Alan Peter Sprague

Alan Peter Sprague, age 83, passed away peacefully, at home, on December 10, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. He was born on June 5, 1942, in Batavia, New York, to the late Everett and Lois Rood Sprague.

Alan was dedicated to life-long learning, teaching, and discovery. He had exceptional abilities in mathematics, including twice earning the NY state Math Championship in his high school years. He earned a B.A. in Mathematics from Oberlin College, an M.A.T. from Northwestern University, and two PhDs from The Ohio State University-one in Mathematics (1973) and another PhD in Computer Science (1988). He spent several years teaching Mathematics at OSU, then switched to Computer Science and became a full Professor of Computer Science at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), He authored over 100 scholarly publications and mentored generations of students. Since 2014, he has also researched and published on the ethical shortcomings of new technologies, with Raquel Diaz-Sprague as his co-author. Together, they instigated the successful "Ethics in Action: Art or App Design Challenge" at UAB (2019-2021) and coauthored a book chapter for the book "Building Inclusive Ethical Cultures in STEM" published by Springer in 2024 for the International Library of Ethics, Law and Technology.

His colleagues and students remember Alan as an effective educator who could make complex subjects accessible and was willing to spend extra time tutoring and mentoring his students. He was twice nominated for the Outstanding Teaching of the Year Award by the UAB Computer Science Department.

A man of gentle, kind, and loving spirit, Alan lived with intentionality and presence. He embraced a philosophy of "slow living," savoring the passage of time whether he was enjoying a book, hiking in the woods, or observing the small details of nature. He was a prolific reader who loved sharing stories with his children and grandchildren, from Lewis Carroll to Harry Potter. His love for the natural world was deep; he was an Eagle Scout who found peace in the woods, often pausing to admire a wildflower or gently remove a spider from a tent to keep it safe.

Alan was also a fun-loving soul who retained a childhood whimsy throughout his life. A world traveler, he explored the globe from Peru to Vietnam and Japan, yet he found equal joy in simple pleasures: playing board games, working on jigsaw puzzles, or sharing trivia facts, beer, and laughter with his daughter and young friends.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Raquel Diaz-Sprague; their sons, Kevin Sprague (Kristianna) and Eric Diaz (Katelyn); and their daughter, Susan. His legacy lives on in his four beloved grandchildren: Molly, Lily, Holiday, and Apollo. He is also survived by his sister, Ann (Dave) Horan; his brother, Steve (Lois) Sprague; his dear Aunt Margot; and several cherished nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, December 17, 2025, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Egan-Ryan Funeral Home Northwest Chapel, 4661 Kenny Road, Columbus, Ohio 43220, where a Rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at Immaculate Conception Church, 414 E. North Broadway Street, Columbus, Ohio 43214. A lunch will be served at IC's Marian Hall immediately after the Mass. Interment will follow in the summertime, with the date to be announced.

In lieu of flowers, Alan would encourage a charitable donation to Rails to Trails Conservancy.