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December 29, 2014

I coordinate a motorcycle ride each summer of umpires from Northwest Baseball Umpires Association. I have renamed this annual ride The Al Alquist Annual Memorial Ride.  I this about Al often when thing get tough in my life and then realize nothing I have to deal with remotely compares to what my good friend Al suffered through.  He was and still is an inspiration to me and many others.   Blessings to Al's family.   I will never forget.   Gary Coy

MY #2 SON...AL

January 7, 2014

Al was a very special part of our home and of the "Schweikert Family"!

He and my son, Greg, grew up together & were best "buds" all through Edgewood Elementary School & into Osseo Jr. & Sr. High.  They continued their strong friendship into their adult lives even when "distance" separated them....each going to different States....but they were never further than a phone call away.

Al was a very strong, but soft spoken, witty and loveable guy and I will always remember him that way!

My heart is full and sad for Fran and the family.  I know what it is like to lose a child!  May GOD hold them close and give them the comfort that they need right now!

I shall always miss those "HUGS" from my #2 Son......with loving memories!

Mom Schweikert

January 6, 2014

Tennis ball fights, Frisbee, riding lawn mowers, walks to the lake, rides in the VW Beetle with the sun roof open, picnics, spaghetti & meatballs and Squirt (soda)...these are some of the memories I have of being invited to "Aunt Franny's" house.

My sister, Lisa and I loved going out to the country to hang out with Larry, Karen and Al.
We were closest in age to Al, the fun, athletic teenager who loved to throw a Frisbee with us and make us laugh. HIS laugh was infectious and I must admit, we both had a crush on him! It was always a great time when we got together.

After I got married, my husband Mike and I visited Al & Kimberly in Seattle. He, of course, offered for us to stay with him for the week. He made sure that we were able to spend some quality time together. We took a trip to Olympic National Park where we hiked and explored tide pools on the beach. He so much loved the outdoors and nature and so do we.
In 1995 we visited again and this time he had two sons. We had a great week once again staying at their house and getting to know Ben & Nick. We all took a trip to Whidbey Island and had fun catching up and exploring the beach. Of course Al would be a good dad...he was good at everything!

People like Al are in our lives to remind us to be kind to others, to care for others, to laugh as much as possible and to get "every last drop" out of life.

Why Al's life was cut short, we will never know. All I can say is that I am grateful that he was a part of mine!

I will always remember you, Al Alquist ....

With love,
from Mike and Lori to Nick & Ben, Fran, Karen, Larry and Al's fiancé, Brenda and their families

Sexy Al in 1974

January 6, 2014

Al attended one of the Schweikert Birthday parties for Jacki...he was definitely a part of our family!

Osseo B-Ball Team - Al & Greg

January 6, 2014

Check out the Jersey numbers for Greg & Al...both #32...what a great reflection of their Best Bud Friendship!  Denny Stieg was the awesome coach that year!

Al and Greg

January 5, 2014

I first met Al in person in 2001, the year I married Greg.  From the time I knew Greg he talked about his best buddy Al, how they had grown up together, played sports, dated girls, played more sports...promised not to date each other's sisters, talked about sports...and so many other stories.  Greg is also especially fond of Al's mom Fran who he calls his second mother...bragging often about her amazing Italian cooking. 

In June of 2001, Al and Fran came to Texas to share in our wedding.  They were magical.  Al gave us a gift he made himself and he felt like family right away.  The thing I remember most was that my mom was going through a very difficult health period and became very ill that evening.   Al stayed with her, looked through the medications she was taking and helped her back on her feet.  He was kind and compassionate and completely focused on her.  Weeks after our wedding Al kept in touch with my mom, providing her with questions to ask her doctor and to see how she was doing.  When one of my mom's best friends was diagnosed with MS, Al counseled and comforted her through the first frightening months of her disease (he had never even met her). 

We met Brenda sometime later when Al, Ben, Nic and Brenda stayed at our house for a couple of days in Billings on their way to Minnesota.  Brenda was Al's perfect match...fun...kind and in love with his boys.  Greg was so pleased that Al had finally found such a wonderful and caring woman.

When Greg's dad became ill with cancer, Al was there, offering support for Greg all along the way...never mentioning the burden's he had in his life at the time.

When my dear friend Katie was diagnosed with cancer, around the same time  Al had his liver transplant, he sent her a little rock that he had carried in his pocket and told her it would bring her health and luck.  It did both.

Al would visit us a couple other times in Billings, walking Molly, having late night chats about life and what matters most...he was a happy man who didn't focus on his challenges, instead he celebrated his blessings.

My husband has loved Al like a brother since they were children.  He lights up when he talks about his friend.  The memories they made will live with Greg forever, and I will never ever forget his strength, courage, kindness and compassion.    

My heartfelt sympathy to Fran, Karen, Brenda, Nic, Ben and the rest of the family...he loved you all so much.   I know he's happy in heaven, playing baseball with angels. 

Love to all who cared for dear Al.
Kim  

Al: From the Back of the Pack: Twin Cities Bicycle Club Newsletter August 2013

January 4, 2014

I wrote this when we thought Al wouldn't have a second chance at a second liver transplant but he pursued getting listed in Minnesota and was waiting for a liver when he passed in December 2013. Karen

In mid May a got a call from Seattle.  The voice on the other end was my brother's fiancee.  After exchanging greetings she said that Al wanted to talk to me.  I knew he had been in the hospital for a few weeks recovering from an intestinal infection while waiting for a second liver transplant.  His first transplant was in 2007 and it had served him well for over 6 years. 

 Last year things took a different turn.  His liver started to fail.  The symptoms are like having the stomach flu only you never get quite better; you may feel a bit better and then it starts again.  Throughout it all I could hear fatigue and weariness in his voice but never despair.  He lives life with a positive energy and laughs easily at himself and the many ironies of life.  And sometimes just for joy and simple pleasure.  When Al laughs, the world can't help but laugh along.  He makes everyone feel good when they are with him. My older brother and I often marvel at his ability to be comfortable and happy socially.  Perhaps it is just our extrovert-envy after spending years as wallflowers.  I like to think of it as Al, just being Al in his special way.

Al and I spent a lot of time riding bikes as kids.  Fortunately we learned to ride bikes early at the "little" house that was on a paved road before we moved to the country.  But after we moved, we wanted to be with our friends who lived on the other side of the lake so we endured a couple miles of gravel bike riding to get there.  We were kids on the move; we picked strawberries, swam at our friends' beach and played sandlot ball.  Life was simple.  We were out and about on our own, having fun and getting where we needed to go.  Al was the youngster among us.  Something that did not limit him nor did he ever acknowledge.

Six years younger than my older brother with me in the middle, he always wanted to do what we did.  If we played ball, Al played ball.  If we road our bikes, Al road his bike.  Whatever Larry and I did, Al quickly followed; his mind and body capable of things far beyond his years.  He clearly became the star athlete in the family.  I remember the day when he beat me at a foot race, an activity that was a daily ritual when you lived out in the sticks in the summer.  I had won every foot race at the sixth grade field day competing against both boys and girls.  But here comes little fourth grade Al, filled with confidence as he outpaced me in a 100 yard dash and insisted we run it again and again to be sure there was no denying it.  I knew then that the kid could do anything he set his mind to.

Probably one of the more infamous biking stories that he likes to tell is the day we were racing down a hill on the dirt road.  I was beating him, aided by the downhill descent.  I hit a patch of loose sand and slid over on my bike scraping my legs, arms and hitting my head hard on the road.  Al came up behind me and I believe intentionally ran over me, not just nicking me but actually running over my head, blooding my ear in the process.   I went home crying, claiming my brother attempted to injure me just to win a race by riding his bike over my fallen head.  My bloody ear was insufficient evidence to prove the offense to my skeptical parents.  And Al did what he often did.  He just laughed!

And there is the outhouse incident.  My devious brothers double-teamed me by locking me in an outhouse to test my fear of enclosed spaces.  To this day I can't use an outhouse without someone promising to stay outside and protect me from my own claustrophobia.  Some way or somehow we all managed to survive childhood with few lasting scars.

As time went on Al earned varsity letters in sports, excelled at school, traveled and studied abroad, became involved in community activities and made friends everywhere.  And yet at the same time he experienced success as a young adult, he had an uncanny knack for getting injured and breaking bones.  He broke a finger playing intramural football and broke his leg playing basketball.  And not just breaking the bones, they were cracked in half!   He would just smile at others' concern for him and his dumb luck for being in yet another freak accident.  

He settled in Seattle after college where he became a medical scientist. This career gave him much joy and he became widely respected for his hard work, soft skills with people and ability to present research.  His colleagues appreciated both his intellect and his good nature. 

After his first son was born he seemed to experience health problems.  He went a very long time without a clear diagnosis; then they found high grade tissue displasia in his digestive system and removed his colon.  From the years of infection there was scarring.  It was a rough surgery and recovery.  This started years of ups and downs with related liver complications resulting in a need for a transplant.  Throughout it all, Al kept fighting.  A second son was born.  His two sons became his pride and joy, as they grew into fine young men capable of doing anything they choose, just like their father.  Each took a different path yet their father always celebrated their accomplishments.  His dedication to fatherhood was unmatched.  And when talking to him on the phone, he would describe with such incredible detail and delight every thing the boys were doing. 

So I wasn't sure what to expect from the call I received.  I heard his voice, more mild and weak than ever before.  He sounded very tired.  His voice simply said, "I wanted you to know, I'm not going to make it."  I was stunned.  Al has always prevailed and even though the struggle was still on he had won every large and small battle.  He had been a survivor for 30 years through illness and injury.  I asked in an awkward way for a glimmer of hope.  Short of a miracle, he told me that wasn't going to be the case.  I asked if I could come see him.  And when he said yes, I was on a plane as soon as I could.

My brother, my inspiration, my role model for being a happy and courageous person is leaving us. I still can't believe it. I only regret we won't have one more bike ride because we seemed to be free from everything when we rode together.  I know he wasn't his physical best when we last bicycled but he didn't complain and always spoke of the joy and discoveries along the way.  He was an accomplished cyclist but also appreciated the view from the back.  Now he has taken a different turn and there will be distance between us.  I don't want to be "dropped" in this way.  I'm not sure what is ahead.  But I just want to thank all of you who comforted me recently, especially those who have been through this kind of loss.  It means so much that you understand.

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