Dr. Albert "Champ" Alexander

ALEXANDER, Dr. Albert "Champ" A local legend, educator and scholar, Dr. Albert A. "Champ" Alexander, passed on Monday (June 12, 2006), in Hartford. He was born on October 27, 1936 to the late Willie and Inez Ross-Alexander and was raised by his great-aunt, the late Clyde "Nanny" Wilson and his great-uncle, the late Albert Wilson of Tallahassee, FL. Albert was educated in the Leon County, FL school system attending the old Griffin School (elementary) and Florida A&M High School. Upon high school graduation in 1956, Albert earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health and Physical Education from Florida A&M University. He earned his Masters Degree in Health and Physical Education from Florida A&M University in 1962 and taught and coached at Howard Academy in Monticello, FL, and Southwest Elementary School in Tallahassee. In 1965, Albert left Tallahassee for Boston, MA, to attend Boston University where he received his PhD in Health and Education in 1969. He completed post-doctoral studies at Harvard University and taught as an adjunct professor at Harvard and Boston Universities. Dr. Alexander served for more than 30-years (1969-1999) as an administrator for the Connecticut Department of Education. During his long tenure, he served in numerous capacities, including the Office of Education Equity. After he retired, he worked as an educational consultant, and his major responsibility was to monitor the State of Connecticut's Desegregation Plan of Related Activities. Dr. Alexander worked closely in an advisory capacity with all of the state's 169 townships. He assisted those school districts which were not in compliance with developing a viable minority and majority student racial plan for education equity. He was the major architect of the 1988 Desegregation Report, submitted to former Education Commissioner, Gerald Terozzi. Dr. Alexander's expertise in this major report was the catalyst of a subsequent report in 1999 that resulted in specific strategies that gave rise to the emergence of hundreds of charter and magnet schools in the state of Connecticut. Dr. Alexander played a major role in some of Connecticut's Native American groups. One tribe in particular was the Mashantucket Pequot Indians. With the advent of major casinos in the state of Connecticut, the Native American Indian school population increased drastically. He served as an advisor, providing them with viable educational programs and strategies which resulted in the creation of an independent school system for Native American students. He leaves behind to mourn his passing, his wife Nancy Tyson-Alexander of North Coventry. He is preceded in death by a sister, the late Mae Eva Garner Wilson, St. Petersburg, FL and a brother the late Willie B. Alexander of Tallahassee, FL. Also mourning his passing are two sisters, Ollie Dell Parrish (George) of Monticello, FL and Dorothy A. Washington (Rollie) of Upper Marlboro, MD. Three brothers Shella Alexander (Jessie) of Upper Marlboro, MD; Dr. Robert L. Alexander (Janessa) of Mitchellville, MD; and Avon Alexander (Mildred) of Tallahassee, FL; a step-mother, Willie Mae Alexander of Tallahassee, FL; 16 nieces and nephews; 19 great nieces and nephews; a great-great nephew; in-laws, Evelyn Williamson, Mt. Vernon, NY; Doris (George) Briggs, Americus, GA; Alice (Eugene) Ferguson, Americus, GA; Sandra (Thomas) Briggs,Stone Mountain, GA; Deborah (Rev. Daniel) Dickson, Decatur, GA; Bethlyne Pamela (Eric, Sr.) Bryant Lawrenceville, GA; William Clemons, Andersonville, GA; Charles Tyson, Andersonville, GA; Rev. Ferlin (Belinda) Tyson, Stafford, VA; a close circle of friends, David "DJ" Brown, Tallahassee, FL; Carol Wright, Manchester; Johnny Lee Tyson, Americus, GA; Jessie Cozart, Tallahassee, FL; and a host of other grieving relatives and friends including his Boston family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to support Dr. Alexander's favorite charities should be sent to the Dr. Albert A. Alexander Memorial Fund c/o Citizens Bank, 354 Broad Street, CT – 232, Manchester, CT 06040.