D. Alan Dillenberg III

D. Alan Dillenberg III, best known as Alan, entered peacefully into rest on January 22, 2021 after a long and courageous battle with ALS. He was loved and adored by his family and countless friends and colleagues who cherished Alan throughout the years. A strong man with a huge heart, Alan's kindness, generosity and sparkling 1000-watt smile will be missed. Alan was born on May 31, 1951, along with his twin sister Jane, to the late D. Alan "Dilly" Dillenberg Jr. and Sarah Louise David in Chappaqua, New York. After attending Byram Hills High School, in Armonk, NY Alan received a BS from Quinnipiac College followed by a Masters in Accounting at Baruch College CUNY in New York City. After college, in his mid 20s, Alan moved to South Florida to live on the water— which always brought him joy. His father taught him about boating and Sundays were dedicated to cruising on the water with his parents. He loved living and simply being on the water. When he wasn't with his family, he was with good friends, like Gunars and Neil, enjoying the 80s life of Ft. Lauderdale. It was there in his early 30s that he met and married the woman who would become the mother of his two greatest joys, Buddy and Montana. In the early 90s, a career opportunity took him to Birmingham, Alabama where he would begin to raise a family and excel in sales thanks to his outgoing personality and people skills that served him well. Alan always enjoyed the travel his career afforded him and loved hosting booths on the convention hall floor. His people skills meant he never met a stranger! His friend and co-worker Larry Johnson said it best: "Alan was the best embodiment of what a compassionate, loyal, friend and successful sales mentor could be. His interest in all areas of your life was of major importance to him. His contagious appetite and enthusiasm for life was apparent to all and he encouraged all to follow their dreams. My friend will be dearly missed." Alan's heart of gold is what made him so special. Alan's longtime friend Gunars Mansons echoed what many people shared, "Alan always dedicated time to spend with his friends and loved ones. He was a protector – someone who made you feel safe no matter where you were. He was generous and giving, always encouraging others to pursue their dreams." Beyond his career aspirations, Alan was a musician at heart— a passionate blues man who loved the sounds of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Janis Joplin and blues music. He was rarely without one of his Martin guitars, always strumming his favorite tunes. Alan's passions were greatly influenced by his father. An avid amateur race car driver, Alan's dad had a deep passion for music and cars that was passed on to Alan. Clearly that apple didn't fall far from the tree, since his son Buddy has the same need for speed and love of cars. Alan was a long-time member of the Team Corvette Alabama and MOBINC – Men of Birmingham in Nice Cars! Enamored with cars, motorcycles and driving fast, Alan spent a lot of time at the Barber Motorsports Park perfecting his skills and may have outrun a cop or three over the years. Montana summed up her dad's legacy best: "I think Dad made everyone feel heard. He was the best listener. But he didn't just lend an ear, he was able to make people feel cared for, loved. He always stressed the importance of looking for the best in people which is probably why he was so genuine in all of his friendships and why he had so many friends." A proud and gracious father, he is survived by his loving children, daughter Montana Dillenberg of Los Angeles, CA and his son "Buddy" D. Alan Dillenberg IV and Buddy's wife Jordan Dillenberg of Birmingham, AL along with Alan's sister Jane Dillenberg of New York City, NY. Due to COVID, no public services will be held. A Celebration of Life is set for Saturday February 27, 2021 at 12p CT in Birmingham, AL. Those who wish to attend virtually may do so by contacting a family member for more information.