July 8, 1943 – July 21, 2025

Dad, Alan Melton, “Big Al” passed away in Seattle, WA surrounded by family, after battling pancreatic cancer. He was a son, a brother, a father in law, a grandfather, and above all a father. He was a friend to so many, everywhere he went, every step of life. He loved life. He was so curious, smart and funny, and had contagious energy.
Born in Seattle, he grew up spending as much time outdoors and adventuring as possible. One of five kids, his summers were passed boating on the waters of Lake Union and Lake Washington. As an adult his love of water continued with many rafting trips around the West with friends. Vacations to the family cabin at the base of Crystal Mountain and learning to ski at Snoqualmie Pass helped shape his life in the mountains and his love of skiing which he passed to his kids. Attending college in Churwalden, Switzerland when his parents moved to Geneva changed his life and he said his years there were some of the most influential and best years of his life. Skiing in the Alps later brought him to Colorado. First to Aspen, and then he was lucky enough to discover Steamboat Springs in 1969. One of his first jobs was for the ski area and he lived at the top of the original Thunderhead lift! Most of his time in Steamboat he was a well-regarded contractor and tradesman, but like most locals he held a variety of jobs that touched life throughout the Valley. He was a cook at the Pine Grove the first summer it opened in 1971, worked at the Sports Stalker, drove for Alpine Taxi, dabbled in real estate, among many other jobs. But his primary position was as a Little League coach, a soccer and Winter Sports Club Dad. He was always on the sideline, at the finish line, at the knoll on See-Me cheering his kids on. He followed them to Boulder, CO, then eventually moved back to Seattle, WA where many of his siblings and old childhood friends still lived. He worked at the oldest hardware store in Seattle, “Tweedy and Pops” and was in his element helping others.
Big Al was loved by his family and friends for his quick wit, his ability to tell a great story, whether or not it was true, and his openness to all. He was so helpful, knowledgeable and patient. He never judged; he just accepted. He was kind to everyone. He gave more than he had. He loved his son Will and daughter Lindsay with all his heart. He lived by the motto “don’t sweat the small stuff.”
He confronted the end of his life with a grace and a sense of humor that his family will always admire and strive for. He was knowledgeable of the world and followed the latest literature. He was keen and droll. A rock and roll and music lover, the music carried his family through the toughest weeks at the end of his life. His curious mind will be greatly missed, along with his recommendations for books, articles, new music, poetry and good movies. He will always be hipper than any of us. He extended his friendship everywhere he went, even in the hospital in his last weeks with the doctors, nurses and other kind staff at UW Medicine who cared for him. He never lost his amazing brain, or his grace. Be positive. Smile. Give generously, love hard. Don’t lose your sense of humor. Love Big. “You only go around once.” You are missed so much. This world is a little less without you in it every day.