Alan and I were separated by geography and age. However, as I was growing up my Mother (Alan’s first cousin, Freda Maust LaMar) often spoke of her Aunt Mary and Aunt Mary’s children of whom Alan was one. Over the years, I did visit with him from time to time and have these remembrances that I wish to share.
[To connect the dots- my Grandfather Ralph Maust and Alan’s Mother, Mary Maust Hochstetler, were brother and sister.]
Motorcycle Touring
When a teenager I learned that Cousin Alan had toured Europe on a motorcycle. I think I heard it from my Mother who later came to regret my having this information.
His touring, which sounded fascinating and exciting to me, lifted Alan to a hero status. Alan’s motorcycle touring sparked my imagination and motorcycling became an aspiration for me. Hence my Mother’s regret when, some years later, I bought a motorcycle. I had adventures on my bike but I never did anything as wonderful with it as Alan did with his.
I never heard the whole touring story from Alan but he did tell me he “wiped out” once – which made motorcycle riding even more desirable to my male, then adolescent, mind.
Alan and Sports
During the Memorial Service for Alan, tribute was paid to Alan’s athletic prowess. While several people provided testimonials regarding Alan’s accomplishments in several sports, I did not hear anyone mention the sport with which I associate him. I waited patiently certain that someone would surely mention that sport. But that did not happen.
No one mentioned PING PONG.
Ping Pong is a sport that most folks consider a friendly and social game. Alan was not “most folks” when playing Ping Pong. When I was attending Goshen College in the 1960s, I was invited to Aunt Mary’s home for the evening. I saw a Ping Pong table outside (maybe in the garage) and made the mistake of mentioning it to Alan. He invited me to play. I agreed. That was also a mistake. It turns out Alan was an accomplished Ping Pong player as well as a fierce competitor. If there had been a future in participating as a professional in this sport, it could have been his.
Alan, Scientist, Stamp Collecting and my Dad
My Dad, Robert LaMar, and Alan, hit it off. They shared common interests. Both were trained in science (Dad was a physician and Alan a chemist) so they could discuss organic chemistry as others discuss the weather. And they both were stamp collectors. I remember their sitting in the living room in my childhood home in Snow Hill, Maryland, discussing stamps and looking at Dad’s collection.
At my age then, I was bewildered by their interest in these topics. But now I understand - at least the stamp part.
Thank you Alan
My last memory of being with Alan was when he attended my Mother’s funeral service in 2014. Alan’s Parkinson’s Disease was, at that time, making it very difficult for him to travel.
But the disease and its effects upon his ability to move and speak could not stop him from making the trip from Williamsburg to Snow Hill for Mother’s service and from standing before, and speaking to, those gathered. I will be forever grateful to him for this valiant effort on her behalf.
Thank you Alan.
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