Alan Milton Kind

Alan M. Kind was born to Ida Rubin and Louis Kind in New York City. He grew up in Brooklyn with his brother Skip (Merwyn) and sister Cissy (Temmarita). As a teenager, Al moved to Miami Beach, FL, where he studied cabinet making at Miami Technical High School, fueling a lifelong passion for woodworking.

Alan belonged to a bygone era of quiet, resilient men. He grew up in difficult circumstances and lied about his age to join the Marines before his 17th birthday. Al went on to work as a radio operator in the South Pacific. Following his service, he attended the Embry Riddle School of Aviation at Tamiami Airport. He then traveled to Japan as a contractor supporting the F-104 program at Johnson Air Base.

He courted Judy Lazik (the younger sister of his close friend Harvey) in Miami Beach while in Japan. Although they were separated by 7,500 miles, he persuaded her to meet him in Tokyo, where they married in 1963. Al and Judy recalled their time in Japan as among the happiest in their lives. They were together for 57 years, and her death in 2020 devastated him.

The Kinds moved back to Miami, where they had their only child, David. Al went to work for Pan American Airways, where he became a maintenance supervisor. During this time, he earned his commercial pilot's license and worked as a flight instructor in his spare time. In the early 1970s, the family accepted the opportunity to relocate to Pan Am's San Francisco base and they thrived on the West Coast. Al practiced real estate after changing his plans due to new friendships. Before striking out as an independent broker, he was an office manager for a large, successful firm.

Al and Judy returned to Florida after raising their son, where Al pursued his interests and passions of aviation and woodworking. He found work as a commercial pilot and relocated to be closer to his son's growing family. Al was a master handyman with an innate ability to repair anything and had an impressive workshop. 'He has golden hands,' his mother once said. It was true; friends and neighbors frequently came to him for advice and assistance with their projects.

Al and Judy spent the rest of their lives close to David and his family in both Atlanta and Central Florida. He adored his numerous golden retrievers, workshop projects, the United States Marine Corps, and boasting about his grandchildren. Although Al was not the type to say "I love you," everything he did reflected his love and devotion to his family. He lived a full life on his own terms and was entirely self-sufficient until his passing. He will be deeply missed by David, his wife Tina, grandchildren Sarah and Daniel, and the extended community of friends he made during his lifetime of careers and travels. Semper Fi Dad.