From the Editor: Alan Downing grew up in the Greater Boston area and attended the Perkins School until ninth grade, when he transferred to his local high school. That was a good thing, he comments, since Perkins could never have prepared him for college and his career. He graduated from MIT, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in 1972 with a degree in aerospace engineering and a minor in computer science. He completed his degree in three years with a straight A average. He worked for a NASA subcontractor during his second and third years at MIT and for a short time after graduation. He then worked for Honeywell as a software engineer for twelve years. Honeywell transferred him from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Phoenix, Arizona, in 1975. He has been an Arizonan ever since. He is now retired from aerospace engineering and fills his days with automotive work, restoring vehicles of all kinds.
Alan sent the following article to the Braille Monitor, and, while I was personally horrified at the content, it was so funny and full of irrepressible energy and zest for life and new experience that I had no choice but to share this entertaining man and his story with Monitor readers. Now meet Alan Downing:
Sorry to hear about Alan. I knew he had not been well. I was always amazed and surprised at his abilities in high school. I would be standing at my locker, he would be working his way down the hall along the lockers, he would get to me, I’d say “Hi Alan” and would say “oh hi Bonney”. I could never figure out how he knew it was me or how he even knew me in the first place. He certainly was an amazing man with a can-do attitude and lust for life.
I remember Alan from 10th grade Biology. When he got up to give a presentation he was so funny. He had a great attitude. Happy he had a very fulfilling, action-packed life.
I have an amazing memory of Alan. In our junior or senior year he called and asked me to go on a date - to Boston! I always liked Alan and was honored to be asked. His Mom drove us to the train station and dropped us off with a “ have fun”, and that we did. We spent the entire day traveling around Boston “seeing” the sights - many of which I had never seen. Alan navigated the train/MBTA systems, paid for things without having to ask the denomination of bills, much to my amazement. When we returned , his Mom picked us up at the station and the day ended with a a very sweet kiss on my cheek as he walked me to my door. I hoped to see him again so that I could share this memory with him...but I share it with our classmates now, with fond memories.
Al was a great guy. He played the organ in one of the bands we had in high school. He knocked, "Light my Fire" out of the park. He came over and hung out "poolside" and we'd shoot the bull. It always amazed me that he owned a go-kart back then but i never questioned it. Al was cool. One time he said, "Y'know, I wish someone would invent a braille television." and i said, "Maybe even a color one, but if i were you, I wouldn't touch the commercials." He enjoyed humor and could be very funny himself. We always had a great time. One time, we were in boston and I really wasn't sure of where we were and he said, "Two blocks up and take a left" my God, he was right. Alot of great memories of Al from back in the day. We'll miss you ole buddy. R.I.P. my friend. and this one's for Al, I drove by a crematorium last week and the sign said, "Smoking More Now but Enjoying it less?" Al woulda liked that one, the cornier, the better. Your Pal, bob
Jen, THANK YOU for sharing such a wonderful memory! I did not “know” Al, but feel like I am getting to know who he was through all these memories. Thanks everyone!
Toni A. Picariello
The Big Bang Theory
by Alan R. Downing
Alan sent the following article to the Braille Monitor, and, while I was personally horrified at the content, it was so funny and full of irrepressible energy and zest for life and new experience that I had no choice but to share this entertaining man and his story with Monitor readers. Now meet Alan Downing:
https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm08/bm0806/bm080613.htm
Bonney L. Olson '68 (Burack)
Sorry to hear about Alan. I knew he had not been well. I was always amazed and surprised at his abilities in high school. I would be standing at my locker, he would be working his way down the hall along the lockers, he would get to me, I’d say “Hi Alan” and would say “oh hi Bonney”. I could never figure out how he knew it was me or how he even knew me in the first place. He certainly was an amazing man with a can-do attitude and lust for life.
Jeanne M. Clausen '68 (Sheehan)
I remember Alan from 10th grade Biology. When he got up to give a presentation he was so funny. He had a great attitude. Happy he had a very fulfilling, action-packed life.
Jennifer Kesner '68
I have an amazing memory of Alan. In our junior or senior year he called and asked me to go on a date - to Boston! I always liked Alan and was honored to be asked. His Mom drove us to the train station and dropped us off with a “ have fun”, and that we did. We spent the entire day traveling around Boston “seeing” the sights - many of which I had never seen. Alan navigated the train/MBTA systems, paid for things without having to ask the denomination of bills, much to my amazement. When we returned , his Mom picked us up at the station and the day ended with a a very sweet kiss on my cheek as he walked me to my door. I hoped to see him again so that I could share this memory with him...but I share it with our classmates now, with fond memories.
Sandra Hartshorn '68 (Hicks)
What a beautiful story and memory Jen.....
Cheryl Stover '68 (Claney)
Jen. What a beautiful story.
Bonney L. Olson '68 (Burack)
Jen. What a sweet story.
Robert Leal '68
Al was a great guy. He played the organ in one of the bands we had in high school. He knocked, "Light my Fire" out of the park. He came over and hung out "poolside" and we'd shoot the bull. It always amazed me that he owned a go-kart back then but i never questioned it. Al was cool. One time he said, "Y'know, I wish someone would invent a braille television." and i said, "Maybe even a color one, but if i were you, I wouldn't touch the commercials." He enjoyed humor and could be very funny himself. We always had a great time. One time, we were in boston and I really wasn't sure of where we were and he said, "Two blocks up and take a left" my God, he was right. Alot of great memories of Al from back in the day. We'll miss you ole buddy. R.I.P. my friend. and this one's for Al, I drove by a crematorium last week and the sign said, "Smoking More Now but Enjoying it less?" Al woulda liked that one, the cornier, the better. Your Pal, bob
Karen Thomas '68 (McDaniel)
Jen, THANK YOU for sharing such a wonderful memory! I did not “know” Al, but feel like I am getting to know who he was through all these memories. Thanks everyone!