I met Alan in April 1982 when I was in Vancouver to automate Alcan's extrusion die making process in Richmond plant. I visited UBC mechanical engineering after work hours. I saw a man working on computer controlled Ex-Cell-O and Sajo NC machines left from 60s. I knocked the door, and Alan opened with a smile on his face (like his picture on this page!). He showed me around like we knew each other since childhood. I came back to UBC in 1986 as a young professor, and Alan remained as one of my best friends in MECH since then. I miss him, and will continue to miss his friendship, high integrity and modest personality.

1981: There was a text based computer game on the DEC PDP11. I believe it was Zork 1. At a point in the game, you inevitably are killed by a cyclops again and again. Hence, you are stuck. Thankfully, Steve was there to give me the word to scare away the cyclops. "Ulysses". Turns out, sometime earlier, Steve has gone through the game's computer code, saw the word "Ulysses" and deduced this was the way to scare away the cyclops. Thanks Steve.

Alan was clever, brilliant, easy to talk to and always willing to help in anyway he could. He was a tremendous problem solver in technical and business/commercial areas and incredibly humble about his accomplishments. The depth and breadth of his abilities were true renaissance.

Infectious smile, always around (!), a real gentle person. You couldn't miss him walking down the hallway in CEME with that characteristic gait, his shirt sleeves rolled up to between his wrist and elbow, ready to help. Alan assisted me regularly in the computer room with my data tapes in the late eighties and nineties. During my few subsequent visits to UBC, I would seek him out and it always felt like I was meeting an old friend. He will be greatly missed.

Alan and I first met in the early 70's when I started at UBC, we lived on the same floor in Cariboo house (student residence at UBC). My parents lived in Chilliwack, and Alan had family in Hope ... each weekend, Alan would give me a ride to see my parents and pick me up again returning to UBC ... he had this fantastic car: a 68 camero with huge slicks on the back and skinny tires on the front with the incredible hopped up engine to go with it ... Alan used to race it in Mission speedway. His qualities described by others here but moreover his ever smiling face will remain in my memories. I'll miss you Alan

Alan was both a friend and a trusted mentor to me while I was undertaking my doctoral work at the Mechanical Engineering Department, UBC. He was always ready to help me out with any UNIX computer related questions/issues (no matter how mundane) and of course with his trade mark cheerfulness and smiles. There was a time I traveled to Nigeria and stay for about six months. When I returned to UBC for my post doctoral work, Alan gladly helped me restored all my files and this made my transition into my post doctoral work quite seamless. Alan, you were a BLESSING to the Human Race!! I pray that God Almighty grant you eternal rest in Heaven. In Jesus Name Amen Professor Lucky Anetor