Alister McALISTER

McALISTER, Alister
1929-2010
Former CA State Assemblyman Alister Davidson McAlister (D-Fremont) passed away, at his home in Wilton, CA, on November 8, 2010, at the age of 80, after complications from an extended illness. Born November 10, 1929, in Highland, IL, to Deane and Genevieve McAlister, he was preceded in death by his parents and wife Evelyn. He was a graduate of Greenville College in Greenville, IL, where he lettered in tennis, and the University of Illinois, College of Law, where he was editor of the law review. He is survived by his five children, Diane and husband Terry Colborn of Davis, CA, Alister II of Malin, OR, Gwen and husband Mike Knudsen of Wilton, Malcolm and wife Annette of Hanford, CA and Courtney and wife Kenni of Yuba City, CA. He is also survived by his loving brother, Malcolm, of Western Grove, AR. He is cherished by his 14 grandchildren, Danielle, Byron, Joshua, Bethany, Derek, Krista, Brittany, Holly, Nathan, Tanner, Elliot, Benjamin, Kristen and Mallory. He served in the United States Army from 1951 to 1953. He taught law at Willamette University in Oregon from 1960 to 1962, and also taught law for several years at McGeorge law school. He practiced law in San Jose, CA from 1963 to 1970 and in Sacramento from 1987 through 2009. He also served on the East Side Union High School District Board of Trustees (San Jose) from 1965 to 1970. As a Democrat, he represented the 25th and 18th districts in the California State Assembly, where he served from 1970 to 1986. During his legislative tenure, he authored 411 bills that reached the Governor's desk, 388 of which were signed into law. While in the legislature, he served on the Assembly Education, Judiciary, Labor and Ways & Means committees. A well known expert on public policy and the lawmaking process as well as tort reform and insurance issues, he served on the California Law Revision Commission and also chaired the powerful Assembly Finance and Insurance Committee from 1974 to 1986. He was also a very active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was an avid tennis player and loved to hike and walk in the mountains and on the country roads near his home in Wilton. He will be remembered as a devoted husband and loving father, a wonderful grandfather and loyal friend who lived a life of public service with impeccable honesty and dedication. Among his friends and family, he will also be remembered for his wisdom, intellect, spiritual depth and unwavering commitment to what he thought was right. He was an avid reader and dedicated student of history, politics, philosophy, science and religion. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his name to the Perpetual Education Fund, LDS Foundation 2E, 15 ES Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84150, www.ldsphilanthropies.org/perpetual-education-fund/in-memorium.html, or Greenville College, 315 E. College Ave., Greenville, Illinois, 62246-1145, www.Greenville.edu/giving/index. Services will be held at THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, 8925 Vintage Park Drive, Sacramento, CA, on Friday, November 12, 2010, at 11:00 AM, with visitation at 10:00 AM. Funeral arrangements made by the Elk Grove Funeral Chapel, 916-686-1888. Interment will follow in Pleasant Grove Cemetery.