Alan Belzer lived an extraordinary life. Born in 1932 in Brooklyn, New York, to Morris and Vera Belzer, Alan described himself as a greatly loved son. He loved and admired his parents as well as his older brother Martin of whom he spoke with unmistakable affection.
Alan had what he considered to be a standard childhood, playing in the neighborhood with friends, learning to ride a bike, and playing with friends in the street. Though intuitive and insightful, when it came to school, he admitted to being a bit lazy; he could often be found playing poker and shooting craps instead of studying. Fortunately, he was a master at cramming for exams, a skill that enabled him to finish high school in just three years and get himself accepted to the NYU School of Economics.
At age 20, Alan graduated from college, joined the Coast Guard, and got married. At 21, he and his wife, Lenore, welcomed their first daughter, Debra. While he was in the Coast Guard, they lived in Norfolk, Virginia, where Alan put his degree in finance and accounting to use working in the controller’s office.
After leaving the Coast Guard, the Belzer's moved to Canarsie, Brooklyn, where their second daughter, Frances, was born. His daughters describe him as brilliant, generous, humble, and corny. They praise his sense of humor remembering that on Halloween he would wait for the kids at his door to yell “Trick or treat!” to which he would always respond, “Trick!” and then sit back and admire their stunned faces. But then, of course, he would give them treats.
Alan loved Red Delicious apples, black licorice, strawberry ice cream, sesame bagels (cut in quarters and buttered with salt added separately and deliberately), weekends on Fire Island, traveling around the world, buying socks in bulk, and, most of all, the Brooklyn Dodgers (and later the Mets), the Knicks, and the NY Giants, not necessarily in that order.
In 1955, Alan got a job as an analyst in the controller’s office at Allied Chemical and Dye Corporation which evolved into AlliedSignal, Inc. The value of his abilities and strength of his instincts were recognized throughout the years, and he eventually became the company’s President and Chief Operating Officer. He did this, not by being ruthless and cutthroat, but through what his friend and colleague Fred Poses called an accumulation of experiences. “He’s not a grandiose guy,” said Fred. “He’s just a mere mortal who did well.”
Of course, he also loved wine. His vast knowledge was enviable and his passionate appreciation contagious. The only thing he loved more than the wines themselves, was sharing them with friends and family without judgment or expectation. If he served bottles from different vintages or regions on any given night and you told him you liked one more than the other, his unbiased response was always, “Well, then that’s the one you like more.” And he would pour you another glass.Alan will be remembered with great affection by his wife, Susan, his daughters, Debra and Frances, his sons-in-law Jose and Gary, his grandsons, Jonathan and Dylan, his granddaughter-in-law Natascha, and of course his great-grandsons, Billy and David Leo and his extended family and friends whose lives were enriched by his kindness, generosity, wit, and wisdom.