Allan J. Alvaney
(1921 - 2008)
Allan J. Alvaney, 86 years, of Bryan,Ohio died Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2008, at Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne, Ind., of a brain injury suffered in a fall outside his home on Saturday, Dec. 30. Allan was born on June 9, 1921, in Milwaukee, Wis., the son of Henry Marquardt and Gladys Vieaux. His birth father died when he was an infant. At age twelve his mother remarried and he was adopted by his stepfather, John Alvaney, whom Allan grew to love as his own father and spoke of often as the man who "taught him to be a man," He spent nine of the first twelve years of his life in childrenŐs hospitals because of tuberculosis and osteomyelitis, a bone disease caused by infection. All of these childhood illnesses eventually resulted in Allan having his right leg amputated. He walked with a prothesis the rest of his life, but his handicap never slowed him down. He will always be remembered for his quiet determination to conquer his handicaps. He married Margaret P. Pittman on Jan. 23, 1945 in Laurel, Miss. She was the love of his life. They were married almost 63 years and raised two daughters together. His wife Margaret survives him.
He was a 1949 graduate of Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles, Calif. After high school, he won a scholarship to the Art Center School College of Design in Los Angeles and was able to pursue his dream of becoming an industrial designer. During World War II, he worked as a technical illustrator in the aircraft industry. His design career spanned 40 years working in product, exhibit and toy design. Allan was employed as a designer for General Motors, Freelance Design Studio and Sears Roebuck Company. He worked for The Ohio Art Company from 1968 until his retirement.
After retiring, Allan fully pursued his painting and drawing. His art work has been displayed in juried art shows at the Toledo Museum of Art, Wassenberg Art Museum, Van Wert, and the Fort Wayne Museum Gallery. He was a frequent exhibitor at the Bryan Art Klan Exhibits throughout his years in Bryan. He was a past member of the Northwestern Ohio Watercolor Society and the Toledo Artists' Club, and was an active member of the Black Swamp Art Guild in Bryan until his death. He won numerous awards for his art work over the years, including the Gold Medal at the Toledo ArtistsŐ Club Gold Medal Show in 1992.
He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Bryan, and was formerly active in the Masons and the Zenobia Shrine, Medina Chapel, Chicago, Ill. He was also a member of the Bryan Lions Club.
Other than his family and his art, his other great love was trains and model railroading. He will always be fondly remembered by family and friends for his elaborate train display under the yearly Christmas tree. He also loved jazz music, a love he passed on to his daughter Jan, along with his extensive collection of jazz LP's. He was also an avid open wheel (Indy car) auto racing fan and attended the Indianapolis 500 race for over 40 years.
Surviving are his two daughters, Jannice "Jan" Alvaney and her husband Paul Johl of Centennial, Wyo., and Anita Mathes and her husband, Ted of Bryan; two granddaughters, Tara Spisak and her husband Chris of Bryan and Tricia Lyons and her husband Mike also of Bryan; five great-grandchildren, Tyler, Cade and Chloe Spisak, and Caitlyn and Ashlee Lyons. He is also survived by his nephew Milton "Butch" Roben (Nina) of Agoura, Calif. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Evelyn Jones.
Funeral services for Allan J. Alvaney will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008 in the Chapel of the First Presbyterian Church, Bryan, with Rev. Gus Nusdorfer, officiating. Interment will follow in Shiffler Cemetery. Visitation for Mr. Alvaney will be held from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2008 in the Oberlin-Ford Funeral Home, Bryan.
Memorials in the name of Allan J. Alvaney may be given to the Milwaukee Children's Hospital, 1700 West Wisconsin, P.O. Box 1997, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201 or the Shriner's Hospital of the donor's choice.
Condolences may be sent to the family or the online guest book may be signed at
Oberlin - Ford Funeral Home : Bryan, Ohio (OH).
Allen J. Alvaney(Aircraft Technical Illustrator)
