Allan B. Colombo, age 71, of Canton, Ohio, died Friday, Dec. 3, 2021 at the Cleveland Clinic Mercy Medical Center following a brief illness. Born July 2, 1950 in Canton, Ohio, to the late Howard “Red” and Nova (Adkins) Colombo, Colombo was life resident of Canton and a 1969 graduate of Canton South High School. 

Colombo was a trade journalist and book author in the electronic security industry. He started freelancing for SDM in 1986, and joined the full-time staff in 1990. He remembers his 11 years at the magazine as a highlight of his life, and recently started freelancing for the magazine again.

“SDM was very progressive,” Colombo said. “I wrote for two other industry magazines under a different name, and used my real name for SDM, because it was the bible of the industry. Writing [for SDM again] is kind of like coming back home.”

He was a member and past president of the Canton South Rotary. He had also been a member of the East Canton Rotary and had attained the recognition of a Paul Harris Fellow.

He is preceded in death by son Matthew Colombo. He is survived by his wife of nine years, Linda (Momirov) Colombo; two daughters, Susan Ball and Alicia Colombo; three stepchildren, David Kramer, Gary (Mandy) Noland, Melissa (Jeff) Gedhill; 12 grandchildren; five great grandchildren; and mother-in-law, Sally Momirov.

Funeral services will be Weds., Dec. 8, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. in the Kreighbaum-Sanders Funeral Home on South Cleveland Ave. Interment in Bethlehem Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the family to help with funeral expenses.