Alan Eder (August 7, 1928 – October 9, 2009)
Dr. Alan Eder died October 9, 2009 at 6:20 PM. He died at home, peacefully, with his wife by his side.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Jane, and his three children: Jon Eder, Shelley Slay, and Fred Eder. He had three grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Dr. Eder was born on August 7, 1928 in Buffalo, New York. He taught Philosophy of Education at Northern Arizona University from 1972 to 1991. He taught High School English in Nebraska from 1962 to 1970. He served his country in the United States Navy from 1946 to 1950. Dr. Eder was a foster father to 52 children here in Flagstaff.
A Memorial Service will be held at Flagstaff Mortuary on October 24, 2009 at 2 PM. There will be no religious observance.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to:
Northland Hospice and Palliative Care
PO Box 997
Flagstaff, AZ 86002
Dr. Eder asked that his life be commemorated with these words by Virginia Woolf:
I have sometimes dreamt, at least, that when the Day of Judgment dawns and the great conquerors and lawyers and statesmen come to receive their rewards - their crowns, their laurels, their names carved indelibly upon imperishable marble - the Almighty will turn to Peter and will say, not without a certain envy when He sees us coming with our books under our arms, “Look, these need no reward. We have nothing to give them here. They have loved reading.”
