In Memory

Alan Okun

Alan Okun, 62, passed away Thursday, July 24, 2014, in Boca Raton, FL. He was the second of four children born to Murray and Constance Okun. Alan was born Nov. 21, 1951, in Jacksonville, FL, where he grew up and attended Wolfson High School, later graduating from the University of Georgia. After working in various locations, he moved to Boca Raton to pursue his career and raise his family. Alan played baseball in high school and college on scholarship, and had a lifelong love of sports. His children were the light of his life. Alan was predeceased by his mother and father. He is survived by his loving children, daughter, Connie and son, Danny. Also surviving are his sister, Ronnie Redmond (Don); brothers, Terry Okun (Jackie) and Randy Okun (Debbi); Aunts, Ele Wildstein and Cecil Okun, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 29, 2014 in Evergreen Cemetery, gate five, Jacksonville, FL with Rabbi Lief of Avahath Chesed officiating. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin, 11801 San Jose Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32223.
 
Published in the Florida Times-Union on July 27, 2014



 
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07/28/14 12:19 AM #8    

Edward Jennings [Ed] White

Wow. Hard to believe that Alan is gone.We had great times growing up on Coronado Road. Of course most of them were playing, watching or arguing about sports. We all had our favorites and never the same - that way we could banter back and forth. Alan was funny and he had nicknames for everybody in the neighborhood. He named Toby Fanobe, Jackie Gentle Ease, Mack Punitack and our litttle brothers Anthracite and Cheese (as in Barrel of...). So, here's to you Punitoke. We'll miss you and all your antics. Your old buddy - Illignite. 


07/28/14 07:09 AM #9    

Bob Schellenberg (Bishop Kenny Class Of 1969)

All of my memories of Alan were around baseball. He and John Librandi were the two best left-handed pitchers in my generation. Alan was smart, intense and a great teammate. He knew how to pitch. Alot of guys could throw hard. Alan knew how to get you out. He was a genius on the pitching mound and a friend in the dugout. Alan had the best pick off move. He would always nail at least one guy every game who would lead to far off first base.

Alan, you will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers to your family.


07/28/14 02:11 PM #10    

Thomas Roland [Tom] Harkness

Another good man, and a dear friend, gone too soon.  Nothing but great memories of Alan during our days at Wolfson; always amazed by his talent on the mound, as football teammates, and as co-conspirators on many weekend nights.  Despite his hard-nosed competitiveness, and at times, cantankerous behavior (you never wanted to get Okun and Rouzie started), the thing about Alan I appreciated the most was his caring heart and his warm smile, which never failed to come through when needed the most.  I'll always be indebted to him for his comforting calls following Kristin's passing.

We always enjoyed reminiscing about the joy ride we took in Coach Crook's utility car around the practice fields at Wolfson one Saturday afternoon, and the fact that we got caught red-handed by Monty himself (or was it Coach Hawkins?) with me sitting next to Rouzie in the front middle seat and Alan ducking down in the shotgun seat to make it look like I was cuddling up to Jeff -- very funny Alan!

My favorite Okun story happened on the way home from Jeff Rouzie's wedding.  It had been a rainy weekend and the forecast was calling for an ice storm in northern AL and GA as we left Sarah's parent's house that Sunday morning (somehow we ended up crashing there for the night following the reception).  The weather being what it was, and we being severely hung over, Alan and I decided the responsible thing to do would be to follow each other to Atlanta for safety before heading our separate ways, him to Athens and me to Tallahassee.  We drove off with me following Alan in pouring rain.  A few miles down the road I lit up a roach thinking it would help take the edge off my hang over.  A few more miles down the road I'm feeling much better, but I notice that ice is starting to collect on the windshield wipers and tree limbs are starting to bend down with ice.  All of a sudden I'm shocked out of my calm stupor by seeing Alan's car swerve radically before it pulls over to the side of the narrow, two-lane, country road.  I pull up behind him and can see that his left rear tire is flat.  We both get out of our cars, look at the flat, and agree that we need to drive to the next town to get it fixed.  So he gets in my car, we drive probably 5 - 10 miles to the next town, pull into the first gas station that's open, and then look at each with dumbfound expressions on our faces as we realize we didn't bring the flat tire (remember, this is before you could call AAA from your cell phone).  We drive back to his car, manage to find the tire iron, and with me holding two small umbrellas over Alan as cars and trucks zoom by splashing us with freezing ran, we discover the bolts won't budge.  After both of us take turns at it for some time, we hear a voice coming from across the road.  As we looked at the dark figure silhouetted against a gray sky through the rain and mist, we're thinking, are we in a scene from "Deliverance" or what?!   Whoever he was, we could tell he was holding a long object in his hand (shotgun? baseball bat?), but we couldn't tell what he was saying over the rush of cars continuing to speed by.  I finally worked up the nerve to cross the road and wade through the grass up to the fence where the man stood.  Turns out he was a good Samaritan -- a farmer who had seen us in trouble, put on his rain gear, walked out in the pouring rain, and was offering us a three-foot pipe to use for more leverage on the frozen bolts.  Worked like a charm!  Needless to say, Alan and I were completely sober and thinking straight at this point.  After thanking the farmer, we managed to get the tire off, repaired, and reinstalled before heading off for and arriving safely at our respective destinations.   I'm sure God's guardian angels were looking over us that day, and I'm just as confident that God has welcomed Alan into His kingdom today.   Rest in peace my friend.


07/28/14 08:13 PM #11    

Laurie Chisholm (Ezzell)

I send my heartfelt love, sympathy, and prayers to Alan's family, especially his son and daughter.  I was last in touch with Alan in December, and he was as kind and loving as always.  Alan and I shared MANY happy memories...not the least of which was packing a living palm tree into my cousin's suitcase to take back to Pittsburgh on a plane.  I will remember him always with great love and respect.  Rest in peace, my dear, dear friend.  Laurie Chisholm Ezzell


07/28/14 08:26 PM #12    

Jack Overfield (Class Of 1968)

Thankful to have counted Alan as friend in days of our youth in Jacksonville. This unforgettable character was funny and fun to be around. His entire face was expressive (Groucho like) and Alan always looked you in the eye to verify you got the picture he was transmitting.

Remember eating hamburgers with some girls. Alan, intentionally, placed the hamburger close to his nose to put mayonaise on the tip of it. Then he launched that Groucho grin from his eyebrows to his chin. Cracked me up!

Alan and I were early businessmen, delivering the Florida Times-Union on bicycle routes. One morning he formed a plan for all of us (that folded our newspapers at Paks store) to meet at a customer's house on Bobby Hasting's route to help Bobby deal with a problem customer. While we waited in the street on our bikes, Alan walked to the front door of the house, rang the doorbell and retreated to the curb. It was 4:30 in the morning and dark. Suddenly, flood lights came on the front of the house like landing lights on a jumbo jet. Wearing pajamas and a robe, the man came outside rubbing his eyes and giving us the business. After a brief exchange with Alan, the man jumped in his car and chased us down the road. We raced down the street and took a trail into the woods (known as Marlboro Country) next to DuPont High School. Exiting the woods, we ended up on the outdoor, concrete basketball court, laughing our heads off. We had gotten away scott free! Then, the sound of a racing engine and 3 on the tree shifting caught our attention. In a cloud of dust the man came out of Marlboro Country driving toward us and parked on the concrete court. He exited his car and chased Alan around it, Alan always 3 steps ahead on his bike.

Another morning, Alan met me on my route to offer himself as a diversion to 2 bird dogs that would chase me. Alan pedaled so fast, I'm sure I saw the 2 dogs stop, lay down and surrender in awe of Alan's speedy escape.

We spoke on the phone several times the past 10 years, traded emails and Facebook messages. It was clear that Alan was proud of his daughter and son.

It was easy liking Alan Okun!

 


07/29/14 07:57 AM #13    

Janet Martling (Pollock)

I was so very sorry to hear about Alan.  What a wonderful guy.  I saw him at the 40th reunion and had a chance to talk and catch up some along with Marcia (Rice) Baygents and Sheila (Mesnick) Reynolds.  So full of life and fun, as usual, and smiling.  This world has lost a great man but, he will always live on in all of us.  I am just so very thankful for the moments we have shared.  Rest in peace my friend.


07/30/14 10:20 AM #14    

Mary Toney (Bishop Kenny Class Of 1969)

I met Alan while in my 20's, and thought he was not only one of the funniest guys I knew, but a wonderful family man. I know his Aunt Ele Wildstein, so I've kept up with him over the years, and am so sad to hear about his passing. I can't imagine his children losing such a dynamic and loving father, and my heart goes out to them, as well as all of his family. I will continue to pray for their comfort. 


07/30/14 11:32 AM #15    

Chris Pratt (Whitaker)

 


09/18/14 11:54 AM #16    

Lawrence Scafuti (Class Of 1970)

My deepest sympathy to Alan's family, friends, and relatives.  Alan, RIP.

Larry Scafuti
 


06/11/18 03:04 PM #17    

Libby Wade (Neves)

Always unfailingly kind.


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