An unmistakable smile and laugh was missing from Ove Berven gym last night.

A chair sat in the corner during the girls basketball game, covered with roses for an unwavering fan. But Paul Lenoch was not there. The 78-year-old, who attended countless Austin High School and local adult sporting events at Todd Park, passed away on Nov. 23.

He may be remembered as the best local fan, as he rarely missed an AHS sporting event, especially wrestling. In fact, he was inducted into the AHS Hall of Fame in 2009, under a special category as a fan. Lenoch was also an AHS graduate, from 1955.

He was a staple at Todd Park, with his basket of discarded aluminum cans, ready to talk to everyone. Longtime Parks and Recreation employee and former director Bob Auer remembers Lenoch dearly, as a co-worker and friend. He knew him for decades, and remembered Lenoch even walking from Austin to Albert Lea to collect cans.

“Paul didn’t have a mean bone in his body,” Auer said. “Not one. He was an exceptional human being, and my wife and I dearly loved him.”

Todd Park will seemingly be a little bit different place without the man.

“It’s going to be really weird not having him there,” said current Parks and Recreation Director Kim Underwood.

“Everybody always stopped to talk to Paul,” she added.

Lenoch rode his bicycle to games, rain or shine. Several years ago, the community pooled money to buy him a recumbent bicycle after he had an injury. The Wednesday-night men’s softball league hopes to post a Paul Lenoch plaque at Todd Park in his memory.

Lenoch’s funeral was held Tuesday at First United Methodist in Austin. He’ll be buried at Oakwood Cemetery.