Alexander E. Mentz (September 25, 2001)
"Alexander E. ''Al'' Mentz, 75, of Jamesville died Tuesday. He was born in Brooklyn. He was a crane operator for Crucible Steel for 25 years. He owned High Meadows Bed & Breakfast. He was a member of Grace Assembly of God Church and was a Navy veteran of World War II. A son, Joseph, died in 1974. Survivors: His wife of 23 years, the former Nancy Churchill; two daughters, Victoria Bresadola of Clay and Deborah Chapman of Denver, Colo.; two sons, Angelo and Peter, both of Denver; a stepdaughter, Nicki Bramhall of Needham, Mass.; two stepsons, Jody Baumgartner of Tarpon Springs, Fla., and Miles Baumgartner of Oswego; a sister, Elizabeth Babyak of Silver Spring, Md.; a brother, Chester of Beverly Hills, Fla.; 13 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren. Services: 11 a.m. Saturday in Grace Assembly of God Church, 4220 Fay Road. Burial, White Chapel Memory Gardens. Calling hours, 4 to 8 p.m. Friday in the church. Tindall Funeral Home, Syracuse, has arrangements. Contributions: Teen Challenge, Box 72, Syracuse 13205."

---

The above was taken from the Syracuse Post-Standard, and of course cannot do justice to Al's life. I was privileged to call Al my step-father. He was one of the most generous, caring, and warm human beings I have ever met, and I feel fortunate to have been touched, and in many ways shaped, by him.

One often sees the phrase, "He will be missed." While I understand the sentiment, the phrase strikes me as rather impersonal.

Al, I miss you.