Al Menzies

Although he accomplished much of which to be proud, Alan Menzies was a humble man whose greatest source of pride and joy was found in the family he shared with the love of his life. If the measure of a man is found in the lives he touched, then his character provides us with much to aspire for since his compassion and spirit of generosity were unmatched. Al was delighted to be a husband and father, but he just may have argued that becoming a grandfather was the role he had waited for his entire life as nothing made his heart sing like being with Haley, Michelle, Sara, and Adam. The memories Al leaves behind will be cherished for generations to come.

As part of the decade of the Roaring Twenties, the year 1928 was a year to remember. Walt Disney introduced us to Mickey Mouse, Amelia Earhart took flight with two passengers, and Al Capone was picked up by Chicago police. This year was a memorable year for a young family from Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, for a much different reason as they were pleased to announce the birth of their son, Alan M. on June 22nd. He was the youngest of three boys born to his parents, David and Clara Menzies, and he was raised in the family home in Canada alongside his older brothers, Dave and Jack. Al experienced a typical upbringing that was reflective of the times. He graduated from Peterborough Collegiate Institute where he excelled in all sports including football, basketball, baseball, and hockey. Al was also the team captain of any team he was a part of. After high school he began working as a toolmaker with General Electric in Peterborough.

Not to be forgotten during Al’s years as a young man was his introduction to the young girl with whom he would share a lifetime of love. Her name was Jean, and they met on an ice rink in the neighborhood when he was just 16 years old. Sparks flew right from the start, and they saw each other often as they lived right down the street from one another. With a desire to build a life together, the sweethearts were united in marriage on March 20, 1948, at St. James Church in Peterborough. Money was tight for the newlyweds so they enjoyed a brief honeymoon in Toronto and Niagra Falls.

Throughout his life there was no greater treasure in Al’s life than his loved ones. He and Jean were delighted to become parents to their first son, Al, in 1953 while they were still living in Peterborough. With a desire to bring the tool and die trade to the United States, Al moved his family to America in 1956. It was just two years later, in 1958, that their family was completed with the birth of their second son, Doug. Ambitious and equipped with a strong work ethic, Al worked for several tool and die shops before founding his own company, Standard Die and Fabricating, in 1970. He spent the remainder of his career as the owner and operator of his company until he passed it on to his two boys who continue to run the company today.

Many of the things that Al enjoyed along his life’s journey were experienced with his family and friends. He was a hockey coach who coached not only his own boys but also many future professional and minor league hockey players. In 1964 Al was named “Hockey Coach of the Year" in Detroit Minor League Hockey. Much later in his life, in 1996, he was inducted into the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame. Al loved vacationing with his family. Some of his more memorable destinations included Germany, Scotland, Ireland, Mexico, Aruba, Barbados, Bahamas, and France. In the late seventies Al and Jean began spending their winters in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, where they looked forward to visits from their boys and their families. They were always back in Michigan to celebrate Christmas as a family in one of their sons’ homes. Al and Jean became grandparents with the birth of Haley in 1995, and their grandchildren Michelle, Sara, and Adam followed over the following few years. A sports enthusiast, Al especially loved cheering on his grandchildren when they were playing sports and dancing. He loved gambling, usually playing blackjack, and each year he and his sons went to Las Vegas for a three day marathon of gambling. They also met up with some friends from Arizona on these weekend trips.

As someone who loved sports, Al was almost always doing something active himself, or at times he was content to watch his favorite teams. As an avid and talented golfer, Al was a member of several country clubs through the years including Kawartha Golf and Country Club, Western Golf and Country Club in Reford, Michigan, and also of Sugar Mill Golf and Country Club in New Smyrna Beach. At Sugar Mill Country Club he ran and organized a Calcutta tournament every year. Al was very talented as a golfer as he began shaping his skills when he was just five years old. After playing a round he could often be found enjoying a game of gin rummy in the clubhouse. As his friends and family can attest, Al was an avid Detroit Red Wings and Tigers fan whose television was always turned to some type of sports.

In addition to being known for his enthusiasm for sports, Al was also known for his belief in all things superstitious. He followed a few simple rules like, never trim your nails on Sunday, never pass someone on the stairway, don’t open an umbrella in the house, and also that the color green always meant bad luck.

A truly extraordinary man in every way, Alan Menzies was a blessing in the lives of countless others within his reach. He was generous, yet content to give anonymously, and he was also known for his compassion, honesty, and gentle touch. Life will never be the same without Al here, but the timeless legacy he leaves behind will be proudly carried on by those who follow him.

Alan Menzies died on March 25, 2013. Al’s family includes his wife, Jean; sons, Al Jr. (Cindy) and Doug (Leslie); grandchildren Haley, Michelle, Sara, and Adam. A Memorial Service will be held Sunday April 28, 2013 at 12:30 pm at the First United Methodist Church 45201 North Territorial Road Plymouth, Michigan 48170. A reception will follow from 1:30-5:30pm at Western Golf and Country Club 14600 Kinloch Redford, Michigan 48239. In Lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Humane Society and American Heart Association. Please View Alan’s personal web page and sign the guest book at Neely-Turowski.com.