By Howard Wilkinson
The Cincinnati Enquirer

GREEN TOWNSHIP - A chance meeting 15 years ago on a Greyhound bus sparked a long and loving romance for Douglas Kordenbrock and Lisa Sahy.

For the past nine years, they had made a home on a quiet street in Green Township. On Nov. 22, as they walked on a cul-de-sac near their home, a car driven by a 76-year-old Green Township woman struck them, killing the 43-year-old Ms. Sahy instantly.

Six days later, Mr. Kordenbrock, 39, died of his injuries at University Hospital.

"They were a wonderful couple, a really cute couple," said Mr. Kordenbrock's sister, Tammy Behymer of Lawrenceburg. "They loved each other very much.''

Mr. Kordenbrock was a medical technician at Good Samaritan Hospital; Ms. Sahy was a grocery store manager.

In 1988, Ms. Sahy was traveling by bus from her home in Rockford, Ill., for a family funeral when fate sat her next to Mr. Kordenbrock, who was on a vacation trip. The two ended up on the same bus again for their return trips.

"They hit it off, so they exchanged phone numbers and decided to stay in touch," Mrs. Behymer said.

The two had a long-distance relationship for several years before Ms. Sahy moved to Cincinnati. Nine years ago, she moved in with Mr. Kordenbrock.

Mr. Kordenbrock was an active athlete - a member of the Cincinnati Cycle Club, a whitewater rafter and an enthusiastic skier. Ms. Sahy joined him on the rafting trips, but sat out the skiing, Mrs. Behymer said.

Mr. Kordenbrock's other survivors include parents Richard G. and Joyce Kordenbrock of Dent and a brother, Richard C. Kordenbrock, Monfort Heights. Ms. Sahy is survived by a brother, Bill Ramsey Jr., Rockford, Ill.; a stepsister, Donna Smith, Florence, S.C.; and a stepbrother, Donald Bohne, Homestead, Fla.

Memorials for Mr. Kordenbrock may be made to Mother of God Church, 119 W. Sixth St., Covington, KY 41011; or Western Hills Church of Christ, 5064 Sidney Road, Cincinnati 45238. Memorials for Ms. Sahy may be made to the O'Bryonville Animal Rescue Center, P.O. Box 9206, Cincinnati 45209.

Funeral services will be noon Saturday at Mother of God Church, 119 W. Sixth St., Covington. Visitation one-half hour earlier. The couple will be cremated and interred at St. Joseph New Cemetery. Ralph Meyer & Deters Funeral Home of Price Hill is handling the arrangements.

E-mail hwilkinson@enquirer.com