Obituary of Alan D. Little

It is with great sadness that we share news of the sudden passing of our longtime, wild and witty friend, Al Little, on October 11, 2023, at age 69. Gone way too soon.

Al was the son of Frieda and Merton Little and spent many a summer with family in Maine. He liked to visit all the old haunts any time he was near the area.

Al was a letter carrier in Manchester for 35 years and retired in 2014. During that time he made many friends along the way. And, there was not a dog on his route who did not eagerly await his arrival, knowing they’d always receive a treat or two. This led to his becoming a dog sitter after retiring. He has no doubt already reconnected with his beloved canines… Abbey, Alex, Jack, Sadie, Tory, to name just a few.

A true music aficionado, Al attended countless concerts over the years. From Shaboo to The Sting, from Sugarbush to Steamboat Springs... and all the racetracks, ski resorts, theaters, arenas, beaches, and dive bars in between. One of his claims to fame was seeing The Band on their Last Waltz tour in 1976. Among his favorite concerts were Bruce Springsteen, The Grateful Dead, Bryan Ferry, and Lindsey Buckingham, as well as a classic concert he stumbled onto at Old Dominion in 1974, which featured CSNY and Joni Mitchell. He was happy to accompany the “Concert Wenches” to many live shows.

Al played basketball and softball in his youth and could be a rather stern coach. Bowling was another of his strong suits back in the day. He was a huge fan of the UConn Huskies, Red Sox, and Patriots. His love of travel took him to numerous national parks across the country. The Jazzfest in Montreal was a favorite destination, and another highlight for him was Nova Scotia. He visited many hot spots along the Atlantic coast from Maine to Florida, and several along the Pacific coast. An avid photographer, he probably captured thousands of shots of these moments.

Al’s sense of humor was legendary, and he could drop an off-color joke whenever the occasion warranted. (How many of you laughed so hard that you had a little accident????) He was very generous, with a big heart. He was known to enjoy his gummies. As his close friends (he really was family), we will forever treasure all the fun, musical insight, irreverence, and stupidity. (But sometimes he needed a good dose of tough love.) His friends are too numerous to mention; we all know who we are.

In the past few years, Al’s health had declined due to a stroke, and he had difficulty with mobility. He was grateful for the friends who reached out and took him to lunch, the grocery store, a concert, or perhaps baked him a nice batch of brownies… To the many healthcare and cleaning professionals, a heartfelt thanks for all the help you’ve given to Al… he really appreciated it, as did we. Ironically, in the week prior to his passing, he was in great spirits and feeling better than he had for a while.

There will be a celebration of life for Al on December 11, which would have been his 70th birthday. Join us at Three J’s Cafe in Bolton, CT from 4-7 as we share some well-earned laughs and a toast or two in his honor. We will all miss him dearly. There is no need for flowers. Instead, share some of your favorite music with people you love. Give some affection to dogs and kitties. And above all, take care of yourself so your friends can enjoy your presence for a good long time.