Alan M. Hill
September 24, 1947 – April 19, 2026
A celebration of life will take place on Sunday, May 24, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Casa di Amici, 773 W Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49006. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made towards a memorial picnic table at one of his favorite spots – additional information and updates will be made available at www.joldersma-klein.com, where friends may also leave a condolence message for the family.
Obituary
Dr. Alan Hill \"Alpine\" \"Uncle Alien\", passed away at age 78 on April 19, 2026 after surgical complications from pancreatic cancer. Born in (New London) Connecticut to Alice (Moore) and Alfred Hill, Alan made his home in the Oakwood neighborhood of Kalamazoo for the past 49 years, where he built a life centered on family, learning, and compassion for others.
Alan was a loving partner of 56 years to his wife, Cheryl Lord, and father to his children, Alyssa and Julian. He is survived by his sisters, Kathleen and Theresa, his brother, Christopher and many nieces, nephews and friends. His favorite memories were those spent with family.
For 24 years, Alan dedicated himself as a clinical psychologist at Kalamazoo College, where he made a lasting impact on students and colleagues alike. Additionally, he worked part-time in addiction counseling. His work was driven by a deep passion for helping others navigate their struggles and find hope. It was more than a career—it was a reflection of his belief in the resilience and worth of every person.
Alan had an insatiable curiosity about the world. He loved reading, had an impressive collection of National Geographic, and rarely missed an opportunity to watch Jeopardy!. He found joy in exploring ideas, asking questions, and engaging in thoughtful debate. A committed pacifist with a strong interest in politics, he believed deeply in humanity and in the possibility of a better, kinder world.
Growing up in Florida, Rhode Island and Connecticut, he was very active, playing baseball and running cross country, and proudly earned Eagle Scout rank. Sports stayed an important part of his life and after moving to Michigan as you could always find him playing noontime basketball at K College or catching a sports game on TV.
Alan was an avid academic, spending much of his life pursuing higher education - earning his bachelor\'s and master\'s at Southern Connecticut State University, as well as a master\'s degrees at Western Michigan University and finally his Ph.D at Miami University of Ohio.
Those who knew Alan will remember him as kind, empathetic, intelligent, and passionate, with a unique sense of humor and a gift for meaningful conversation. His presence brought comfort, challenge, and inspiration to those around him.
What a wonderful discovery I made when we moved to Michigan in the mid-80s: not only was there another guy from Connecticut working at Kalamazoo College, but he was also a graduate of my alma mater – Southern CT State University in New Haven! Almost every time I saw him, Alan would joke about being “fellow Owls.” As I’ve already mentioned to Cheryl and noted on the K Faculty Emeriti email list, in addition to the tremendous contributions he made in counseling our students, – and I heard so many good things about him from appreciative students over the years – he also lent a great presence of logic and calm to the campus community, something we often needed in the room. I wish I’d spent even more time with him, but I’m still proud to have called him my friend. See you next at the great Owl gathering, Alan.
I worked with Alan for several years at Kalamazoo College, and I always appreciated his calm presence and genuine care for students. He consistently went above and beyond to support them, and his thoughtful approach made a lasting impact. I also truly appreciated his sense of humor—it brought levity to our work in the best way. I’ll also remember his distinctive coffee routine—making a single pot to last the entire week, carefully refrigerated and reused. It wasn’t always to my taste, but it certainly reflected his practicality and added to his unique character.