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Alan Colin MacGregor

July 7, 2020

January 6, 1947 - July 7, 2020
With profound sadness we announce the death of Alan Colin MacGregor, age 73 years, on the morning of July 7, 2020, at home, exactly one year after his diagnosis of Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
Alan was born on January 6, 1947, in Highland Park, Michigan, USA to Colin David MacGregor and Helen Brixton Swetka MacGregor, both deceased. Graduating in 1965 from Southfield High School, Alan attended Oakland University (Rochester, Michigan) from 1965 to 1969, attaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry. It was at OU that Alan and Starlene Joy Fleischmann met, beginning a lifetime of being best friends, spouses and lovers. Alan began a Master's Degree in Chemistry at the University of Michigan, transferring to the Master's Program in Chemistry at Simon Fraser University when Alan decided to leave the US for Canada. They were married on May 1, 1971, in Detroit, Michigan, which was "Stop the War Day" in the US, with many family members and friends present. They made their first home together in Burnaby, and then White Rock, while studying and working at SFU. Alan took the SFU Professional Development Program and received his BC Teacher's Certification in 1975. Alan became a proud Canadian citizen in 1976.
Alan worked briefly in northern BC and then Alan and Star worked in several places in Saskatchewan before finding their rural paradise on Yankee Flats Road in Salmon Arm. After building a small, humble cabin, they added some chickens, goats and even a few pigs to join them and their beloved Siamese cats on the acreage. Alan worked as a substitute teacher for School Districts #89 and #23, then for SD #83. He ran and was elected multiple times for School Trustee for the Silver Creek-Ranchero-Falkland area from 1988 to 1999, while continuing as a part-time ABE instructor at Okanagan College, tutoring a variety of students and working as a millwright for Norjay Industries in Vernon. Loving to work with his hands as well as his head, Alan was well known as "Mr. Fix-It", being able to fix almost anything: vehicles of all types, appliances, electronics, computers, sewing machines, opening locked cars or houses, etc.
Alan's proudest accomplishment was building, from the foundation up to the third storey, the house that he and Star designed and built together. They have enjoyed its spaciousness and comfort since 1997 when they first opened their home to the daughters of friend Cliff Outram for the summer. Other children and many International students and teachers from Japan, South Korea, China and Germany followed. Some stays lasted for a short-time and then moved on, while others turned into relationships that have lasted for decades. Always an educator, Alan even ran his own English language school, Community Language Centre, for almost two years. Alan and Star enjoyed travelling and felt privileged to explore much of the USA and Canada, the Bahamas, several South Pacific islands, Japan, South Korea and China together, often visiting with guests to their home.
Alan and Star have no children of their own, but have always been surrounded by many children they love. On Alan's last days, while choosing to be at home, he was surrounded by the care and love of Star, Ji Heon Choi, Julia and Cheyene Qualtier, Angie Eccleston, Da Vin Kim, Hannah Lee, Mike Griffith and a few others, including the beloved cat Somi.
Alan MacGregor is survived by his wife of 49 years, Star MacGregor, his sisters Judith MacGregor (Grenada) and Nancy MacGregor (Maryland), two nieces and three nephews, several cousins, as well as Star's numerous relatives. Also missing him, as Alan is her best friend, is Makayla Aquila-Qualtier, of Alberta. Missing him from elsewhere are the following, all former international students: Da Whi Kim, Yon Kyoung Ha and Lana Ha, and Yeon Ji Cha, Korea; Jia Ying Liu, China, and Rie Horiuchi, Japan, and as well as others he positively influenced.
Heartfelt "Thanks" to the many health professionals and other employees that took care of Alan at the Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at Vancouver General Hospital and at Shuswap Lake General Hospital, an especially Dr. Cynthia Toze, (VGH) and Dr. Sawatsky-Martens.
Alan requested no service and was cremated by Bowers Funeral Services. Donations in his memory would be appreciated for educational endeavours, especially in science, and to the Canadian Cancer Society.


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