Al was born on July 8, 1945 in Jamaica, NY to Edwin and Ruth Kassebaum. The family later relocated to Uniondale, NY where Al attended Uniondale High School, Class of 1963. After graduating, Al continued his education at SUNY Potsdam in upstate New York, where he obtained a BA in mathematics in 1968.
He proudly served in the US Air Force as a member of the Air Weather Service. He was stationed at Landstuhl Air Base in Germany for four years and fondly recalled his time there. He remained enamored with all things weather-related throughout his life and was perhaps The Weather Channel’s biggest fan.
Al’s career was in aviation, starting with Air New England in Poughkeepsie, NY, and soon moving over to Command Airways in the same city. Later, Al continued his career by moving over to American Airlines at their corporate headquarters in Dallas/Fort Worth, where he managed the route and schedule growth of the regional airline American Eagle from a small entity to one of the largest regionals spanning all of North America and throughout the Caribbean. He retired in 2010.
While in Dallas, Al met the love of his life, Linda, at Highland Park United Methodist Church in 1992. Their bond was immediate, and they were married at the same church on September 1, 1996.
Al will be profoundly missed by all who knew him. He was just the kind of guy you instantly adore, and the world has never known a better husband, father or friend.
He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Linda Majors Kassebaum; daughters Jessica Mulder (Scott), Jennifer Rodriguez (Robert) and Carolyn Johnson (Cindi); grandchildren Chloe Near and Cole Gutierrez; brother and sister-in-law Roy and Andrea Kassebaum; sister-in-law Georgina Kassebaum; as well as many beloved friends and extended family (including, especially, the entire Majors family who adored Al and adopted him as their own the moment they met him). Al is preceded in death by parents, Edwin and Ruth Kassebaum and brother Lawrence “Larry” Kassebaum.
In lieu of flowers, Al’s family asks that contributions be made to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or the charitable organization of your choice.
The family would also like to express their deepest appreciation for the loving care given to Al by the incomparable team of doctors and nurses at UT Southwestern lead by Dr. Robert H. Collins
A celebration of Al’s life will be hosted at a later date.
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