In January of 1946, not long after his 18th birthday, Al wrote a short autobiography. It was typed for him by his sister, Dottie. He had joined the Coast Guard about 6 months earlier. He mentions a girl named Eloise who, just under two years later, became his wife and mother of his six children.

Click here to read his autobiography.

At the end of his story, Al mentions that he is assigned to the tug boat Tioga. The Tioga was built in 1894 and originally named the Calumet.  Click here to read the history of the Tioga. 

Also, at the beginning of his story, he mentions his parents bought a beach cottage after he had pneumonia as a child.  The photo of Al in the header of each web page shows Al pointing out the cottage a few years ago while on Mike's boat.

Alton B. Cleveland Sr. of Middletown, MD passed away on July 5, 2012 at the Kline Hospice House in Mt. Airy, MD.  He was 84 years old.

He leaves his wife of 20 years, Janet Cleveland; son, Alton B. Cleveland Jr. (Buddy) and wife Sandra of Glenmoore, PA; son Thomas S. Cleveland and wife Della of Keedysville, MD; daughter Nancy L. McKee and husband Richard of Singer Island, FL; son Michael L. Cleveland and wife Rhonda of Mt. Airy, MD; son Timothy W. Cleveland of Gerrardstown, WV; son Daniel J. Cleveland and wife Maureen of Walkersville, MD; and stepson Douglas Kramer of Williamsport, MD.  Alton is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. He was married to the late Eloise Cleveland from 1947 until her death in 1989. He was a lifelong resident of Montgomery County before moving to Middletown four years ago.

Alton was born January 3, 1928 in Garrett Park, MD, the youngest of James and Irene (Pea) Cleveland’s eight children.  He attended Bethesda Chevy Chase High School where he was a standout in both football and baseball.  He put his high school education on hold to serve in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II, completing his education at the war’s end.  He was a very skilled craftsman and builder.  During his career he worked as a sheet metal mechanic, machinist, industrial painter, carpenter, and industrial model builder.  He also spent a number of years building custom homes. At the time of his retirement he was employed by Bechtel Power Corporation where he worked as an industrial model builder and a technician in the computer-aided design group. 

Alton’s hobbies included archery, gardening, beekeeping, and golf.  In addition, he was an excellent swimmer. He also spent a number of years coaching in the Rockville (MD) Boys Baseball Association as well as its youth football league. He was proud to be a member of the American Legion Post #86 of Rockville.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Frederick County (www.hospiceoffrederick.org) or Daybreak Adult Day Services (www.daybreakadultdayservices.org).

Click here to read his obituary in his local paper, the Frederick Post.