Alan Schlenger, husband, father, grandfather, mentor, and friend, died at home in Santa Cruz under Hospice care on October 30, 2025. He was 88.

Alan was born in 1937 in the Bronx, and graduated in 1960 from City College of New York with a BA in Economics. His parents ran a mom and pop grocery store in Brooklyn. Working in the store in his formative years gave him a keen sense of what he didn’t want to do in life, but also established the foundation of a strong work ethic, accountability, and responsibility. When a friend suggested he explore the new field of computing, he gave it a try—little suspecting that a job he took on a whim would be the first step in a varied and rewarding career, including software development for the Strategic Air Command, a stint at IBM’s product testing lab, programming and computer development for major oil companies in Venezuela, and, finally,18 years at the University of California. He retired from UCSC in 1993 as Assistant Vice Chancellor in Computing and Telecommunications Services (CATS).

Although Alan was an avid scuba diver in South America, in California his interests shifted to hiking, camping, and cross-country skiing. It was on a Sierra Club backpacking trip to Yosemite in 1982 that Alan met Susan Lysik. They were married in 1989 in their backyard garden.

Never idle, when Alan retired 32 years ago he focused on a busy life of travel, gardening, public service, and family. Being a grandfather was his great joy and pride. At Westlake Elementary, he volunteered in the computer lab and the library. He never missed a performance, or a football, basketball, or baseball game if a grandchild was involved.

Alan and Susan had many camping adventures, driving across country twice, enjoying Yosemite, and touring the southwest, northwest and Canada. They also travelled in Mexico, Europe, Greece and Bali.

Alan was kind and open and curious, and was always ready to give back to this community that he loved. He was a respected member of the Farmers Market Board for 28 years. Other achievements include completing the Master Gardener and Master Composter programs, teaching at the Senior Computer Center at the London Nelson Center, and serving on a variety of commissions including Public Works, County Integrated Waste Management Local Task Force, the Energy Working Group, Green Building Group, and the County Commission on the Environment. In his 17 year tenure on the Board of Ecology Action, Alan helped guide the organization from a local recycling advocacy to one of the country’s most dynamic non-profit clean energy consultancies.

He loved music and was privileged to volunteer at the Santa Cruz Symphony, the Cabrillo Music Festival, First Night Santa Cruz, and the Kuumbwa Jazz Center. He and Susan ushered for over 25 years at the Monterey Jazz Festival. Alan took piano lessons at Cabrillo, and also studied drawing and printmaking. His family misses his culinary skills—bread-making and grilling in particular, and presiding over Sunday night dinners.

He was a familiar figure on the Westside, walking up to campus nearly every day, or along the Westcliff path by the ocean. He loved being outside, and he cherished his garden.

Alan is survived by his wife of 36 years, Susan Lysik; a son, Arthur Schlenger (Cecilia Marmol); stepson Sean Davis; grandson Ashtyn Davis; granddaughter Alexandria Harris (Jack) and great grandson Cooper Harris.

There will be a Celebration of Life on Sunday, January 25 at Kuumbwa Jazz Center. For information please visit: https://www.evite.com/event/02E6IIAE4SKDAAFWGEPQ4Z3PGNOYTI