Alan J. Crystal

Alan J Crystal, 80, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 16 at the South Eastern Veteran's Center in Spring City, PA. The only son of Philip I. Crystal and Sion(Shapiro)Friday, he lived his entire life in the Reading area. After graduating from Mount Penn high school in 1961, he, like many young boys who deserved to start their lives after high school, was drafted into the Army and served our country from 1964-1966. He would breezily tell you how much he disliked school and his disdain of homework. Recently, we laughed ourselves silly as I read him letters my grandmother had saved from his time in bootcamp and Vietnam, recounting those days and his thoughts of Army life. I think he just didn't want to be told what to do. He returned home still optimistic about life and grateful to be back in America. He never traveled overseas again, but did drive across the United States in 1971 with his lifelong best friend, Bob. He was married and divorced twice and had four children. Although they were together for just a couple of years, he and my mother always remained friends and cared about each other- a rarity among divorced parents. He found his happiest relationship in 2000 when he met his longtime girlfriend, Shirley. It is true- you absolutely can find true love later in life and they were very happy together. Shirley has been by his side up to the last hours of his life. In 2020, he started showing signs of confusion and was diagnosed with Lewy Body dementia. As we cleaned out his apartment in Shillington, we discovered pieces of him we never knew. He saved everything- greeting cards from when he was a boy to the present, souvenirs from trips we took in the 1970's, photographs by the thousands and handmade trinkets proudly presented to him on Christmas, his birthday or father's day. And, as the father of four, you can imagine the real estate these treasures took up in his small apartment. He was a resident at the Southeastern Veteran's Center since 2022 and received excellent care from the wonderful team there. During his final weeks, the team at Holisticare Hospice provided quiet comfort and care. Throughout his life he made friends easily. In many ways, he was like Mr. Rogers, a kind person with a unique sense of humor who cared about people and animals. He had zero skills to fix anything that was broken. He was fanatical about his car- always a Chevy, and would not let us even have a sip of water in it. He would happily attend our concerts or games and cheered for all the kids, not just his own and he was generous with enthusiasm and praise. He loved shows and events and worked as an usher at the Sovereign Center in Reading for many years. He loved that job and the people there. I asked him recently what he wanted to be when he grew up and was floored when he said he wanted to be a DJ, but I should have known by his enormous record collection. He had a head for numbers and was a purchasing manager for Berks Welding Supply until they closed in the mid-80's. He also worked for Wilson School District as a bus aide. Like many people who found themselves abruptly unprepared for the age of computers, he found work where he could and lived within his means. Some people would think this would mean he wasn't 'successful', but they would be wrong. He was kind and thoughtful and strong, even after the accidental death of his daughter, Cyndie, three days after her twentieth birthday in 1989. He accepted the tragedies of the human condition with grace and his example has helped me navigate many of life's joyful events and bitter disappointments. The world needs more people like him. Time is a peculiar concept. It feels long and short, waits for no one and yet, we have the distinct human ability to remember so many specifics about our lives together. If you have the chance to help your parents (or anyone) go through their things, do it. You will learn a lot and you will have so much to be thankful for about that person. This will be the first Thanksgiving without our dad, but I couldn't have asked for a better one than Alan Crystal. Alan Crystal is survived by his youngest daughter, Nicole, whose free spirit and sense of adventure he admired, son Mark, hard- working, dependable and independent, whom he was so proud of and loved spending time with. His girlfriend, Shirley, and lovely granddaughter, Ava, whom he adored. And many more family and friends. He was predeceased by his daughter, Cyndie, who is probably overjoyed to have him all to herself. This obituary was lovingly written for him by his oldest daughter, Michele Crystal. The picture is one I had never seen until recently and truly captures him. Thank you for being the greatest dad. We love you and miss you forever. Henninger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.