershey bar cake and her grandmother’s broccoli salad. Later the family spread out a blanket and enjoyed the fireworks with hundreds of their neighbors.

By Saturday night, after returning home to Ft. Wayne, Ind., Delaney experienced violent cramping and severe diarrhea streaked with blood — the telltale symptoms of E. coli. Her bloodwork and cultures confirmed the diagnosis.

By the following Monday, July 9, the Montgomery County Health Department knew there was a problem when they were notified of five victims, all of whom had eaten at the picnic and had visited local emergency rooms over the weekend with stomach cramps and bloody diarrhea.

Lowell and Juliette Draffen were concerned about their granddaughter, but Draffen had no symptoms until Monday night, after playing golf. By Tuesday night, one week after the picnic, the pain had grown so unbearable that he was rushed to Sycamore Hospital. As his condition worsened, he was transferred to Kettering Medical Center.

Draffen’s daughter, Jennifer Lyons of Ft. Wayne, said her father endured extensive dialysis, blood cleaning, and the removal of his colon in an attempt to save his life. “By Sunday night things seemed to have turned around and to be moving in a good direction,” Lyons said. “His physicians were shocked when he died.”

Draffen survived heart surgery 20 years ago, and his health generally had been good. He enjoyed an active retirement, playing golf and traveling with family members on adventures, such as whitewater rafting.

“We’re very sad, but I have no doubt in my mind that he’s in heaven,” Lyons said. “For that, I am glad, and I’m happy.”

Draffen’s family considers his death a tragic accident, and they do not blame Robert Neff. He did not return phone calls for this story, but initially told WHIO-TV he’s heartbroken that people became sick from carry-in food eaten at the event.

“It’s bad when something happens and you have no control,” Neff said, noting that he and his sons grilled some meat, but the food was mostly prepared off site. He said they do not believe that was the source of the infection, because they ate leftovers for several days and did not become ill.

“Some may sue the Neffs, and I find that nauseating,” Lyons said. “There was no malicious intent. They were doing a wonderful service for the community in providing that picnic.”

Todd Draffen added, “We are not going to blame someone, because that’s not what dad would have done. We were brought up in a Christian home, and those weren’t his values.”

Since Draffen’s illness, the family has spoken extensively with the Montgomery County Health Department in an attempt to piece together what happened. Juliette Draffen was the only one of the four family members who did not get sick. “Grandma went straight for the desserts,” Delaney explained.

Lowell Draffen did not eat any hamburger; he had the pulled pork instead. Unlike their sister Delaney, Grant Lyons, 15, and Kristen, 10, suffered far milder symptoms that did not require hospitalization. “The raw vegetables were the only things we all ate,” Grant said. “Broccoli and cauliflower.”

The Draffen family has received a crash course in E. coli contamination. Lyons said they have been told by health department officials the source might have been a person rather than a particular food: “It may have been a dirty spoon or dirty hands. Something on someone’s hands may have touched many serving spoons.”

Community grieves for Neff family, too

It is, in many ways, a double loss for the Germantown community, robbing them of one of their most beloved educators, as well as potentially harming the reputation of a respected businessman. Neff had been throwing the picnic for about five years as a thank-you for the way the community supported his family when his wife had breast cancer.

“We are so saddened by the death of Dr. Draffen and the many who are ill and feel for their families,” said Ellen Rice of Springboro, who attended the picnic with her husband, Dave. “We also feel terrible for the Neff family that in trying to do something so nice for other, that this has happened.”

The couple recently benefited from the Neffs’ generosity. In 1969, when he was 12, Dave underwent extensive radiation to treat cancer in his thigh. That eventually led to deterioration of the vascular system in his left leg, which was amputated just four inches from the hip.

“His friends and co-workers from Miller Coors have been with us the whole way,” Ellen said. Co-worker Steve Waldon set up a Split the Pot raffle, raising more than $3,000 to buy Dave Rice a Zero Turn Toro mower. When Waldon told his story to Robert Neff’s family, he offered the mower at their cost.

“Bob Neff told him of the story of his wife,” Ellen Rice said. “She too had cancer, and she also had to have her leg amputated. He pointed to the large poster of her on the wall of the shop and then handed Steve $100 to buy Dave a box of cigars from the Neff family.”

Neff invited the couple to the July 3 picnic. “Bob Neff said if it were not for the continued loyalty of his customers, his friends and his family, his late wife’s illness and medical bills would have cost him his house and business,” Rice said. “Her dream was for him and their children to work and make a living at Neff’s Lawn. At that picnic, I thought how ironic that a picnic with fireworks was in honor of her. The fireworks seemed to reach to the heavens, where I know she was watching.”

At the picnic the couple enjoyed watermelon and pulled pork and listened to the band. “Nothing set off alarms about improper sanitation or food that should be taken away,” Rice said.

Draffen’s legacy as educator continues to be felt

Draffen’s death came as a shock to fellow educators from the Trotwood-Madison school district, where he retired as superintendent two years ago after being coaxed out of retirement to take the job. Observed board president Adrienne Heard, “Lowell gave us just a few years to put us on an even keel and gave us a structure and a vision so we can carry it forward.” She called him a “great man” who worked his magic, in part, through his genial, fun-loving personality.

Trotwood-Madison superintendent Kevin Bell said Draffen’s legacy will be felt in the district for many years to come. The district’s state report cards rose dramatically during his tenure. “He wouldn’t stand for lower expectations for kids in Trotwood,” Bell said. “He knew they could be just as successful as a kid in Oakwood or Centerville, and he wanted to give them the tools to be successful.”

Draffen served also as president of the Dayton Area Superintendents Association. After all that Draffen gave to the community, Bell said, “it’s a shame he didn’t have a longer retirement with his lovely wife. He was doing well and having a great life and deserved plenty more time to enjoy life.”

Draffen’s children said their parents raised them in a joyful, faith-filled household. Lyons observed, “He taught us that whatever, happens, your love for the Lord shouldn’t waiver, and you shouldn’t carry feelings of anger and hatred.”

Draffen’s grandchildren reminisced about the things they’ll miss most about the man they called “Gramps.”

“The kids loved hanging out here,” Todd Draffen said. “They would run in the creek or walk in the woods. My Dad would do anything with them.”

Nathan Draffen, 12, loved going deep-sea fishing with his grandfather, while his brother Kyle, 9, most enjoyed horseback-riding. Grant Lyons said his grandfather cultivated his passion for golf. Delaney Lyons loved their tradition of going to Bullwinkle’s Top Hat Bistro in Miamisburg. Kristen Lyons loved the way he would always get her a second scoop of ice cream.

“It’s hard to think that one big picnic could cause a death,” Kristen reflected.

The moral, Lyons observed, is that “basic sanitation and basic hygiene make a huge difference.” As a memorial, the family suggests becoming a blood or plasma donor or sending a check to the local blood bank or American Red Cross.

Draffen’s minister, the Rev. John W. Brooks, eulogized him Friday at South Dayton Church of Christ as “one of the finest elders I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.” He told mourners that “Jennifer, his daughter, revealed an interesting insight when she shared that her father entered the educational field, because he had broken every rule and knew how to deal with kids. The number of children and adults Lowell inspired and impacted will never be known this side of eternity.”

In the Draffen home, that legacy will never be forgotten. “He loved my mother and his family greatly,” Lyons said. “If he loved you it was with a huge heart, and you knew it. I hope that my brother and I will be able to pass that along to our children.”