In Memory of Alan L. Seaburg (1932 – 2018)

The Rev. Dr. Alan Leslie Seaburg died on July 22, 2018 at the age of 86.

Alan was born on February 28, 1932 in Medford, MA to Nils Henry and Eva (Gerrard) Seaburg. He received his two degrees from Tufts University, MA: a Bachelor of Arts in 1954, and a Bachelor of Divinity in 1957. Alan then functioned as an Assistant at the Tufts University Library from 1957 until 1959. In 1959, he earned his Master of Science from Simmons College, MA. Alan was later awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from the Meadville Lombard Theological School, IL in 1999.

Rev. Dr. Seaburg was ordained on Sep 15,1957 by the First Universalist Church in Medford, MA, where he carried out his interim ministry from 1958 to 1959. He then served as a Librarian at the Crane Theological School, Tufts University, MA from 1959 to 1965. Over the next three decades, Rev. Dr. Seaburg executed his community and called ministries with: the Charles Street Meeting House in Boston, MA (1965-1968); the Unitarian Universalist Association in Boston, MA (1968-1970); and the Andover-Harvard Theological Library in Cambridge, MA (1970-1995). Upon his retirement in 1995, the Andover-Harvard Theological Library honored Rev. Dr. Seaburg as their Emeritus Curator of Manuscripts.

In addition to his ministry, Rev. Dr. Seaburg offered his services to the denomination. He served as a Secretary and Assistant Librarian for the Universalist Historical Society in 1959. Likewise, in 1960 he was a Book Room Manager for the Universalist Historical Society. He also functioned as a Planning Agency for the Universalist Church of America in 1960.

Outside his denominational work, Alan was a prolific writer. His writings appeared in the New York Times, the Amherst Review, and the Hawaii Review. Some of his works include The City of Love (1990); At the Fair: The Boston Immigrant Experience (1990); 52 Tavistock Square: Poems (1994); and Cambridge on the Charles (2001).

Alan is survived by his daughters, Carolyn Joy Bell and Ann Leslie Seaburg; granddaughters, Lizzie Jean Seaburg, and Sarah Grace Thomas; his nephews, David, Robert and Erik Light. He also leaves many close family and friends. He was pre-deceased by his wife Jean (Newhall) Seaburg, brother Carl G. Seaburg, and his twin sister Nancy E. Light.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Carl G. Seaburg Scholarship Fund at Meadville Lombard Theological School, Development Office, 610 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605.

A Celebration of Life was held on Saturday, July 28, 2018, at the Boston Marriott Burlington, One Burlington Mall Road, Salon F, Burlington, MA.