Obituary for Alexander McKay Love
It is with great sadness that the family of Alexander McKay Love announces his passing as the result of an auto accident, on August 28th at the age of 85 years old. Al will be lovingly remembered by his daughters Sharon Love Jackson (David), Debbie Dunn (Brad), and Michelle Klarchek (Richard). Al was a wonderful grandfather to his 5 grandsons, Bradley (Chelsea), Jacob, and Alex Dunn, and Christopher and Mackinnon Jackson. Al will also be forever remembered by his numerous nieces, nephew, former spouse Gedy Helmer, and extended family and close friends. Al was predeceased by his wife of 32 years, Paula Love (Witko), his parents, James and Mary Love, and siblings Jack, Jim, Isabel Love.
Al was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania on February 19th, 1935. After attending Johnson Trade School in Scranton, he served in the Air Force, stationed in Colorado Springs. He met the great love of his life, Paula Ann Witko and they married in January 1959, settling in Flint, Michigan. Al earned his BS at the University of Michigan and continued with graduate school studies in the sciences. He was a life-long learner and his library was filled with books about history, science, electronics, biographies, and scottish history and poetry.
While attending college, Al worked as a surveyor and earned his cytology certification. He was recruited to teach biology and math at St. Agnes Catholic School, before serving at Kearsley High School and Armstrong Middle School in Flint, Michigan. He was a passionate teacher who loved his students and found creative ways to help students engage in STEM subjects. In 1982, he was honored as Earth Science Teacher of the Year, and he was the coach for the Science Olympiad for many years, leading Armstrong Middle School to a #1 title in 1983.
Al learned to golf and ski while in the Air Force, and enjoyed ski trips in Michigan and Banff. He spent summers traveling across the country with his family, visiting nearly every national park, collecting rocks and minerals for his collection along the way. Through the years, his dogs were faithful companions and accompanied him everywhere he traveled. He was a proud Scotsman who traveled to Scotland several times, golfing at St. Andrews, hosting relatives from Scotland, and learning to play his father’s bagpipes. He loved spending time gardening, swing dancing, singing along with Frank Sinatra, and collecting things that needed fixing. If you needed to borrow a specific tool, he would have a collection of 10 to select from. If something was broken, he embraced the opportunity to take it apart, see how it worked, then fix it. He loved to have friends and family visit and enjoy his lake house at Sugar Springs in Gladwin, Michigan.
A private family funeral will be held at Our Mother of Sorrow Cemetery in Pennsylvania, where Al will rest next to his beloved, Paula, and his little dog Sammy.
A Celebration of Life memorial for family and friends will be held this fall when it is safe to do so.
In lieu of flowers, those who desire may make a donation to one of two charities close to Al’s heart: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or your local animal shelter.
Al was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania on February 19th, 1935. After attending Johnson Trade School in Scranton, he served in the Air Force, stationed in Colorado Springs. He met the great love of his life, Paula Ann Witko and they married in January 1959, settling in Flint, Michigan. Al earned his BS at the University of Michigan and continued with graduate school studies in the sciences. He was a life-long learner and his library was filled with books about history, science, electronics, biographies, and scottish history and poetry.
While attending college, Al worked as a surveyor and earned his cytology certification. He was recruited to teach biology and math at St. Agnes Catholic School, before serving at Kearsley High School and Armstrong Middle School in Flint, Michigan. He was a passionate teacher who loved his students and found creative ways to help students engage in STEM subjects. In 1982, he was honored as Earth Science Teacher of the Year, and he was the coach for the Science Olympiad for many years, leading Armstrong Middle School to a #1 title in 1983.
Al learned to golf and ski while in the Air Force, and enjoyed ski trips in Michigan and Banff. He spent summers traveling across the country with his family, visiting nearly every national park, collecting rocks and minerals for his collection along the way. Through the years, his dogs were faithful companions and accompanied him everywhere he traveled. He was a proud Scotsman who traveled to Scotland several times, golfing at St. Andrews, hosting relatives from Scotland, and learning to play his father’s bagpipes. He loved spending time gardening, swing dancing, singing along with Frank Sinatra, and collecting things that needed fixing. If you needed to borrow a specific tool, he would have a collection of 10 to select from. If something was broken, he embraced the opportunity to take it apart, see how it worked, then fix it. He loved to have friends and family visit and enjoy his lake house at Sugar Springs in Gladwin, Michigan.
A private family funeral will be held at Our Mother of Sorrow Cemetery in Pennsylvania, where Al will rest next to his beloved, Paula, and his little dog Sammy.
A Celebration of Life memorial for family and friends will be held this fall when it is safe to do so.
In lieu of flowers, those who desire may make a donation to one of two charities close to Al’s heart: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or your local animal shelter.