Uncrowned Community Builders

Connie Spentz was born March 19, 1947 in Coalwood, West Virginia to Eddie although she considered Willie Williams to be her true father and Connie Mae Robinson. Connie came to Buffalo with her family as a child and was a 1965 graduate of East High School. She has three brothers, Frank who is deceased and Eddie and James. She also has a younger sister Bootsie who would be worthy of a nomination to Uncrowned Queens. Bootsie was the first black female elected to the City of Dayton, Ohio Commission.

She was married to the late James Spentz and has six children, ten wonderful grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Ms. Spentz worked for thirty-two years for Erie County. She began working at the Erie County Medical Center as a Licensed Practical Nurse. She received a Registered Nursing degree at D'Youville College. She also received a Masters degree from University at Buffalo. She began teaching Nursing at Erie Community College and began retirement in 2000.

She continued her nursing interests and served as an advocate to nurses addicted to drugs and/or alcohol. She was also a board member of the Statewide Peer Assistance for Nurses (SPAN) the parent body of advocates. Among her important accomplishments, Connie was recognized by True Bethel as a "shero", an outstanding tutor at Erie Community College and Youth Leader by the Great Lakes Youth Department. However, being a mother and grandmother not just to her biological child but to the many children that God has put into her life was her proudest accomplishment. The other area that brought her great pride was helping to put more minority licensed registered nurses into the work force. It was her hope to begin a program that will aid students in completing their nursing courses.

Connie was also a member of the 'Whistettes" for over twenty-five years. This is a Bid Whist Club. There are six members plus a substitute. They meet every other week. The club is about more than cards it is truly a testament to the power of women. Club members have been there for each other through deaths, births, divorces, marriages, all kind of kid troubles and the list goes on. Members include nurses, teachers, paralegals and maintenance workers.

Connie fell in love with doll houses when she was nine years old .Her mother purchased a doll house from the Goodwill and pulled it on a wagon from the Michigan Street Goodwill to the Dante Projects now the Marine Drive Apartments. Her mother and father made it like new and it was awesome! She got her next house 30 years later as a gift and it's been a ball. She had about 15 houses and five room boxes. She had shared her love of miniatures with children and adults alike. She also invited her church members to look at her collection in as well as the Cub Scouts.

She passed her love of doll houses on to her grand-children and most of them have made their own house. Yes even the boys! There is a very active dollhouse club in the area, but because she took care of an elderly father, she was unable to join. Still she did go to the "projects nights" whenever she could. By the way that 1st doll house after being moved around finally returned home to her parents. Her father who was pretty handy with his hands began to restore the house. Her mom had a stroke and since she had to spend a lot of time at her parent's home, she decided to finish it.

Connie made a replica of her parent's house, including pictures, the furniture, color schemes and so forth. What she couldn't find she made. It was one of her best summers ever. Her parents would check everyday to see what was new. Her mom began talking again telling everyone to go see Connie's project. After her mom died and her Dad came to live with her, the dollhouse went to her sister in Dayton. Connie believed that dollhouses aided her healing in so many ways, for example, she started the "William's School of Nursing for Women of Color" after her mom's death. Connie would love to share her hobby with anyone and especially would have liked to get together with other African-American women and girls.

Connie was a member of the Humboldt Parkway Baptist Church where Reverend John T. Hilliard is the pastor. Connie's church was the one constant in her life. She was the Director of Vacation Bible School and the Nurse's Ministry. She was also an active member of the Sunday school and two choirs. She also served as the Sunday School program director. Connie loved dollhouses and miniatures and saw these as her "mental therapy. Reading and gardening were her other hobbies.

Connie is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, NY.