This is very sad and very hard to believe. Though I hadn't been in touch with Alan in many years, he and I virtually grew up together from age 12. Edgewood, Camp Thunderbird (as campers and counselors), HPHS, first "double date," same college (and same college house). Alan (aka "Tick" and as a camp counselor "Sherpa") was brilliant, clever, hilarious, energetic and curious, unique. A great loss and also a reminder of our mortality.
I have to agree with every word of Ted's comment. I, too, had not been in touch with Alan for years, but somehow his death touched a raw nerve. He was so alive, full of laughter and fun, and part of the gang that made high school so great. He will be missed.
... been driving around town this morning thinking about Alan. It's one thing to read about life and death and know what's coming. It's a different level when your parent dies (although my Dad is 99 and seems to be eternal) or even Aunts and Uncles. It's also a thing when a classmate like Marcia Richardson or Jon Marder or Natalie Elson dies at a young age. You can shrug it off as bad luck or something else. This is not that or anything like that. This is more like the start of something else; something more apart of everyday life; more apart of the later parts of everyday life. My Dad complains that everyone in his generation is gone and how lonely he is. With Alan's passing, it seems that we have begun to travel that road. Losing one of our own seems to make our world a little lonelier than it was a few days ago. I knew Alan very well and he was not all that different from me. Ted and Barry commented earlier and Alan's life was not all that different from theirs either (obviously, the details are different, but globally speaking, we are all pretty similar). So, I guess we say, "Goodbye old friend and hello to all of us still here and still on-line." That's a nice thing and maybe one positive take away from the reality of mortality that Alan has shown us once again.
I remember Alan playing kickball during recess at Braeside. He was one of the few boys who didn't torture the girls. Fifty years later I would walk by his office door, see his name, feel an odd sense of pride and never fail to smile.
I, too, have been very saddened thinking about Alan's death these past few days. Alan and I were in homeroom together each day and shared many classes during high school. We became closer friends and bonded after we arrived together for our first day in college as apprehensive freshman. All who knew Alan will remember well his adventurous enthusiasm, infectious laugh, and sharp mind. Though we both pursued careers in medicine, I rarely saw him after college and had lost touch with him years ago. He was always so full of energy that it is difficult for me to imagine that he is gone so soon.
I also recall Alan primarily for his smile, humor, and wit. My senior year in Med school I did an elective in SF; although we were really only high school acquaintances, he picked me up at the airport and helped me find someone to board with for the month. Invited me to parties... I ran into him again years later when he came to Milwaukee to give a talk on his work, and he greeted me with the same friendliness and enthusiasm, as if we had seen one another just recently. I can imagine him giggling when I ask myself who the old man in the mirror is. BB
I just read Linda Packer's comment about how Alan was always kind to the "girls" during recess at Braeside. This brings back some very wonderful memories about Alan. As the lone girl in most of our classes at the end of high school, I remember that Alan seemed to make a special effort to reach out to me. His kindness was greatly appreciated. I remember him as a great warm and funny guy.
Edward Sonnenschein (Ted)
This is very sad and very hard to believe. Though I hadn't been in touch with Alan in many years, he and I virtually grew up together from age 12. Edgewood, Camp Thunderbird (as campers and counselors), HPHS, first "double date," same college (and same college house). Alan (aka "Tick" and as a camp counselor "Sherpa") was brilliant, clever, hilarious, energetic and curious, unique. A great loss and also a reminder of our mortality.
Ted
Barry Levenfeld
I have to agree with every word of Ted's comment. I, too, had not been in touch with Alan for years, but somehow his death touched a raw nerve. He was so alive, full of laughter and fun, and part of the gang that made high school so great. He will be missed.
Jay Leopold
... been driving around town this morning thinking about Alan. It's one thing to read about life and death and know what's coming. It's a different level when your parent dies (although my Dad is 99 and seems to be eternal) or even Aunts and Uncles. It's also a thing when a classmate like Marcia Richardson or Jon Marder or Natalie Elson dies at a young age. You can shrug it off as bad luck or something else. This is not that or anything like that. This is more like the start of something else; something more apart of everyday life; more apart of the later parts of everyday life. My Dad complains that everyone in his generation is gone and how lonely he is. With Alan's passing, it seems that we have begun to travel that road. Losing one of our own seems to make our world a little lonelier than it was a few days ago. I knew Alan very well and he was not all that different from me. Ted and Barry commented earlier and Alan's life was not all that different from theirs either (obviously, the details are different, but globally speaking, we are all pretty similar). So, I guess we say, "Goodbye old friend and hello to all of us still here and still on-line." That's a nice thing and maybe one positive take away from the reality of mortality that Alan has shown us once again.
Linda Packer
I remember Alan playing kickball during recess at Braeside. He was one of the few boys who didn't torture the girls. Fifty years later I would walk by his office door, see his name, feel an odd sense of pride and never fail to smile.
Andy David
Alan remained my closest of friends for all these years. He had am amazing careeer as a world-renowned cardiologist. He has left us far too early.
Michael Jacker
I, too, have been very saddened thinking about Alan's death these past few days. Alan and I were in homeroom together each day and shared many classes during high school. We became closer friends and bonded after we arrived together for our first day in college as apprehensive freshman. All who knew Alan will remember well his adventurous enthusiasm, infectious laugh, and sharp mind. Though we both pursued careers in medicine, I rarely saw him after college and had lost touch with him years ago. He was always so full of energy that it is difficult for me to imagine that he is gone so soon.
Bill Burns
I also recall Alan primarily for his smile, humor, and wit. My senior year in Med school I did an elective in SF; although we were really only high school acquaintances, he picked me up at the airport and helped me find someone to board with for the month. Invited me to parties... I ran into him again years later when he came to Milwaukee to give a talk on his work, and he greeted me with the same friendliness and enthusiasm, as if we had seen one another just recently. I can imagine him giggling when I ask myself who the old man in the mirror is. BB
Ilene Block (Steiner)
I just read Linda Packer's comment about how Alan was always kind to the "girls" during recess at Braeside. This brings back some very wonderful memories about Alan. As the lone girl in most of our classes at the end of high school, I remember that Alan seemed to make a special effort to reach out to me. His kindness was greatly appreciated. I remember him as a great warm and funny guy.