GEORGE "AL" COLLINS

I was deeply saddened to hear of Al Collins passing. He was a friend and colleague of my father's, Bob Gordon, who left this mortal coil on September 25, 2009. I wish that I knew more about the world that these two men rocked and rolled in, on the leading edges of an industry that has completely transformed our daily lives. If you have stories or photos of the early days, I would love to have them. The world is a darker place without these men of great humor, intelligence, curiosity,...

I have great memories of Al, and it is wonderful how vividly this collective portrait and Karl's great eulogy brings to life his passion, humor, curiosity and friendship. Following college, I was fortunate to spend 8 months in San Diego as a guest of Dene and Al's, working for one of Al's friends in the emerging PC business. They were perfect hosts, and the dinner stories were always fascinating, ranging from repelling pirates with machine guns while on a day sail in the Solomons to his...

In a more or less sepia world, one vividly colorful family -- the Collins clan. And in the middle of them the luminous, curious, and sometimes provoking Al. There will be never be a problem remembering him by anyone who ever knew him. No doubt he is off dismantling chunks of the afterlife to see how they work. And bringing a bit of cheer too to all that pious mist. If it is boring, he won't like it.

I had business relations with al for many years assisting his clients with our range of stable isotope labeled gases and compounds. Al always delighted to call me and relate the weather in Sand Diego especially during the winter months back east.

I had the pleasure of visiting Al one time when he tried to impress on me the flash of the sun-set in San Diego.

I enjoyed his friendship and the US-British rivelry

John Kilby @ Icon (Isotope) Services Inc

It was always a pleaseure ot see Al in Canberra and enjoy his yarns. We of course also very much appreciated his help with purchasing. A great character and one it was a pleasure to have known a little.

Dear Dene and family!My prayers for you and for Al's soul.His passing leaves me with nice but ordinary and good people.Al was a unique character - he would phone me these last several years about every three months and we would talk for one to two hours about numerous topics - history, medicine, music, geography, languages, philosophy, physics, food, etc. We both seemed to have ignored sports.I have never known anyone else with such a wide range of interests. We stopped talking because of...

We will miss you Al. Always and ever cheerful an helpful to us all at the Australian National University.

Farewell Al! I and very many others have benefitted from your visits. We'll miss seeing you putting your head round the door to say Hullo,and to have a chat. I wish I were closer to be able attend your farewell and to pay my respects, but I'm sure there will be a great many more there to do just that.