Obituary for Alan Bruce Maxwell
Alan Bruce Maxwell passed away under the compassionate care of Hospice Elizabeth House, Hendersonville, North Carolina, on September 30th, 2022, with his family by his side. A resident of Tavernier in the Florida Keys, he enjoyed the peaceful setting at his cabin in Brevard during the summer weeks prior to his death. He was 94.
Alan was born in Decatur, Illinois, the son of Hugh L. Maxwell and Dorothy Sanborn Maxwell. He grew up in Huntington, West Virginia, near the Ohio River and enjoyed the river with his brothers and sister. As a teenager, he learned to fly in a World War I vintage Curtis Jenny biplane, and he also was involved at age 16 in the U.S. Navy's flight school program. Alan became a member of the Greatest Generation by enlisting in the Navy on his 17th birthday and served in Naval Aviation during the time he was on active duty, flying on patrol aircraft out of Jacksonville Naval Air Station.
After serving in the Navy, Alan attended Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, and then later transferred to Stetson University in Florida where he obtained his B.A. One of his fondest memories of Stetson was taking golf lessons for Physical Education and he enjoyed the sport all through his adult life. Alan went on to continue his education by attending the University of Virginia, where he obtained a Master's Degree and later did Doctoral work at Cornell University.
In 1946 Alan married Mary Alice Brannan and they had five sons -- Alan Wayne, Glen, Gary, Gregory, and Galen. He enjoyed camping and sailing with his sons as they were growing up.
Alan was a dynamic educator, teaching at various high schools, serving as an instructor of biology and anatomy/physiology at Palm Beach Junior College and was also an adjunct professor at Florida Atlantic University. He was an elegant speaker who captured the attention of his students and inspired many in the field of biology.
In the mid-1970s, Alan met and later married his second wife, Mary Kaufman, and they developed a business of marine life and aquaculture in the Florida Keys in 1982. Their business, Sea Critters, Inc., is a national leader in the production of brine shrimp used by saltwater aquarium owners throughout the United States. Alan and Mary enjoyed diving for marine life and sailing the Keys and the Bahamas when not working at the business. Alan was very active in the Florida Aquaculture Association and served on the Aquaculture Review Council for the State of Florida. Alan was also interested in all types of aquacultures in the state of Florida, including the commercial production of clams, seahorses, and other marine life. In later years, Alan remained actively involved in his business and aquaculture, but enjoyed retirement activities with Mary, including diving, sailing, travel, golf, and the peace and tranquility of their summer cabin in Connestee Falls, North Carolina.
Alan was predeceased by his first wife, Mary Brannan Jensen, his brothers Hugh Maxwell, Richard Maxwell, David Maxwell, a sister Rita Eckhart, and son, Alan Wayne Maxwell. Alan is survived by his wife of forty years, Mary Kaufman Maxwell, his brother Ronald Maxwell; four sons -- Glen Maxwell (Nancy), Gary Maxwell, Gregory Maxwell (Linda), and Galen Maxwell (Elaine). He is also survived by seven grandchildren -- Raquel Maxwell, Marsha Young, Brian Maxwell, Megan Rosano, Thomas Maxwell, Nathan Maxwell, and Claire Maxwell, and by seven great grandchildren.
A celebration of life to wish "The Captain" fair winds and following seas will be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made for an aquaculture scholarship fund administered by the Florida Aquaculture Association. Please make contributions to Florida Aquaculture Association at P.O. Box 2974, Riverview, Florida, 33568, with a memo For the Aquaculture Scholarship Fund in memory of Alan Bruce Maxwell.
Alan was born in Decatur, Illinois, the son of Hugh L. Maxwell and Dorothy Sanborn Maxwell. He grew up in Huntington, West Virginia, near the Ohio River and enjoyed the river with his brothers and sister. As a teenager, he learned to fly in a World War I vintage Curtis Jenny biplane, and he also was involved at age 16 in the U.S. Navy's flight school program. Alan became a member of the Greatest Generation by enlisting in the Navy on his 17th birthday and served in Naval Aviation during the time he was on active duty, flying on patrol aircraft out of Jacksonville Naval Air Station.
After serving in the Navy, Alan attended Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, and then later transferred to Stetson University in Florida where he obtained his B.A. One of his fondest memories of Stetson was taking golf lessons for Physical Education and he enjoyed the sport all through his adult life. Alan went on to continue his education by attending the University of Virginia, where he obtained a Master's Degree and later did Doctoral work at Cornell University.
In 1946 Alan married Mary Alice Brannan and they had five sons -- Alan Wayne, Glen, Gary, Gregory, and Galen. He enjoyed camping and sailing with his sons as they were growing up.
Alan was a dynamic educator, teaching at various high schools, serving as an instructor of biology and anatomy/physiology at Palm Beach Junior College and was also an adjunct professor at Florida Atlantic University. He was an elegant speaker who captured the attention of his students and inspired many in the field of biology.
In the mid-1970s, Alan met and later married his second wife, Mary Kaufman, and they developed a business of marine life and aquaculture in the Florida Keys in 1982. Their business, Sea Critters, Inc., is a national leader in the production of brine shrimp used by saltwater aquarium owners throughout the United States. Alan and Mary enjoyed diving for marine life and sailing the Keys and the Bahamas when not working at the business. Alan was very active in the Florida Aquaculture Association and served on the Aquaculture Review Council for the State of Florida. Alan was also interested in all types of aquacultures in the state of Florida, including the commercial production of clams, seahorses, and other marine life. In later years, Alan remained actively involved in his business and aquaculture, but enjoyed retirement activities with Mary, including diving, sailing, travel, golf, and the peace and tranquility of their summer cabin in Connestee Falls, North Carolina.
Alan was predeceased by his first wife, Mary Brannan Jensen, his brothers Hugh Maxwell, Richard Maxwell, David Maxwell, a sister Rita Eckhart, and son, Alan Wayne Maxwell. Alan is survived by his wife of forty years, Mary Kaufman Maxwell, his brother Ronald Maxwell; four sons -- Glen Maxwell (Nancy), Gary Maxwell, Gregory Maxwell (Linda), and Galen Maxwell (Elaine). He is also survived by seven grandchildren -- Raquel Maxwell, Marsha Young, Brian Maxwell, Megan Rosano, Thomas Maxwell, Nathan Maxwell, and Claire Maxwell, and by seven great grandchildren.
A celebration of life to wish "The Captain" fair winds and following seas will be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made for an aquaculture scholarship fund administered by the Florida Aquaculture Association. Please make contributions to Florida Aquaculture Association at P.O. Box 2974, Riverview, Florida, 33568, with a memo For the Aquaculture Scholarship Fund in memory of Alan Bruce Maxwell.