Alan Freed

Emerson Hope Wolf, born April 2011
Evan Wilhelm and Ethan Wilhelm, born July 2011
Harper Riley Wolf, born November 22, 2013

I read Amy Friedman's fascinating profile which made me interested in what others have done in the past 40 years, so here's my version:

Music dominated the first 25 or so years after high school and divorce mediation has dominated the last 15 or so, with a healthy dose of family interspersed. I came to St. Louis to work for the St. Louis Symphony in 1976 and stayed to go to law school in 1980. What kept me here was the St. Louis Symphony Chorus, with which I enjoyed a 23 year association, 18 years as assistant director. That relationship led me to some extraordinary experiences, including conducting the chorus in the national anthem in center field of Busch Stadium before the 7th game of the 1982 World Series and a solo bow on Carnegie Hall stage in 1994, after a performance of the Mahler 3rd Symphony, for which I prepared the chorus. I have also been conducting my synagogue choir for the past 24 years and had the unique experience of blowing the shofar (ram's horn) prior to the papal mass celebrated at the TWA Dome during the 1999 papal visit to St. Louis (see photo).

Got married in 1989 to Merle, who had a 10 year old son and a 15 year old daughter. We added another daughter in 1992, the same year our eldest started college. My sainted wife has, therefore, been raising children continuously for 35 years. Still no grandchildren, though.

I've been practicing law since 1983 and focusing on family law and, more particularly, alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and collaborative divorce. I'm an adjunct professor at the Washington University Law School and just published a book on divorce.

Like many of us, I see life as a continuing series of opportunities. I could see going back to more music performance but am open to other options as they come my way.

I'd love to hear about some of my fellow a capella choir members, with whom I enjoyed many happy hours at Shaker. What have you been doing musically and otherwise?

Much news of late: middle son, Sid, will be a father in May to our first grandchild. Eldest daughter, Shelby, will be married to Brian Wilhelm on December 19th. Youngest daughter, Brooke, just got accepted to University of Arizona.

Still smiling when I think of the reunion in July. It was about as well put together any event of this kind could be. Thanks, committee.

This spring/summer (2011) have been quite eventful: three new grandchildren--a granddaughter, Emerson, and twin grandsons, Evan and Ethan--and my youngest, Brooke, starting the University of Arizona.

A few updates. Brooke is now at Webster University here in St. Louis. In late fall, we were delighted to have a fourth grandchild join the family--Harper Riley Wolf, born November 22, 2013. Gotta say, I love this grandparent gig. The two boys live in town but the two girls are in Washington, DC, so we don't get to see them nearly as much as we'd like.

Don't see anyone regularly but am frequently in touch with Eric Stern, Ralph Hexter, Sally Levine