Alan Osborn Dann

Alan Dann, 80, died September 7 at home of metastatic bladder cancer. He was born March 29, 1934 to Katherine and Walter Dann in New Haven, CT.

He attended Hamden Hall Country Day School and then Kent School, which provided the foundation for everything he did for the rest of his life. He earned his A.B. in economics at Harvard College. He spent 5 years on active duty in the Navy and remained in the Naval Reserves, retiring as Commander. He earned 2 Master's Degrees from Columbia University/Teacher's College and at age 64 completed a Ph.D. in Education Administration at the University of Connecticut. He worked for SNET in New Haven and at AT&T. He retired at 54 and became busier than ever in volunteer activities, as well as working as assistant principal of an elementary school in Woodbridge CT and as an organization consultant. He hosted several foreign exchange students, some of whom became family. He moved to Vermont in 1998, where he was active in many organizations, including The Commons, the Vermont Progressive Party, Hilltop House, the League of Women Voters, the Estey Organ Museum, and the Marlboro Historical Society; he served as president of the boards of several of these organizations. He was a deacon at the Marlboro Meetinghouse. He was an auditor for the Town of Marlboro. He was a church organist who played at several area churches, most constantly at West Dover Congregational Church and St. Mary's in the Mountains, and in summer at Halifax Union Society and Marlboro Meetinghouse. He worked tirelessly to sustain several churches. He served on the board of the City Missionary Association of New Haven for 40 years and served as its president. He sang with the Trinity Boys' Choir, Harvard Glee Club, FOMAG, Brattleboro Community Chorus, and the Pioneer Valley Symphony Chorus, and served on the boards of the last of these. He interviewed applicants for Harvard for decades. He was class secretary for his class at Kent for more than 40 years and was called the glue that kept them together. He rowed at Kent and Harvard.

His concern about the state of the world occupied much of his waking hours. He was a frequent writer of letters to the editor and to his congressmen. He read widely. He had a strong sense of duty and was generous with his time and energy. He could start a conversation with anyone and was always the last to leave a gathering. He was an ardent supporter of people and their causes. His laugh could be heard above the noise of any gathering. He was a diehard Red Sox fan, even after they sold their pitchers.

In 1960 he married Jacqueline Brown, who died in 1987. They had 2 children, John and Martha. Martha died in 1998. In 1996 he married Deirdre Donaldson.
He is survived by his wife, son John, granddaughter Ruby, foster son Pedro Mendia-Landa, and brother Robert, and 3 cats.

SERVICE: A celebration of his life will be held at First Baptist Church, on September 27, 2014 at 11:00AM, to be followed by burial in Kings Cemetery in Marlboro and a reception at the Marlboro Meetinghouse. Memorial contributions may be made to Vermont Independent Media/The Commons, 139 Main Street, Brattleboro; the Natural Resources Defense Council, 40 W. 20th Street, NY, NY 10011; or the Estey Organ Museum, 108 Birge Street, Brattleboro.