On April 18, with his family and friends around him, Alan H. Woog reached the end of the trail. He was just shy of 99 and still sharp but, as he put it, old age had lost all its glamour.

Born in 1924 to Sidney and Carolyn Woog, Alan grew up in Westchester County, New York. He was always an outstanding athlete, including being an ice hockey star in high school.

As a teen, Alan spent time on an Idaho ranch and fell in love with the West. He went on to serve in WWII, then attended the University of Idaho, Antioch College in Ohio, and the University of Michigan, where he earned a Master’s in Forestry.

At Antioch, Alan experienced a major life turning point when he met and dated Coretta Scott, the future Mrs. Martin Luther King. They remained in touch over the years and Alan remained active in the civil rights movement.

Alan married another New York native, Ronnie Friedman, and they settled on Mercer Island. He made his living as an insurance agent but worked as an independent agent, giving him the freedom to pursue his passions: wilderness activism, skiing, hiking, and tennis.

Alan remained active in sports all his life, finally retiring from skiing in his 80s. Another life high point came in 2014 when he and his tennis doubles partner became the United States Tennis Association’s national champions in the 90-and-over bracket.

Alan is survived by his daughter Beth (John Zimmerman), his son Adam (Karen Kent), his granddaughters Alana and Leah, and his great-granddaughter Laila, as well as his valued friends Dan Schneeweiss and Frank and Natasha Nimmo. Our deep gratitude goes to the everyday heroes at Kaiser Hospice, Visiting Angels, Nogah Home Care, and Death With Dignity.

A memorial service will take place in late May. Please contact Adam at apwoog@gmail.com for details.