Alan "AJ" J. Morgan

Alan Jeffrey Morgan, AJ to his friends, passed away Sunday August 18th 2024 at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas, NV. He is survived by his wife of almost 52 years Ilene, daughter Leslie, son-in law Ibrahim and granddaughter Gloria who always appreciated his songs, and magic card tricks. 

Alan was born on February 21, 1949 in Lynn, MA to mother Gloria Madell and father Leo Morgan. He was an only child, but grew up in a house surrounded by a half dozen aunts and uncles. As a child, Alan was precocious, and liked to pester his youngest aunt Elaine. He loved music, played clarinet and bass guitar in a band and loved performing having been part of “The Music Man” in Lynn English High School. Alan attended a semester of Salem College studying education before enlisting in the Navy at 18 to his parent’s chagrin. He served on the USS Little Rock and traveled the world, being stationed in Italy. During his travels, he would send his parents cassette tapes of everything he was experiencing in hopes they would understand his decision to drop out of school. Eventually, they did.  

Upon one of his leaves, Alan attended the Bar Mitzvah of his nephew Steven Sherman and met Ilene Sherman and asked for her number. After a long-distance courtship, Alan proposed to Ilene and the two were wed on September 16, 1972. They drove across the country for their honeymoon and landed in Garden Grove, CA where Alan was briefly stationed. Then, Alan and Ilene moved to , Italy flor close to four years and were able to explore Europe anytime he was on leave. The two moved back to Waukegan, IL in 1976 and gave birth to their only daughter Leslie in August of 1977. Alan became a technical writer for several aerospace and defense companies working on radars.  His love of teaching came to fruition as he instructed his colleagues all over the country on the use of various radar equipment. He earned his bachelor's degree in 18 months from Franklin Pierce College.

In 1983, Alan joined the Masonic Temple in Nashua NH and then Seneca River Lodge in 1986 upon the families move to upstate NY. Alan was a Freemason, having been Senior Grand Warden for the State of NY from 2002-2004 and Grand High Priest of Royal Arch in 2006. In  In 2004 Alan traveled to Russia to donate computer equipment and a washer and dryer to an orphanage as part of his Masonic charity work. It was a life changing trip and saw him convert to the religion of Russian Orthodox. Alan and Ilene moved to Las Vegas, NV in 2007 and Alan began his work with Knights Templar, Zelzah Shriners, Lodge, Meks Guard Widows Sons and an active member of the Thunderbirds of Las Vegas. He also was an avid motorcyclist taking many trips with both the HOGS and MEKS Guard.  

Alan was an animal lover having a menagerie of different animals through the years including fish, birds, rabbits, ferrets, hamsters, cats and dogs. Alan had a live each day to the fullest approach to his life. He loved a great cup of espresso with lemon rind and rock sugar, and a glass (or two) of Maker’s Mark on the rocks. He had a deep love of exploring new places and had a deep curiosity and passion for history. He was loved by so many all over the world and will be deeply missed by all who knew him. And in the words of Mary Martin,

"Forever in...Never Never Land. You’ll have a treasure if you stay there...More precious far than gold...For once you have found your way there...You can never never grow old...And that's my home where dreams are born and time is never planned...Just think of lovely things and your heart will fly on wings...Forever in...Never Never Land"