In Memory of…Alan Egly (1931-2016)

The Rev. Alan L. Egly died on January 31, 2016 at the age of 84.

 

Alan was born on July 19, 1931 to Jesse and Ida Egly. He received a Bachelor of Science from Illinois State University in 1952; a Master of Divinity from Anderson College in 1956; and a Masters of Religious Education from Union Theological Seminary in 1967.

 

Rev. Egly was ordained to the Church of God in 1959 and served various parishes in Brooklyn before moving to All Souls Church of Brooklyn, NY in 1965. During his time at All Souls, the congregation came to identify as a Universalist Church, and now identifies as an ecumenical church. Rev. Egly was fellowshipped with the Unitarian Universalist Association in 1972. He served the Community Church of New York, NY as Minister of Education from 1972 to 1976 and as Associate Minister for Administration and Program from 1976 to 1977. He spent the next two years serving as interim minister to the First Unitarian Church of Westchester, NY and part-time minister to the First Unitarian Society of Rockland County of Ponomoa, NY. From 1979 to 1987, he served as Minister to the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Quad Cities, of Davenport, IA. He entered community ministry in 1987 and served as the Executive Director to the Doris and Victor Day Foundation from 1987 until his retirement in 2014.

 

He held a part-time pastorate with the Unitarian Fellowship of Burlington, IA from 1987 to 1995; was voted Minister Emeritus of the Burlington congregation upon his departure; and was voted Minister Emeritus of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Quad Cities in 2010.

 

Rev. Egly was committed to the denomination and sat on district and national committees. His roles included, but were not limited to treasurer of the Continental UU Ministers Association; Ministerial Settlement Representative to the Prairie Star District (PSD) of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) for 8 years; active member of the PSD and PSD Annual Conference Planning Committee; and UUA General Assembly Planning Committee Member from 1984 to 1991. 

 

One of Rev. Egly’s proudest achievements was his action as founder of the Association of Small Foundations (now Exponent Philanthropy), the United States’ largest association of funders, dedicated to serving foundations with few or no staff, philanthropic families, and individual donors.

 

Alan and his wife Patricia (Pat) expanded their family of four children with the addition of foster children, and the presence of foster children caused them to remain young in spirit. Alan and Pat worked with many neighborhood organizations toward their dream of maintaining safe and affordable neighborhoods. Personally, they renovated the homes on the block where they lived.

 

Alan was committed to the concept that each person was responsible for helping create a better world for all.  That sense of responsibility led him to speak often on individual rights. He lectured in many places of the right to determine passage from life to death.

 

Alan’s daughter, Lorrie, remembers her father as one who “spent his life in service.”

 

Alan’s surviving family members include his wife, Patricia; children, Lorrie Copeland, Lisa (Peter) Lehmuller, Christian (Marie) Day and Yvonne Day; Peter Blaibel; Jeremy Sird; six grandchildren; and one brother.

 

In lieu of flowers, gifts to Final Exit or Compassion and Choices are suggested.

 

Condolences may be sent to Patricia Egly, 701 Iowa Street, Davenport, IA 52803.

 

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