He was born in Queens, NY, July 5, 1965, and grew up in New York, Ontario, Canada and Paris, France before moving to Tampa in 1981. Alan graduated from Chamberlain High school and completed his B.A. at the USF where he graduated with honors in 1992. He earned awards as a reporter for National Public Radio and worked as a policy analyst for the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee before returning to graduate school at Brown University where he earned his PhD in History in 2003. Alan has been a member of the history faculty at University of Florida in Gainesville since 2000. In 2009, Cambridge University Press published his influential first book, The Permissive Society: America, 1941-1965. In 2010, UF granted him tenure and as an associate professor, Dr. Alan Petigny taught popular classes on American social and intellectual history, the 1950’s and the Sixties.
Alan embraced life fully, deriving great satisfaction from surprising and delighting others, challenging a worthy opponent in a game of racquetball, and teaching and mentoring students. He is remembered as a loving and devoted son, beloved brother and uncle, cherished friend and esteemed professor. His impressive accomplishments are surpassed only by his legacy of generosity and loving kindness to many.
Alan is survived by his mother, Pearl Petigny, his sisters Michelle, Sheila and Lola, his brothers, Ludlow, Arthur and Mario, his niece Naimah and nephew Julius. We mourn the loss of this brilliant life ended so soon.
Visitation and funeral services will be held at the Tampa First Seventh Day Adventist Church on October 6, 2013 at 1:00 to 3:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers donations may be to The Tampa First Seventh Day Adventist Church to establish a college scholarship fund in his name.
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