I’m writing this in remembrance of my dear friend and mentor, who we recently lost to Parkinson’s disease. Alan grew up in Brooklyn with a great sense of adventure, a heightened sense of humor (wisenheimerness, I called it), and always, with the next and best story to tell. Alan was a major car guy. He spent a lifetime immersed in all things car; working in various states and countries. He ultimately founded INDS (Interstate National Dealer Services), which grew into a national automotive warranty company. In 1967, at 27, he lost all his hair within a very short time. Back then, alopecia areata was something few people had heard of, let alone understood. Alan was very challenged with the responses. Being the proactive guy he was, he wanted to do something about that and, subsequently, was part of a very small group that founded NAAF. He then stepped up to serve on the first Board of Directors. He volunteered as Master of Ceremonies at many Annual NAAF Conferences and dedicated over 25 years of time and financial support. He was passionate to ensure that we people with alopecia areata had the understanding, support, and community he could have benefited from “back when.” I always felt Alan was set apart as a member of our community. In the beginning, he was one of the few men actively involved. He provided invaluable guidance and a sense of humor for males of all ages with alopecia areata. As I’ve heard all my life, “It must be so much more difficult for females”…so, not so! Alan approached life with integrity, grit, humor, and a kind of honesty that earned him lifelong loyalty and admiration from a wide variety of people; particularly from those who worked with him professionally and from his immediate family: daughters, Monica and Erica, and his wife, Kathy, who many of you know. And there was always his extended family… NAAF! We will miss him dearly! You can read more about Alan’s life and legacy in his obituary, which includes a nice photo. Ann S. Hedges served multiple terms on the NAAF Board of Directors from 1997 through 2024. She continues to volunteer with NAAF as an ambassador, advocating for the alopecia areata community to honor Alan’s work to improve the lives of those living with this autoimmune disease.
